Richard Branson's Secret Weapon for Effective Speaking
What makes you a strong speaker? If your mind went blank, then you need to read on because you are going to learn all about strength-based speaking.
Yep, I totally stole this idea from strength-based leadership. This idea has you (a leader) identify the strengths of the people around you and then assign responsibilities based on those strengths.
I firmly believe in strength-based SPEAKING – where you identify your strengths as a speaker and then play to those strengths during a presentation.
What's your speaking super power?
You have unique strengths as a speaker that make you stand out. You might hold up Tony Robbins, Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama as excellent speakers and they are – no question! However, they are speakers who know and understand their abilities. Plus, you shouldn't compare yourself to other speakers anyway!
Richard Branson's secret to great speeches
Did you know that business genius and innovator, Sir Richard Branson has a huge fear of public speaking?
Richard Branson's Key to Effective Speaking
The affable billionaire who seems not to mind stepping into the spotlight – doesn’t like giving speeches. In an interview with Entrepreneur Magazine, he admitted to anxiety about public speaking and that he does not like giving structured presentations. Bad-ass Richard Branson – doesn't like speaking.
You know what he loves? Having a conversation. Interacting with the audience. He loves the spontaneity around question and answer sessions. He never knows what is going to be asked, but he does love the conversation.
When he is asked to speak, he does prepare a few remarks, but then structures the time around Q&A. He plays to his strength and the audience loves him for his approachability and his willingness to answer questions. Little do they know, he is just avoiding his anxiety.
3 questions to ask to identify your strengths
What are your strengths as a speaker? If you say none, I’m going to stop by your house and drag it out of you. No matter where you are on your speaking journey – you do have strengths!
It might be your ability to explain complex ideas, organize material, tell a story or smile freely at the audience. When speaking, you want to build from your strengths. You need to get to know yourself as a speaker.
Let’s start this process by answering a few questions below.
- List what you like about your delivery style (think broad – eye contact, gestures, vocal variety etc.)
- What do you feel most confident about in the content you present?
- Homework: Ask people who have seen you speak – your manager, business partner, audience members – anyone you feel comfortable asking – email them and find out what they see as your strengths.
When you know where you excel as a speaker – you can build confidence by playing to your strengths. Speaking becomes more fun for you, and you become more engaging to your audience.
What's your biggest strength as a speaker? Tell me all about it in the comments below.
Excellent! Love the power of conversation. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome Jon! Conversation is a great way to reframe a speaking engagement!
Excellent focus! Your article makes me think of two things:
1) There is an area of organizational development called Appreciative Inquiry, which suggests organizations will do better focusing on what works rather than trying to constantly fix what doesn’t. I take that same approach to speech coaching, and your emphasis on building on your strengths draws on that same insight. Cool! Self-help folks for years have observed “what you focus on, you get more of.”
2) I often tell students that most people have some natural ability in one of the three areas you must consider: content, delivery, and organization. I have found it useful to break organization out into its own area, partly because a strength here doesn’t automatically translate to either a content strength or an organizational strength. I would contend you have to achieve competence in all three areas, but building on your natural strength can enable you to pull the other two areas along. Make sense? I would bet Branson has a great strength in both delivery and content, so the Q&A approach enables him to leave organizational considerations to the zen moment.
I couldn’t agree with #1 more. I told a CEO once that she needed to focus on what people were good at and put them in roles where they would excel instead of trying to fix what is “wrong” with a person. She thought it was an interesting idea but did nothing about it. Ahh consulting is fun, isn’t it?
I agree with what you tell your students. Too many people think they are rubbish at speaking not realizing they are great writers, or can organize the heck out of anything or are naturally charismatic. Our strengths give us the confidence to work on weaknesses and excel in every presentation.