What do you think is the number one response I get, when I tell someone that I am a speaker and presentation coach?
If you said, “Dismissal”, you would be quite right. Frankly, I have even offered my services to some people free of charge. Yet, I still hear these responses…
“I’m good.”
“I’m good enough.”
“I just want to get this over.”
“Oh, that’s not me.”
“I’ll just do it the way I’ve always done it.”
My favorite is “I could never speak in front of a crowd.”
It’s really a shame. I’ve met some very interesting people, with very compelling stories from their own life.
Yet still, sales, teachers, executives, business folk, parents, citizens… I’ve talked to them all. You will not find a person among them who is making over $500,000 a year in sales.
Why does that matter? There is a story that Patricia Fripp tells. A story of young salespersons who make an average of $600,000 a year, and who are fired if they are only making a quarter of a million dollars. It’s not enough.
If you are one of those folks, GO YOU! You do not need to improve your presentation skills. If you are not one of them, it is likely that you could use some assistance with your presentation skills. Not because you are a bad presenter or speaker. I don’t really know you. You would be correct if you said, “That’s mighty arrogant of him.” I wouldn’t presume to call you a bad presenter. However, what if that extra training sets you apart from the next person? Would that be enough to close the sale, save a school from closing, or convince the town to replace a corrupt politician?
Doctors, teachers, computer geeks, and many more professionals are asked to constantly improve their skills and keep up to date. They must continue going to classes and learning. Yet, not many update their presentation skills and keep them up to date.
You will find that communications skills training can create wonderful returns on your investment. If you are curious, I will examine different careers and look and how improved presentation skills can help, in an upcoming series of posts.
If you believe this to be true, please share your experience and expertise. How have presentation skills improved you, your life, or that of someone you know?
