Ep. 238 Your Stage Plan?

How do four inexperienced presenters, who have never delivered a presentation to an audience of 1,000 people before, each get STANDING OVATIONS? Mark and Darren review their recent experience coaching four CEOs to deliver deeply personal 8-minute stories to their peers in the Young Presidents’ Organization. The lessons learned are invaluable and will help you to deliver your unforgettable presentation.   SNIPPETS: • Invest energy an effort   • Be coachable   • Practice, practice, practice   • Rehearse handling distractions   • Trust your instinct about what works well for YOU                                             • Talk to your coach about your ideas   • Tell your story in your own unique way   • Find your 11…that which makes you stand out   • Build a relationship with your coach                                             • Learn from others who have given similar presentations   • Don’t focus on a standing ovation

Humor is necessary to make a presentation interesting and entertaining. Uncovering humor can be a challenge, and to learn more about how to get more laughs, Mark and Darren sit down with Hollywood comedy writer and humor expert Chris McGuire. Chris shares tips and techniques for uncovering humor and being unforgettably funny.   SNIPPETS: • Use levity at the beginning of your presentation   • Connection with the audience is critical; always connect first   • Find out what the event attendees have in common   • Use People, Places, Things, Events, Sayings, and the Weather   • Be sensitive and avoid potentially offensive material   • Only poke gentle fun at things that folks can change, like haircuts & clothing   • Learn about your client’s industry   • Get interesting, unusual or significant details about the event location                                             • Get information from the client and venue’s websites   • Review event itinerary/schedule   • Connect the location to well-known celebrities if possible                                             • Look for awards humor

As presenters, we should expect the unexpected. At times, we will encounter unexpected circumstances and situations, and today Darren and Mark discuss steps that we can take to not only adapt, but to give our audiences unforgettable experiences.   SNIPPETS: • Assess the situations   • Explore options   • Use creativity   • Go heart-to-heart with the event planner   • Let go of your ego                                             • Adjust your presentation as needed   • Ask: How can I best serve my client and my audience   • Always have slide decks for different presentation lengths   • Learn about your audience and adjust your references if necessary                                             • Take an improv class

You want to ‘make it’ in the speaking business so you seek advice from a seasoned pro. Are you willing to take their advice…even if it’s hard to receive? Mark and Darren talk about advice they have received…and given…that some people don’t accept. These poignant nuggets of wisdom can help any presenter along the path to becoming unforgettable.   SNIPPETS: • Get your sea legs   • Find a way to give 100 speeches   • Invest the effort to get XXX rated…Xperience, Xpertise and Xposure.   • Take and pass the ‘book test’   • Get stage time from service clubs, Toastmasters and more                                             • Speak for free before you speak for fee   • Pay the mountain   • Do what others won’t   • Speak virtually even if it’s uncomfortable                                             • GET A COACH

You have just attended a conference, heard good speakers, and received powerful content. You walk away with a folder full of notes, e-mail addresses and phone numbers. NOW what should you do? Darren and Mark share best practices to keep your enthusiasm and momentum alive and productively take full advantage of the event experience.   SNIPPETS: • Review KEEPERS and ACTION ITEMS   • Prioritize ONE ACTION and follow through on that action consistently   • Connect with another attendee as an accountability partner   • Create a mastermind with other attendees   • Connect with fellow speakers and attendees on LinkedIn                                             • Connect with the event planner and thank them   • Eliminate items that create bad habits   • Apply the principles your learned                                             • Revisit your notes from the last event you attended and take ONE ACTION

You have just presented at an event and after all your hard work planning, preparing, and presenting, what should you do? Today Mark and Darren offer solid suggestions to help you stay on top of your game after every speaking event.   SNIPPETS:   • Schedule a day off   • Block time for your family, even if they are at the event with you   • Don’t ruin your “speaker’s high”   • Debrief with the client within a week   • Treat the debrief as a sales call   • Connect with fellow speakers and attendees on LinkedIn                                             • Ask for other opportunities to serve

So, you want to travel the world and share your message. Perhaps you’ve wondered what it’s like to be a ‘road warrior.’ Mark and Darren pull back the curtain on their experiences of a combined 50+ years of traveling to speak, and share their time-tested tips for being a successful road warrior.   SNIPPETS: • You are not alone   • It’s not always glamorous   • Give yourself grace   • Going international hire an agent/bureau to manage proposals & negotiations   • Examine the systems you set up to function while you’re on the road   • Arrive a day early to prepare yourself   • Tack on an extra road day to refill yourself; self-care is critical   • Decide what’s best for your stress   • Join frequent air/hotel/rental car programs   • Take photos of room numbers and parking spaces   • Use airport security programs like TSA Pre-check, CLEAR and Digital ID   • Maintain balance

Imagine, your largest audience so far has been fewer than ninety people, and you now get to tell your most emotional personal story on a BIG STAGE to more than 1,300 CEOs! What thoughts swirl through your head, and how will you pull it off?   Today Darren and Mark get answers from Management Consultant and Executive Coach Jody LaVoie. Mark and Darren helped to prepare Jody for her first time on the big stage…a global conference for CEOs. Jody’s lessons learned and wisdom gained will help you to get ready for your first (or next) time on the big stage!   SNIPPETS: • Be open to your coaches’ point of view   • Start preparing your presentation with the end in mind   • Build your story in scenes   • Invest time refining your message   • Use  Foundational Phrase to make your message more meaningful   • “Don’t over-Darren” - Bring YOURSELF to the platform                                             • Focus less on delivering your next line, and more on your audience   • Make sure your message lands with the audience   • Serve your audience   • After your first time on the big stage, take time to do nothing tomorrow

Have you ever received advice that changed the game in your business, career, or relationships? Today Darren and Mark discuss some of the nuggets of wisdom that they’ve received…and successfully applied…throughout their careers.   SNIPPETS: • Let no one out-prepare you   • Strive to be the client’s favorite   • Your money should make more money than you do   • A true champion overcomes all adversities   • Write a speech you can’t wait to deliver   • Humanize data          • Invest in your success   • Don’t be informative; be transformative

Don’t memorize, internalize! Do you have a stage plan? Had you considered using the stage with purpose? A stage plan can help you internalize your speech while giving your audience clarity.   It helped me and four CEOs that Mark and I coached over this past month. It was a game changer.   SNIPPETS: • Why are you moving?   • Are you clarifying or diluting your message?   • Do you move on your key lines? Don’t!   • Do you know stage left vs. stage right?   • Do you use the depth of the stage?   • What is your plan? Do you have one?