Speaking Is Sexy Tip, Vol. XII, #3
WHEN YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY SPEAKER
You're an expert in your field who's been asked to speak on a panel at a Zoom conference with a number of your peers. You've done your research and prepared carefully. Your bullet points are all in a row. You've even planned ahead for
any objections to your conclusions. All systems are go.
You're the next to last speaker, and you're listening carefully to what the other panelists have to say. To your horror, one of the speakers ahead of you has chosen a similar point of view. She’s used some of the same examples and said almost exactly what you were going to say!
What are you going to do? You have just a few minutes to completely revamp your remarks so that you don't sound like a trained parrot or a copycat riding the coattails of the speaker who came before.
It isn’t likely to happen often but knowing how to deal with this awkward situation is a technique that should be in your speaker's toolbox. You can handle it with just a few tweaks to the comments you were planning to give anyway.
What should you do and how fast can you do it?
First, stay calm! It only feels like a disaster in the making. You're still in control of your part of the program. Say to yourself: "I can do this! I am in control!"
Take a deep breath. Then take another. Deep breathing will keep your heartbeat down around normal which will allow the next important step.
Think! Focus! Ask yourself, "How can I turn this broken egg into a tasty omelet?”
There are a number of things you can do to differentiate yourself from the previous speaker.
Select the points you were going to highlight that have not already been said. Tweak them so they become the focus of your remarks. Think back to some of the points you'd previously decided to omit when you were preparing your speech. Add them.
When it's your turn, tell the truth. Admit there are similarities in your approach to that of the previous speaker. Great minds often do run in similar paths.
Compliment yourself and the other speaker for being on the same wave length and having a similar point of view. Avoid saying anything negative about either one of you. Create the feeling that you're friends, not competitors. The audience will admire you for your candor and generosity.
Piggyback your points onto what's already been said by delving deeper and expanding on your information. Segue from those points to yours using simple transition phrases like, "In addition to (what was said), it's also important to know that..." and "Along with (what was said), we should also be concerned about..." or a simple, "Goal setting, as we know, is different for every individual, and thus..."
Keep smiling. The audience doesn't know this isn't the way you planned it. They'll never suspect you're anything but absolutely confident and knowledgeable. And you'll be proud of your cool head in a crisis.
MARION CLAIRE coaches solopreneurs, business owners, middle managers, executives and professionals of all kinds to become the confident speakers they long to be. An autographed copy of her book, SECRETS of a UNIQUE & SEXY SPEAKER, is available on her website. She’ll customize a Speech or Workshop for your organization and help you write your speech for almost any occasion. For more information, go to speakingissexy.com
THE BOOK WITH ALL THE ANSWERS!
|
How to be a better speaker
Secrets Of A Unique & Sexy Speaker, 155 Helpful Speaking Tips for Writing Your Speech, Facing the Audience & Overcoming Fear!
Warmest wishes & always speak with joy!
~ Marion Claire
|
|
