On a recent day home feeling under the weather, I got the chance to watch daytime TV. One show’s topic that caught my attention was: What do other people think of us? A group of women were featured who for various reasons weren’t getting the kind of results they wanted in their dating lives.

Here was Linda, who was very attractive, who had 12 first dates in the last 12 months and zero second dates. Linda couldn’t figure out why. So, the show set her up on dates with four different men then had them talk about their experiences. The consensus from the men was that Linda liked to talk about herself… a lot. And when the men were with her, they didn’t really feel that she was with them—or that they were important, or even present.

For business professionals (and singles), there’s an important lesson from Linda’s dating experience. To get someone’s attention, to get someone to listen to us—we have to listen to them first. We have to connect. As speakers (and daters), we have to show an interest in our listeners.

Connecting is NOT talking about ourselves or our topic.

Connecting is a two-way exchange of energy, interest,
and attention.

A SUPERSTAR Speaker Connects With Her Audience

Here are five questions to ask that will help you connect better with your audiences. (I’m going to leave the dating comparisons behind.) Think of these questions as homework, to help you prepare for important presentations. Your effort will set you apart from other business speakers.

Now, you might be wondering: How do I get all this information? You might be thinking that you’ve got enough to worry about just putting your presentation together. Here is where you get to separate yourself from the everyday business presenter to become the SUPERSTAR presenter.

The SUPERSTAR presenter goes above and beyond the everyday presenter in that he or she thinks about the audience, and how the audience will best connect with the information that is to be presented.

Here are five ways that the SUPERSTAR does her homework:

By using the information she found, the SUPERSTAR presenter can’t help but connect and be relevant and engaging as she gives her presentation.

Now, what happens when you have to run or host a meeting? Can you use some of the same skills and questions to prepare? The answer is yes! Here’s how to run a meeting like a SUPERSTAR using proper meeting host etiquette.

Six Tips for Hosting a Great Meeting

1. Recognize that hosting a meeting is like hosting party.
Greet people and refer to them by name just as you do with your friends. Many large meetings use nametags (get the new kind that clip or stick on without destroying fabric). People love hearing their names--- pronounced correctly, of course! This will create a personable and friendly environment. Introduce guests to people they don’t know and make them feel like they are already one of the crowd. Many people are intimidated attending a new meeting for the first time. Try to make it a warm, friendly experience for them.

2. Give your guests permission and time to network.
One of the major reasons cited for attendance and membership of professional associations is to make new business contacts. However, many people who attend are uncomfortable starting conversations with strangers or introducing themselves.

Designate 5 or 10-minutes at your meeting for introductions at each table when all people are seated. Ask each person to give a 30-second introduction that includes their name, company, and why they came to the meeting. This will put everyone on equal ground and will limit the extroverts from overtaking the conversation and give the introverts permission to introduce themselves. It also will add to the friendliness factor and can allow for a more intimate experience. This is especially important for large meetings.

3. It’s all about your guests.
Have you ever been to a meeting where the host got up to speak and all she did was talk about herself? I don't think there's anything that will turn off your participants and guests more than a long-winded egotistical monologue. The gracious host always mentions the accomplishments of others. Make your members, guests, and volunteers feel valued. Remember to publicly praise and privately make any suggestions for improvement.

4. Make sure that your audience can see and hear you.
Your podium is the focal point of the room. Everyone should be able to see it from where they are sitting. Request a room setup that allows for the greatest number of people to be able to see the front without straining their necks or having to move their chairs. If you are using AV equipment, make sure the screen is also at the front of the room. Make it easy for people to see the entire program.

If you are using a microphone, meeting host etiquette requires that you test it before your guests arrive, not while they are there. If it is a handheld or stationary microphone, you'll need to know how far away from your mouth it should be. If it's a clip on lavaliere style, make sure it's on the outside of your clothing and doesn't rustle against fabric or jewelry. Have someone go to the different sections of the room and make sure that the volume is appropriate—Testing one, two, and three.

5. Never abandon the podium.
As the meeting host, your role is to man the podium and never let it get lonely. Why? Because the podium is the main focal point of the room. If you abandon the podium, you'll abandon your audience. As you introduce a speaker, wait until she comes up to the podium. Think of the podium as a runner's baton—you pass the baton with a handshake to your speaker. Then, you go sit down. When the speaker is finished, you rise; go back up to the podium and the speaker passes the baton back to you—again with a handshake.

6. Remember your manners and say “please” and “thank you”. Back to the gracious host business: When you ask your audience to do something, say “please”. As in “Please help me welcome our speaker, Jane Smith.” Then, lead applause for Jane. When Jane is finished speaking and you come back to the podium, you can say something like, “Let's thank Jane for her great presentation.” Again, lead applause and thank Jane.

Now my friend, you are prepared to give SUPERSTAR presentations and host a great meeting. Here’s to your success!

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About the Author
Dana Bristol-Smith is the founder of Speak for Success, an organization that works with companies that want their people to communicate with confidence and credibility. You can email Dana at:dana@speakforsuccess.net

 

By Dana Bristol-Smith Order Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking Today!