How CONFIDENT do you feel "on stage"?

How CONFIDENT do you feel when you’re “on stage”?

It’s been so exciting for me to share the latest Talk About Talk updates with you over these last few months, including the new newsletter format and upgraded podcast cover art.

And this week, we’re mixing it up again with a new summer podcast release schedule!

Over the next 10 weeks, you’ll hear the Top 10 most downloaded Talk About Talk episodes of all time! Back-to-back, one every week.

These ten episodes are full of useful frameworks, fascinating guests, and the most impactful learnings. Listen in and let me know if your favourite episode made the cut!

Let’s kick things off with our 10th most downloaded episode: Communicating with Confidence!

3 things to Talk About this week:

1. A case of nerves
2. The 4 Ps of Mental Preparation
3. Talk Like TED

1️⃣ A case of nerves

When I think about my own confidence, I always think about being a young brand manager at Kraft, when I had the opportunity to speak at a national sales meeting. I was excited, but as soon as I got behind the podium, my throat dried up, and I started sweating and shaking.

Does this sound familiar?

There’s a good reason why communicating with confidence remains such a popular topic. Feeling nervous before a presentation, speech, or any time we’re “on stage” is a universal experience. We’ve all been there – even the most experienced, polished public speakers among us.

Nervous energy isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes it can even enhance your performance. But too much nervous energy can distract your audience and detract from your message.

I encourage my clients to re-label that feeling of adrenaline as a source of positive energy.

How else can we prevent our nerves from taking over? It starts with getting into the right mindset before we ever set foot on stage. In other words, we need to work on our mental preparation.

2️⃣ The 4 Ps of Mental Preparation

The younger version of Andrea who was overcome by nerves at the podium may not have predicted this, but these days I can honestly say that I really enjoy presenting!

What made this transformation possible was my insatiable desire to learn. Over the years, I catalogued many valuable tips and tactics that helped me strategically prepare my mindset.

The 4 Ps of Mental Preparation are the tactics that have helped me the most. The next time you’re preparing for a presentation, choose 1 or 2 of the 4 Ps to help get you optimize your mindset:

1. Practice – As in rehearse. (Of course!) Practice your speech or sales pitch over and over again, until you know it cold.

2. Proverb – As in adopt a mantra. Memorize a short sentence that you can say to yourself whenever you need it. It can be something as simple as, “You’ve got this.” To help internalize your mantra, write it down where you’ll see it, add it to your “to do” list, or use it as your screen saver.

3. Pep Talk – As in talk it through with someone you trust. In the lead-up to your big day, schedule time for a pep talk with a colleague, friend, or coach. This will help boost your confidence and calm your nerves!

4. Pirate – As in copy that confident feeling. Borrow some confidence from your past! Think about when you ROCKED IT and channel that confident feeling. Or perhaps you can channel someone else’s confidence.

Who’s confidence do you admire?
Channel their confidence!

3️⃣ Talk Like TED

Think about the best public speakers you’ve ever seen or heard. What makes them different from the rest of us? Were they born with an innate confidence that allows them to speak effortlessly?

Of course not!

What sets them apart is the extent to which they have developed their presentation skills and honed their ability to communicate with confidence.

If you’re looking for more insights on how to master the art of public speaking, I highly recommend the book Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo.

Gallo dissected the top TedTalks to identify what sets them apart. This book, which you’ll find on my Top 10 list, is an excellent resource full of actionable advice that will help you become a more confident speaker and knock your next presentation out of the park!

There you go – 3 things to Talk About this week:
1️⃣ A case of nerves
2️⃣ The 4 Ps of Mental Preparation
3️⃣ Talk Like TED

Which of the 4 Ps will you try before your next big presentation? I hope you’ll email me or message me on LinkedIn to let me know how it goes! I love hearing from you.

Talk soon,