The other day, I was in an athletic store and saw a sign that read: “Energy Creates Energy. Get Moving.”
While moving is not generally a big part of speaking up (particularly these days), having energy is!
Despite this fact, the majority of people are more concerned with content than they are with how they deliver their message yet you can better capture your listeners’ attention by increasing your energy.
Why?
When you focus on what you love about your topic, your enthusiasm shines through and redirects your attention away from that pesky inner critic.
So how do you create energy?
- Emphasize specific words and phrases, vary your pace and volume, and use gestures.
- Identify an aspect of your content that interests you or your listeners. I know, presenting about risk avoidance strategies may not feel inherently exciting but every topic contains a benefit or impact that could be communicated in an enthusiastic way. Have fun with it.
- You may feel like you’re overdoing it. If you are a sensitive person, highly attuned to small changes, increasing your energy even a single decibel will feel like a lot. Rather than trusting how it feels—particularly because all new things feel uncomfortable—record yourself and observe. What feels like overdoing it, is likely “just right.”
Here’s to creating energy!
