Page 157 - The New Articulate Executive_ Look, Act and Sound Like a Leader

148 DELIVERY

pharmaceuticals, prayer, or hypnosis, the only way I know to con-
quer fear is to change the way we perceive public speaking. It’s as
simple as turning the caveman flight-or-fight mentality of cold
sweats and rapid heartbeats into an attitude of positive anticipation
and healthy challenge.
In advance of any speaking assignment, you should mentally
prepare by reminding yourself of six key points:

1. Love the people. Picture yourself on a familiar footing with the
audience. Try to have a prevailing sense of warmth and goodwill
toward the people who have come to hear you speak. Imagine your-
self in the barroom we’ve been talking about—or in your own living
room or dining room, enthusiastically letting old friends in on an
exciting new piece of information. The truth is that most people
don’t care about how much you know—until they know how much
you care. You will be surprised how this single altered perception in
itself goes a long way toward defusing your anxieties—and giving
you more “energy” than you thought you had.

2. Serve the people. Remember that you have come in service to these
people in the audience. You have come to serve them, not yourself.
They have every reason to expect something of value from you (oth-

erwise, why show up in the first place?), and you have a responsibil-
ity to give them value. The way to deliver value is to be more concerned
about the audience than you are about yourself. Concentrate on the
message, not on the messenger. Focus on what you are saying, and
you won’t have to worry about how you are doing. The measure of
how you are doing is proportionate to your commitment to what you
are saying.

3. You’re the guru. Remind yourself that you know as much or more
about your subject than anyone in the room. This should give you

the necessary confidence to forge ahead and do well.