A few months ago, I received an email: “I am a great fan of yours. Could I interview you for my blog?”
I was busy, and my first instinct was to reply, “Please contact me again in three months.” However, before I hit “send” I thought twice and decided to click on the link to his website. To my surprise, I was looking at someone quite famous (and handsome, I should add). I picked up the phone and said, “What is an Emmy Award-winning TV interviewer and game show host doing being one of my fans?”
Well, we had a great conversation. Obviously, I was willing to grant him the interview. Before we wrapped up, he asked, “Patricia, what is the one secret of delivering a great presentation?”
As I was saying… “Well, there is no one secret…”
Now, let’s freeze frame for a moment. If you are a consultant, sales professional, or professional speaker, you may have developed the habit of sitting on your own shoulder, as it were, and listening in on your own conversations. I do it all the time. When you are having an interesting conversation with a brilliant person, it might inspire you to say something profound or interesting that you realize you have not said before. Record it, because this flash of insight might not come again!
Just as I finished saying there is no one secret… I realized a brand-new Frippicism was about to fall from my lips. I stopped the conversation and said, “Let me write this down before I tell you, because I might want to use this again…” With the thought committed to paper, I continued… “There is no one secret. However, if there were a secret, it would be that your subject would be of interest to your audience.”
In other words, if you are in front of an audience and they are genuinely interested in your subject, then they will forgive you while you’re developing your fancy footwork or good presentation skills. As I often say, “Your audience will forgive you of almost anything except being boring.”
Remember, your interesting subject is simply a starting point. Learn how to correctly design and deliver a presentation to transform your interesting subject into a powerful presentation.
No time for a public speaking workshop? Fripp Virtual Training can rapidly transform your public speaking skills on your schedule. Sign up for a complimentary trial here: http://frippvt.com
Enjoy this sample from Fripp Virtual Training:
Imagine a training program that gives you 24/7 access to one of the most in-demand executive speech coaches and sales presentation experts. Fripp Virtual Training is designed to be immediately engaging and makes it fun to learn. If you are a novice presenter or a seasoned professional, you will find the content both practical and relevant.
Sign up for your complimentary seven-day trial and discover how Fripp VT can transform you and your team. Fripp VT delivers high-caliber comprehensive presentation and sales presentations skills training with built in accountability. http://frippvt.com
Executive Speech Coach and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker Patricia Fripp is hired by individuals and companies who realize that powerful, persuasive presentation skills give them a competitive edge.
