Research that tells us that on the list of the top ten most feared events, speaking in public was top of the list. Death was number eight! This indicates the concern that people have to standing and presenting themselves with some confidence and yet more and more managers, supervisors and team leaders are expected to play this role. Gone are the days when the manager or team leader gave the odd presentation at the end of the year. Nowadays team leaders and managers are expected to present to large groups, to run training events, to coach staff, to motivate, to demonstrate their team efforts and generally interact much more on a “one to one” basis. Yet what preparation do we give these people. They cannot learn by accident or default – they need careful coaching to examine their preferred style of influence and then motivated to try new methods – push beyond their zone of comfort and look at new ways to “achieve more through others”.

Case Study

Some years ago I was working with a large organisation – working on developing internal facilitators to take the customer service message out to the rest of the organisation. One of the team was very anxious and when the occasion arose chose not to present her ”ten minute” session. The young woman said she felt uncomfortable. It transpired that whilst at college she had been a keen member of the “Debating Team” and thought herself quite good on her feet. After graduating she joined a large organisation in Financial Services and during her first week at work attended a large Conference with over 500 employees in attendance. At the Conference she was asked if she would represent her Group of 25 and feedback the conclusions of the Group in the Plenary session in front of the whole Group.

This she did with what she considered with just a little anxiety – since she was in her first job. When she went to sit down after her “3 minute” session her manager beckoned over to join him. She sat down next to him. He leaned over and said “You really need to control your anxiety – you really looked very nervous just then. If you are going to join my team you need to join ToastMasters or other Public Speaking Group.

Surprised, she left the Conference and thought nothing about it until she attended a Regional Review Meeting with her Manager. Before the event he told her he wanted her to “Promote a degree of solid confidence and try and inspire the rest of the team when presenting her Report”.

Needless to say, when she stood up to speak – there was only one thought going through her head –“ I must not look nervous or anxious, I must not look nervous or anxious……..I must not…..” The self talk took over. When we focus all of our attention on one thing, whether it is positive or negative, we tend to attract that which we focus upon most. So instead of dispelling her fear she was now attracting it. And the word Fear was correct. What was once a mild feeling of “stimulation” before taking to the floor had turned into a debilitating fear that was to follow her from job to job until she arrived on our programme. By now she was in her mid 30’s and her fear had become a Phobia! Isn’t it amazing how the words of one manager all those years ago can turn a “natural stimulation” or “arousal” to a full blown Phobia”

The key point here is that Phobias about Public Speaking or any other Phobias are learnt very quickly. They can be demolished even quicker.

We worked through her fear. After working with the young woman for 40 minutes she then took charge of this “phobia” and refocused and reframed her thoughts. She used some mental imagery to support her. She agreed to present a 60 second presentation in an empty room. Then she presented to me in the room – I was told to look out the window.. She presented again with me looking at her. She then worked with others and after 40 minutes she stood and held us spellbound – she even let us Video tape her work. A different young woman left that room that day than had walked in trepidation that morning.

Platform & Influence Skills Programme

There is no one best way to influence and we need to use our natural assets – rather than adopt a forced style that does not belong to us. During our two day sessions we cover the following outline:

• The effective communicator
• Charisma & Self Confidence
• Breaking through Self Limiting Fears
• Conquering Anxiety
• Effective Communication
• Using and Reading Body Language
• Reading the Audience
• Dealing with difficult people
• Assessing Personality Types
• Addressing objections before they arise
• Objection handling
• Practising in a supportive team
• Developing anchors of self-confidence
• Listening Skills