Speech IS power and if your job is to sell a service or a product (or yourself) it’s a Superpower.
Let's face it, public speaking isn't everyone's favourite activity. But for your business, it's an absolute game-changer!
Think about it: Steve Jobs didn't just sell phones—he told stories that made us line up around the block.
If speaking for business isn’t part of your brand-building strategy, you’re missing a trick.
As long as you show up as the same person whether online or in real life, you’ll create a personal brand that’s aligned with your values and is congruent with your personality. Don't try to be somebody you think you should be or use language that isn't yours. You’ll be certain to get caught out...
Better still if you can get on a stage and speak to an audience not only do you increase your reputation as the go-to person in your industry, but you build your Personal Brand. As my guest, keynote speaker and marketing master, Mark Schaefer says ‘Personal brand is Everything!’
I ended up fortuitously at the Royal Shakespeare Company as a dresser. Well, you could say I found my tribe. It was there in 1994, standing in the wings, a faint smell of grease paint in the air, that I had my penny drop moment...
CEO of the mega-successful brand, Gymshark, Ben Francis has gone out of his way to learn the art of public speaking and become a better communicator. As his company became more successful, he was required to step in front of an audience...
Once you have that talk under your belt it can be used again and again, refined, and adapted, to fill 10 minutes or 90 mins. To talk to an audience of 10 or 10,000.
The performance, i.e., your talk, your job, your life, is the culmination of all these processes – warm-up, exercise, play, and character. When utilised properly they build confidence, resilience, empathy, and focus.
If people are going to buy from you, then you need to be accountable for your actions. A slick company video with seamless transitions and a well-rehearsed commentary may satisfy your shareholders, yourself and make competitors slightly jealous, but it’s just aesthetics.
