How to Become a Motivational Speaker Tip #3
After registration, about two months before the public speaking job, we send out aconfirmation e-mail reiterating our request that they prepare this five to seven minute delivery. Three days before the workshop, we again send a reminder about the workshop and the presentation. So each attendee receives a course description and two reminder e-mails. And yet, when I stand before them and say, “Now, of course, you all have your presentations this afternoon,” I’m met with a room full of confused “it’s-the-first-time-I’ve ever-heard-about-it” expressions. “What?” I add. “You didn’t know?”
It never fails to amaze me that top speaking professionals, working for a top company, will
come to a presentation skills workshop without a presentation! Moreover, these speaking
presentations are being video-taped and conducted, not only in front of their peers, but
also many times in front of their bosses. Still, remarkably, many do not prepare.
Often, I’ll try to break the “avoidance-syndrome” tension by reading those e-mails
aloud, evoking some embarrassed chuckling and confessions of “Oh yeah, you’re right.”
(I sincerely believe that if I didn’t read these “Exhibit A Evidences” to them, there would
still be a few who would stubbornly hold to the claim that they’d never heard about the
presentation requirement.)At this point, the room energy is comprised of a dangerous combination of
embarrassment and guilt. So I use humor to make the bitter truth more palatable. I
offer the following explanation: You probably did peruse the course description and signed up for the
course with every intention of doing a good job on your presentation for
yourselves, your peers, and your supervisors. You knew that it was important
and would be beneficial to your speaking careers, but you still had some time. Procrastination in preparing to speak is toxic potion for one who wants to become a motivational speaker.You can’t wing it you have to take the prep time that is necessary for every presentation. I’ve heard people describe their talents as not needing preparation that they think better on their feet. You are deceived. It takes:
…reading for your speech
…note-taking for your speaking opportunity
…outlining for your speaking opportunity
…writing for your speaking opportunity
…editing for your speaking opportunity
…memorizing for your speaking opportunity
…developing supplementary materials for your speaking opportunity
…finding appropriate props
…and as many essential etceteras as you can shake a stick at!
Don’t make the mistake of so many who start in this industry and then bomb when they have to stand and deliver. It takes preparation for public speaking…lots of preparation to become a motivational speaker.
