The common misconception that we get with the work that we do at Empowered to Speak, is that we are ONLY helping people with their public speaking skills.
We definitely help people to become more effective public speakers, but beyond that we are passionate about helping people define who they are, develop greater confidence in expressing themselves and effectively communicating their message to one or to many.
A couple of common responses that I receive from people who share this misconception are :-
“I don’t need to speak in public”
“I am already a good public speaker”
The way our programs have been designed are unique to other general public speaking programs out there.
Public Speaking is a vehicle we use to help people become more effective communicators and to immerse themselves in a safe and supportive space.
In this space, they will have an opportunity to explore how to overcome some of the challenges they face in articulately sharing their message. They learn the art of being a champion for themselves, which is one of the core ingredients in our successful workshops and programs.
We have had people who are already great public speakers and ones who are not required to speak in public who find great value in participating in our programs. They are people who are continuously looking to evolve and improve the way they operate personally and professionally.
Through new found confidence in public speaking, we noticed people also have greater confidence in communicating in small groups and engaging with one other in conversations.
It’s interesting how through preparing for a speech and learning how to effectively deliver a flow of information to a group can help you in your basic daily one-on-one conversations.
In fact, conversations that you have with one other can be equally as powerful as speaking to a group.
The power of a conversation lies in your ability to effectively engage, listen with care and share with intention.
Effectively Engage
Eye contact is important when conversing with someone. if you are conversing with more than one, it is important to be mindful to engage eye contact with everyone in the group. Your eye contact shows genuine desire to connect and maintain rapport throughout the conversation.
Pay attention to your body language and try not to fold your arms, inconsistent hand movements and align your facial expression to tell your story.
Listen with Care
A conversation is a two-way traffic and so is speaking in public!! It is important to actively listen to the other person and not just focusing on what you have to say.
Being Empowered to Speak is also being Empowered to Listen.
It is important to develop active listening skills in order to effectively share and be authentic in your response.
Share with Intention
Even the most casual conversation has an intention – to entertain, to inform, to delight, to support, to sell, to invite, etc
When you are clear on the intent of the conversation, it will help you in navigating the conversation and support you and the other person/s in having a quality conversation.
Having one other person to share a conversation with not only is an opportunity to connect but it is an opportunity to care for one another in a wonderful way.
Recently in Australia, we had the “R u OK Day” on the 10th September as a campaign to prompt us to take action in asking those around us if they are OK, and to have those conversations that we are “too busy” to have, conversations that we think “can wait”, or conversations that are “too hard” to have.
The Power of a Conversation is in allowing a person to share their thoughts, concerns, challenges, feelings, joys, or achievements.
In sharing a conversation with another, you can inspire each other, feel connected and know that you are not on your own.
The next time you think you are “too busy”, “next week” or “it’s too hard”, know that the only certainty we have is that life is uncertain.
Seize the moment. Look forward to connect with one other. Be present to how you can make a difference in someone’s life and your own in the Power of a Conversation.