Let’s be honest, between rising costs and the constant drumbeat of bad news, it can be hard to stay focused when everything outside your window — and on your phone — feels a little ominous.
Throw in fears about how AI will impact your job, and the anxiety can be hard to shake. It’s challenging enough to stay laser-focused on work, but in a year like this, when so many people are carrying extra worry, burnout, and uncertainty, motivation can feel even harder to reach. Yet the work must go on.
So, what’s a dutiful worker to do?
Here are three strategies to add some oomph to your communication when you’re just not feeling it:
- Simplify
Planning a presentation often feels like a full-time job. One of the biggest reasons is we want to share everything we know about the topic. But does your listener need ALL the context? Do they want to know every single detail? Likely not. Instead, distill your talk into three main messages. Then go from there. Prepare, rehearse, and present your three audience-focused messages, then pause for questions. You can fill in the details based on what they want to hear. Try on this “less is more” strategy, and watch the engagement rise.
2. Focus on One Person
Sometimes our content feels drab or blah because we live it every single day. It’s hard to remember that, for the intended audience, our ideas are new and potentially exciting. As you log onto your next virtual meeting, think about the person impacted by your message. Connect with that person on a human level, maybe by asking them a question or spotlighting them in your Zoom and looking them in the eye. The personal connection may be the boost you need to share your content with more authenticity.
3. Turn Back the Clock
If you’ve ever been in a room full of five-year-olds and asked if someone wants to share, you’ve likely seen hands shoot up and kids blurting out. Unfortunately, something happens as we grow up. Today, very few of us jump out of our seats, eager to share our ideas with a room full of people. But could you go back to that time? If it’s hard to remember your five-year-old self, consider the qualities kids possess.
Channel that worry-free zest for life and apply it to your next communication. It may feel silly to you but will likely wake your listeners.
If you have any other tips to share, reply to this email. I’d love to hear them!
And, though it goes without saying – Happy Spring!
