Unfortunately, most people never learn the craft of giving presentations and they are forced to rely on their natural talent. This is why only some people talk and others are quiet.
You feel that you can't control your voice, that you can't express what you want to say, that you're not doing yourself justice. You know that you're smarter than the words you hear yourself saying.
And so you are quiet and don't get any practice speaking and have completed your first round of a vicious circle.
This is horrible! So many people want to share their views and opinions, explain, influence, tell a story – or maybe just ask a question – but they don't think they can.Lots of people try to save themselves by writing down ahead of time exactly what they will say. These people are attempting to accomplish one of the most difficult tasks there is reading perfectly from a manuscript. Doing so requires both talent and practice!At the same time, there are so many professional speakers, politicians, teachers, and lecturers who talk without regard to their audience. Unfortunately, these people reinforce the misconception that speaking is difficult, since not even they, who should be able to speak effectively, can do so.
I propose that you will be able to get by without a manuscript, without an outline and without having to think ahead of time about every word you're going to say! But this does not mean that you can skip preparation. With the right preparation it's easy to give a talk, write a report or present a project.
_____This is how we're tricked into thinking that speaking is difficult. We were so good at it when we were small. All people have a natural, innate talent in expressing themselves, but far too many have failed to develop their natural talent, to practice.
- Do you remember when you were in school and were about to give your first presentation?
- – It's your turn next Friday, said the teacher.
- – I can't. I don't know what to say.
.- – That's OK. We just want to see how you act...
They have hidden, withdrawn and allowed others to take on the responsibility of keeping a conversation going. They don't think that they can. And they may be right. But this does not mean that things can't change.
Presentation techniques – the craft – can be learned. The talent is innate.It is not a matter of following "good" advice that we were given in school:
– Make a suitable gesture! This is cruel advice to give a young person! And it is cruel advice to a teacher, instructor or salesperson to copy the more experienced – how they enter a classroom, walk across the schoolyard, stand in front of a group etc. This is the wrong way to approach the problem. Security, selfconfidence, authority and dignity aren't in the gesture. These are reflected in our body language, how we behave.
I want to know more about body language!
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