“Always focus on the outcome you want to achieve in a meeting, interview, or negotiation rather than how you think you’re doing and what you think people will think of you.”
- Steal the Show, page 36
"Finding your voice is important for your results. If you want to play different roles authentically and amplify or downplay different parts of your personality to do so, it’s important to be comfortable with who you really are and what you stand for so you never lose sight of your values."- Steal the Show, page 5
Having the courage to be you, or finding your voice as Port calls it, is not easy. But then again, if you want to shine and put on the best performance of your life, you have to leave your comfort zone. Many of the biggest accomplishments have been achieved when we step outside our comfortable spots and push the limits.
One of the first steps to being yourself is to let go of your inner critic. Stop being so hard on yourself and don’t be afraid to take a chance. Port asserts that reducing self-criticism can boost the natural conviction that what you have to say matters as much as anyone else.
An additional tip to increase your authenticity is to not be afraid to talk about your weaknesses, difficulties or differences. This can be difficult since no one wants to be seen as vulnerable, especially in a room filled with strangers. But being open about your weaknesses can make you more approachable and will allow you to connect with the audience at a much deeper level. As the author states “what you say doesn’t have to be different to make a difference. It’s the way you say it that matters.”
Providing a personal story that’s related to the message you’re sharing can boost your authenticity. Port also reiterates the importance of not making your presentation goals unattainable. In other words, you don’t have to have all the answers or solutions. Admitting you don’t know something can increase your credibility with the audience. A great place to start boosting your credibility is through improvisation.
"Every speaker faces difficult situations and surprises at some point—improv is great training for saving those moments during a performance."- Steal the Show, page 182
Learning to improvise is a great resource for improving your presentations. It boosts your confidence, increasing your adaptability to handle any situation. Improvising also sharpens the skill-set needed to deal with difficult moments when things don‘t go as planned.
A group exercise Port suggests to improve your improvisation techniques is the story game. A theme or setting is provided to the group as well as an opening line such as, The cat jumped over the moon. The first group member then proceeds to build on the opening line until the facilitator says next, and the story-line then moves on to the next person and so on.
Another technique that the author refers to throughout the book is to adopt a mindset of yes, and. Saying yes and, “begins the positive cycle of creative, productive problem solving.” It’s about having the courage to explore all possibilities to find out what works and what doesn’t. Saying no shuts down creativity, discourages audience engagement and prevents creative dialogue.
"Showing empathy for the audience means I’m paying attention to how they are listening and what they are feeling."- Steal the Show, page 75
A key step for being in the moment during your big presentation is to be prepared and well-rehearsed. Preparation gives you the confidence to be present and in the moment because your brain is not so focused on remembering the material. It allows you to pick up on the audience’s visual cues and be a better listener. When listening, clear your mind of anything other than what is being said and try not to plan your response until the person has finished speaking.
Port also reiterates the importance of using all your senses to notice people’s reactions after something is said. Is the audience getting restless or tired or are they paying attention to every word, writing down notes? Sensing audience engagement or lack of it allows you to connect with the audience.
Being in the moment is all about being present. To fully engage the audience, you have to be aware of what’s going on. This valuable book summarizes many practical tips from Port’s acting background and public speaking successes. Following his advice will boost your confidence and presentation skill sets, and help you to steal the show at your next presentation.
Michael Port is also author of Beyond Booked Solid. He’s been called a “marketing guru” by the Wall Street Journal and is a renowned public speaker. A slightly irreverent, sometimes funny, knowledgeable, compassionate, and passionate performer, Michael hits his mark every time and leaves his audiences, readers, and clients a little smarter, much more alive and thinking a heck of a lot bigger about who they are and what they offer the world. See videos and read his blog at MichaelPort.com.
