Photo courtesy of H. Heyerlein/Unsplash
“As in water, face reflects face, so a person’s heart reveals the person.” Proverbs 28:19.
One of my students experienced an epiphany last week; he realized he had been subverting his true personality since day one of public speaking class.
For six separate classes, he had appeared to the rest of class and me as a calm, laid-back, step-by-step speaker. But class #7 was about voice. I use Ron Hoff’s classic training manual on public speaking I Can See You Naked as part of the class material.
According to Hoff, some people are blue zone speakers: logical, deliberate, intellectual, restrained.
Others are red-zone speakers: creative, spontaneous, emotional, daring.
There is no right or wrong between red or blue. Just follow your personality.
What you want to avoid is the Grey Zone which is boring, predictable, safe, monotonous, neutral.
When I asked the class to identify themselves as blue or red speakers, the student noted above said red zone. We all just looked at him. What?
You see, in real life, he is a red zoner who is an out-going, fun-loving, creative, prank-pulling guy. But he hid that in class, thinking that to be the best speaker, he needed the qualities of a blue-zoner.
The water had been muddied; he did not see his face reflected in the water. I call this putting on a speaking persona. It’s not a good idea.
When the realization hit him that he could be a better speaker by being himself, his face lit up in megawatts. I love when that happens.
There’s a profusion of amazing training content online, much of it free. I watch a lot of TED talks as well as take virtual training that’s offered. But not all of it is good.
I viewed two minutes of an exceptionally bad one yesterday. A woman who identified herself as a presentation skills coach was so phony she made me laugh out loud. NOTE: The video wasn’t intended to be humorous. I assume she was reading from a teleprompter or cue cards at camera level, but she spoke slowly and dramatically with unnatural face and eye movements. At one point, she winked at the audience as though at a double entendre. Eww.
To be a believable speaker, be yourself. As the proverb says, let your heart reveal the person you are.
Audiences are typically savvy and smart. They can tell when a speaker has taken on a speaking persona, especially for the speaker’s own gain.
You will be a more natural and relaxed speaker when you are your true self.
When I started public speaking many years ago, I originally wanted to be a polished and perfect speaker, enunciating each syllable carefully. Blue Zone personified. Fortunately, I learned quickly enough that was not the real me!
Be willing to put yourself out there—your REAL self!
To my readers: Do you have a favorite TED talk or other on-line speaker you would recommend to our tribe?
