I just spoke to a woman who said that she did some presentation training once (as a participant), and when the training was over, she was worse in front of an audience than she had been when she started.

So she hasn't presented again. In 27 YEARS.

Then last week, she got up in front of a group of women (including me), and she spoke about her life, delivered her message, and got back on the audience-facing horse.

She did this, because she doesn't work in corporate anymore where audience-facing work was optional.

She runs her own business - and she knows that being able to speak in front of people is going to be good for her business.

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I was so curious about what she'd said about the presentation training and why she felt she got worse after the training.

So we chatted, and here's what she told me:

She'd been told to speak in a voice that isn't hers.

And to move her hand on this or that word.

And to be PROFESSIONAL when delivering her talk.

No. No no no.

This is not good. And if this is the training you've experienced, I'm really sorry.

It's not good because it stamps out your YOU-ness. It turns you into a cardboard cutout of the person you are, and doesn't encourage you to BE the person you are.
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Are you avoiding being in front of an audience?

Are you secretly wondering how being in front of an audience might move your business forward?

Are you part of a company that's full of people who are afraid to get up and deliver their thoughts, ideas, work, projects?

People don't need more presenting training (ew).

No.

This is about bringing the unique essence of YOU to audience-facing work.

This is about not being afraid of bringing that essence of YOU.

This is about getting comfortable enough in your own skin to know that doing anything BUT bringing that essence of you to an audience is going to end up unfulfilling, boring, frustrating and just shit, really. For you and for everyone else.

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So, here's what you need to do:

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Observe Yourself

When you are around your most favourite people, the people you are most comfortable with, how do you behave?

What do those people respond to?

What do they lean into? Laugh at? Enjoy? Want to know more of?

Bring some of that energy to the room you're in. Or the zoom you're on. Or the networking event you're at.

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Purge the nerves

We all get nervous before we have to speak in front of other people. Everyone does. I promise.

It's how we deal with the nerves that's important.

What are you doing BEFORE you speak or present? How are you preparing in the minutes before you speak, so that all the BS is out of the way?

What do I mean by this? I mean...in order to be in front of an audience, and to lock into the essence of who you are, you can't be dealing with nerves, jitters, heart palpitations, dry mouth...and all THE FEAR.

So, you need to purge the nerves. You need to get rid of those f@ckers. Are you doing that?

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Run towards rejection

Let's call this what is, okay?

We are all afraid of what people will think of us. We all are. It comes from childhood.

I worry people will not vibe with my message.

I worry I don't look good.

I worry people won't understand my flat South African accent.

And then I remember...I cannot care about what everyone thinks because that will paralyse and KILL ME.

So, I have to just be me and do what I do. Some people will love it. Some won't. I have to be okay with that.

So do you. You have to run towards rejection. Head first, heart first, eyes wide open.

It will free you up in ways you never knew possible.

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Right. So. What you gonna do? How will you start?

Will you observe yourself first? Will you write down what you observe? Will you email me and tell me what it is?

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Will you start purging the nerves in a very real way before you get in front of people? How? What will you do?

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Will you open yourself up to rejection? What's the one thing you can do to make that happen?

What are you going to DO? What are your steps?

I can't wait to hear about it! So, let me know, okay?

Ash.

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​PS My new website is LIVE. Check it out.​

PPS I recently spoke at an event and I got some beautiful feedback which I wanted to share because I am proud as punch...