PRESENTERS ARE WINNERS – It is not just what you know, but who you know – that much is obvious. But perhaps what is even more powerful is who knows you. And what better way to be known in the brightest light than by presenting and elevating your status of expertise and authority in the eyes of others? In this blog I will break down why you should not shy away from presenting in your career, but rather run towards those opportunities and cultivate the equivalent skillset!
When you communicate with anyone, what sticks in your mind the most? In fact, much of what is remembers has nothing to do with the content of the conversation at all. Rather, it is who was there and how you felt. While rooted in biology and seemingly unrelated to business and the corporate world, understanding that we are wired to recall faces and how others made us feel is key to seeing the enormous value in giving presentations. If you do a good job, when others need something you can provide, then much like the local blacksmith or butcher of a medieval village, you will be their go-to for a solution.
Successful business is about making memorable impressions and standing out. What better way to do so than by presenting to a group or crowd?! This way you have their undivided attention and can powerfully bring to the fore your best traits and expertise. When they ponder those qualities or the topics you cover, they will mentally associate that with you, and that’s excellent networking.
Helping high achieving individuals into partnership is one task I love and sometimes it is hard to convince those in their final interviews that they have achieved all the required criteria already. It has been proven in the first three interviews. What they want now is ‘you’, but it hard to make that change and flip style depending on the situation. It all takes help and practice.
Luck plays an ever-present role in our careers and our lives. While it is always illusive, that is not to say it cannot be nurtured. Because every time you present, you imprint yourself in the minds of each audience member; what you can do, what you stand for and what you are like to work with. It is easy to forget that each of these people has their own lives, goals and agendas. Granted, not all their trajectories will line up with yours, but for that 1% who see you and subsequently reach out to you to offer another opportunity, presenting is worth its every effort and arguably the best way to put yourself out there.
Presenting is powerful, and hopefully I have provided you with some insights to the value of it in your career. Do not shy away from those opportunities, chase them! If you are looking to improve your leadership and presentation skills and in doing so accelerate your career growth, then book in for your free 15-minute discovery call!
Whenever you communicate, your body language and voice are being interpreted in ways that can make, break or change your message. So, it only makes sense that those who can communicate more effectively and evoke trust within their listeners are better suited to career success! Today I want to share with you one of THE MOST effective tools you could learn and use in your arsenal as a speaker. It’s called the Duchenne Smile.
“A smile! Is that all?! Oh, Louise you must’ve gone mad!”
Don’t knock it ‘till you know the facts! You see, about the same time as Darwin was advancing the sciences, a French neurologist by the name of Guillaume Duchenne discovered through much rigor, a signal of pure enjoyment, a smile which bears his name forever more. So, what’s the big deal?
Sharing a hearty smile can, in a split-second, connect you to your audience. Doing so without seeming fake isn’t so easy however! You might think that a true smile is defined by the positioning and flexion of the muscles around the mouth, or the zygomaticus major. After all, this is where Duchenne had focused primarily. However, to his surprise, it is actually when your orbicularis oculi muscles lift up your cheeks to create that iconic crinkle beside your eye that is the signal for a genuine, heart-warming smile. I’ll bet you didn’t expect that!
If you can pull off a genuine, well-executed Duchenne smile which features those crow-feet crinkles in the corner of your eyes, it’s highly contagious. It bridges the gap and inspires endorphins within you and your viewers, strengthening empathy and lowering critical thinking. The result is a more enjoyable experience with feelings of trust, collaboration, joy and respect for you and your message. It’s also been studied that those put under strenuous circumstances thrive and recover quicker when smiling, and at their quickest when Duchenne smiling. It doesn’t get much better than that! So, how do you do it?
Before you take to the mirror to pull some crazy faces, consider these two techniques which can help you build your capacity to Duchenne smile on command. The first is to produce a “weh” sound. It’s the “wuh” consonant combined with an “eh” and it will help you activate the correct muscles, from the crinkle in your eyes to the sideways contraction of your mouth. The second way is to consider when you’ll next experience it naturally in your life and be ready to notice it in the moment. Because if the muscles activate and you’re paying attention, you can immediately and thereafter reactivate them and practise until you’ve got it down pat. For some people the best time might be when they see their kids after work or laugh with a friend. It’s entirely up to you and your life so have a think and when you next enter that circumstance be ready to catch and practise your Duchenne smile!
Well, that’s a wrap! If you do as I’ve said and put in the effort, you’ll be Duchenne smiling your way to better outcomes in no time! I can’t wait to hear your stories of how you’ve noticed the Duchenne bringing you greater success in your career, life and connections with others!
