When I talk to my executive speech coaching clients, I always say, “Your life experience is a reservoir of unique experiences and insights.”
I love to ask questions that pique my curiosity to help them uncover a treasure trove of content they can weave into their speeches. This approach makes them effective, memorable and authentic.
This isn’t just about storytelling; it’s a journey to understand the true essence of your communicative power. Your unique experiences resonate with others and build connections beyond the usual speaker-audience relationship.
For example, when discussing strategy, I asked my client, “When was the first time you realized the importance of strategy?” He replied, “When I was a 14-year-old ball boy before the French Open…”
Another, I asked, “How do you describe Corporate Citizenship to your children?” The reply was, “It was the day after Christmas, and I sat both of my children down…”
Another, “When did you become passionate about statistics?” I heard, “In college. Our professor was a new PhD, and we were his first class. When he began telling us…”
Another question was, “When did you become determined to be a success?” She said, “I was ten, sitting at the kitchen table. My 36-year-old father had just died with no insurance. My 29-year-old mother of four had never worked outside of the home. She said, ‘Mary, you will never be in the position of not being able to support yourself and your family…’”
I advise my clients who need to inspire and motivate their associates, “Your audience will respect your title. They will fight in the streets when they see the person behind the position.”
As you embark on your exploration, remember that every experience, no matter how small, has the potential to inspire, influence, and ignite change. This is an excellent time to look back on your memory.
Let’s make your message memorable, your presentation powerful, and every conversation successful.
Join FrippVT.com, and I will become your personal speech coach.
“I wanted a Super Bowl quality coach. Patricia Fripp’s help in coaching and scripting was world-class. With Fripp on your team, you can go places.” Don Yaeger, Long-Time Associate Editor for Sports
