In my many years of public speaking, I’ve spoken before dozens, hundreds and even thousands of people… And believe me the biggest rule I learned… Was that it really didn’t matter what I was saying, but the most important was how people were digesting my speech.

On your way to becoming a public speaker, (even if you will only do that in one dinner and that’s it 🙂 ), you will face a time where you will be deceived by your own Ego… That day when you think that your joke was funny, your shower voice is amazing and your speech is brilliant… Just because your own ear liked it!

Well, reality is a bit different… Some of us do sound HORRIBLE… and could be bad in telling jokes and their way of telling their own story is painful to bare…

So the tip for this week, is to focus on how the others would receive you…

1. Listen to your own voice: and I don’t mean in the Shower 🙂 … Just Record yourself talking and then replay it and listen to what you really sound like! (I’ve met so many who had no idea how did they sounded like in real life, that was priceless in the early days of Video Cameras.)
2.  Try to get constructive feedback: some people speak fast, some are LOUD and some are low… and most of us, sometimes have a FAN word, (that you keep repeating it every 4-5 words)… Now chances are that you wouldn’t notice it on your own, so seek constructive feedback… and believe me, you need to ENCOURAGE people to give you feedback… and embrace the negative
3. Master the 3Ps: Prepare what you want to say, Practice how you want to say it, and then Perform.

And finally remember this: Just because it makes sense to you, doesn’t mean that it does for the others.

Have a nice week!
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Samer Chidiac is a Sr. Strategist, Author & an International Innovation Expert.

The Monday Tip Weekly blog is part of the “Influencing the Life of Others” project