How do You Stand on This?

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When you want to get your coaching business up to the next level, one of the ways will be to get on stage. Initially, you may appear as a speaker at someone else’s workshop, seminar or conference.

There are lots of things to be be aware of when you want to make money from conferences, and one of them is ’stage presence’.

We spoke about Andy Harrington yesterday. He gets a mention again today as he showed us how to transform one’s stage presence from being ‘OK, but so what?’ to having people to respond how you want. He was doing talk at one of leading coach Dan Bradbury’s events.

He asked for a volunteer and I (Jacqui) got to go up on stage to speak off the cuff on a subject to do with coaching. I did, and the audience duly and dutifully applauded. Then I sat down and Andy went through what I had done and should have done.

He showed us particular ways to stand, and how to use gestures that would make the audience respond in the way we wanted. We learned how to look thoughtful, decisive, emphatic and so on.

Andy also said to wear flat shoes – I was happy because I don’t like wearing heels unless I have to – but Liz, at five foot tall, is never out of them, so we are looking forward to seeing her perform in flatties in any of our future workshops and seminars.

My first mistake was to stand towards the back of the stage. People, don’t do this – it makes you seem afraid. Stand, initially at least, at the front centre of the stage.

Whilst I looked at people as I spoke, I didn’t hold their eyes for long enough. At least 5 seconds should do it – pick on someone who at least looks friendly – and then break to look at another person elasewhere in the room.

If you walk around, be decisive about it. Plan, for example, to walk to the right when making a new point, sit on a stool to share a private story, and walk to the left when showing or explaining how to do something.

You want people to remember you and not your body, so one last tip from Andy - stand symmetrically in a relaxed (not slumped) manner, so that people are focued on your face and what you’re saying rather than your curves or groin.

After he chatted to us, I went back on stage to re-do my speech. Even though the audience knew he was there at the back prompting me, the difference was marked – I felt it, and many of the delegates commented on it. The applause was much louder!

We understand Andy runs full-on workshops to enhance speaking skills, and we will be there in the autumn.

What will you like to speak about, and where will you do it? Let us know.