Why Leaders Fail To Connect With Their Audience
Oct 24, 2022
Where’s your slide deck? The conference organiser asked me as I was about to go on stage earlier this week in Paris.
I have no slides, was my reply.
I am the slide, I said with a smile in my voice.
Speaking From Your Heart is Your Runway to Sustainable Success
Earlier this week I spoke at a Women’s conference in Paris, France.
I was given a unique platform to perform on and I wanted to explore it to fullest. And I knew what needed to happen.
I wanted to move people. I wanted to connect with those people in the audience who were ready to level up and who wanted more out of life.
Having delivered numerous talks and presentations earlier on in my career, I recalled how stressful it had been when the conference AV facilities couldn't connect with my laptop. Or how I would humble with the AV remote controller or even be jailed to read from the slides. I would be distracted and slowly separate myself from the audience - and my key notes.
Preparation is The Secret to Any Success
So I embarked on my new uplevel. I had no choice not to succeed.
I found a trainer who could teach me how to become a public leadership speaker. Between the private sessions, I rehearsed my talks. And I stored them in my heart. Taking notes using a pen and paper was no longer necessary for me.
The moment arrived when I went on stage. Never before had I been so confident and calm.
My two key notes "Tomorrow's Leaders - how to become her today" and "How Unconsciousness Kills Your Success" had become part of my speaker DNA.
I knew what power message I wanted to leave the audience with.
I knew which personal stories I wanted to share to illustrate my points of why you want to grow your consciousness if you want more success, time and freedom without having to put in more effort.
And I trusted my source - my inner me - that I would connect with those leaders in the audience who were ready to heal their wounds, who were ready to step up as the authentic leader, and who were ready no longer to play small.
And I did.
Drop Your Slide Deck, If You Want More Success
Most leaders in the pharmaceutical industry play it wrong. They spend hours creating a presentation for their next townhall meeting. And when on stage, they look towards the screen with their back to the audience waiting for the next piece of information to be revealed. The story gets disputed. They dedicate maximum 10 minutes for rehearsal. They are mentally and heartfelt disconnected from the information they are sharing. And they get frustrated and annoyed when people don't do listen and don't act as needed. In worst case, they don't even pay attention to the missing impact.
I've been there and I know the business drill. Back to back meetings. Never time to be present.
Nevertheless, if you want to create more impact, you must align yourself with the information you want to share. Your people will listen and follow your guidance, if you are authentic and if you paint the destination. Most leaders forget this.
Next time you are to deliver a presentation, choose to speak from your heart and connect with your audience and not your slide deck.
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