From shallow theatrics to your best self

Broadly speaking, there are two types of training options available on the market: one category of public-speaking mentors will inevitably make it their objective to teach you the most 'universally likeable' gestures and on-stage 'behaviours' they can think of. And if that's what you are after, you will see absolutely nothing wrong with this approach, except, perhaps, that after a while, you might find yourself a little put off by the fact that 'everyone stands, waves and gestures just about the same'. Think of corporate portrait photos on company websites, with everyone following the 'touch your chin' or 'lean agains the glass wall' instruction, all the while projecting the confidence of a born CEO.

The key goals of a smart public-speaking training programme?

1. Become a much more perceptive observer (of your own, deep-rooted behaviour patterns, distractors, self-soothing gestures, stress indicators, content-quality drivers)
2. Become a much more perceptive observer (of key impression/reputation drivers for those public speakers you find genuinely impressive in at least one way; think out of the box, beyond what you're used to, especially when looking for insightful sources of information, learning and continuous self-improvement
3. Methodically embark on a journey to finding your most comfortably authentic self (not necessarily 'perfect', but well-intentioned, well-prepared and always aware of and respectful towards your audience)

Above all, don't be the person you are not!

Learning public speaking is, first and foremost, about self-discovery and taking your observation skills to the next level: making you see (aka notice, understand and process) things that you have either been completely oblivious to (sometimes, your entire life, and for a long list of possible reasons) and becoming a much more perceptive observer.

Smart public-speaking training should, therefore, make it a priority objective to help you (re)discover the kind of bluntness and honesty (about yourself) that you will not experience much of in the so-called real, every-day world, where kindness, diplomacy, hierarchy and political correctness often prevail.

And one last thing...

If you think public-speaking training is exclusively about learning to perform/present better in front of an audience, you couldn't be more wrong. It's about so much more! Here are a few examples:

• becoming a much better, active listener
• developing genuine confidence (or, more precisely, finding the right balance between confidence and humility)
• addressing the many possible obstacles and (highly idiosyncratic) mental barriers that make you instinctively defensive (or even aggressive/confrontational) in a great variety of everyday situations
• improving the quality of the relations and relationships that really matter in your life
• job interviews, casual conversations with strangers, situations that require quick improvisation skills, etc.

For more, please go to my Public Speaking Body Lanugage Vlog