The dreaded red curtain, the sweaty palms, the racing heart - Meyers and Nix open their book with a scene familiar to anyone who's had to speak in public. But rather than just sympathizing with this anxiety, they explain the fascinating science behind it. Those butterflies in your stomach? That's your amygdala - two small almond-shaped structures in your brain - doing exactly what evolution designed them to do: protect you from perceived threats. When hundreds of eyes stare at...
The Content Behind Great Communication
You know what drives people crazy in presentations? The same three things, whether you're in Boston or Bangkok: too much information dumped on their heads, stuff that has nothing to do with them, and speakers who never get to the point. We keep making these mistakes because we're focused on our own message instead of what our listeners actually need.Take John Stevens, who walked into a room full of people needing motivation. He started with "I'm John Stevens, and I'm...
Powerful Delivery
Public speaking isn't just about having great ideas - it's also about delivering them effectively. The world is full of smart people whose ideas go unheard simply because they lack delivery skills. Even brilliant content can fall flat without proper delivery. So, here's how to make sure that the brilliant content we just created doesn't fall flat.Powerful delivery starts with the voice. Your voice reveals your inner state, and flattening it out in an attempt to hide emotions only makes...
Understanding State
Our ability to perform well, especially in high-stakes situations, like in our case, public speaking or critical presentations, depends heavily on our 'state' - the combination of our psychological, physical, and emotional condition. While many focus solely on preparing content, managing this state is equally crucial for success.Let's start with the body's role. Professional performers, from athletes to ballet dancers, understand that physical patterns directly influence emotions. When you're scared, you naturally breathe in short, shallow pants and hunch your...
The Human Touch When Stakes Are High
In today's fast-paced professional world, maintaining genuine human connections during critical moments is what sets successful communicators apart. We have three challenging communication scenarios where the human element often gets lost, but is most crucial to preserve.Let's start with what they call "courageous conversations" - those difficult discussions we need to have but often avoid. Courageous conversation is not about winning an argument, it's about addressing difficult issues head-on, while maintaining professional bonds. The authors share a revealing story from...
A Great Communicator has Authenticity of Vision
Don't deny this: we're all caught in what Stephen Covey calls the "activity trap" - constantly reacting to urgent demands while losing sight of what truly matters. We rush from one task to another, checking off items on our to-do lists, only to feel strangely empty at day's end. This reactive approach to life and leadership not only diminishes our personal fulfillment but also hampers our ability to make meaningful impacts in our organizations and communities. The key to breaking...
Summary
Words hold transformative power - they can breathe life into ideas, bridge gaps between what is and what could be, and touch countless lives. When we speak with intention and authenticity, focusing on serving others rather than ourselves, we unlock our true presence and potential. Your unique voice matters; the world awaits your contribution.
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About the Author
Peter Meyers is the founder of Stand & Deliver Consulting Group. An acclaimed actor and theater director, he currently teaches performance and leadership skills at Stanford University, Esalen Institute, and IMD-International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is based in San Francisco.
More on: www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Peter-Meyers/63176047
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