Impact is about affecting someone else and by doing so, creating change.
Allow yourself to G.L.O.W
GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY: MOVE AWAY FROM THE WHAT IFS
TRY TO PUT PERFECTION ASIDE AND EMBRACE INSTINCT
We stop ourselves with the ‘what ifs’ - what if I don’t get it right? What if they don’t like my idea?
To break those unhelpful patterns, remember that there is no right way to speak
Nerves and anxiety can be useful - they show that you are invested, they can give us energy and they tell us that what we are doing has value, but these things can also make us freeze up.
To break those unhelpful patterns practice naming it other in traffic, on your desk, at the gym.
Take time to stop and listen to your breath. If you are feeling nervous, breathe to the palm of your hand. The feeling of the breath on the skin sends a message to the brain to help regulate the air flow and calm you.
Notice what is around you - look at the textures, colours, scuffs and scratches - is there something you haven’t seen before? This will help to bring a presented-oriented focus.
LISTEN
BE AS ACTIVE WHEN LISTENING AS YOU ARE WHEN SPEAKING
Listening places the focus on the other person. Allow your body to do the speaking in these instances. Show you are connecting with eye contact, open body language and by breathing to the other person.
Breathe! Breath is thought, it also allows us to connect with others.
Sending the breath to someone whilst listening will help to keep you actively engaged.
Pass the smile and find the connection with another person. Place your focus on how you are affecting them, not on yourself.
OPPORTUNITY
TRY TO PUT PERFECTION ASIDE AND EMBRACE INSTINCT.
Don’t be afraid to be adaptable with your agenda - this is where we find the gifts in conversation, the connections with others and where we stand to develop our network and ideas.
Accept and build on what is being given to you. Be the person who says “Yes and…” not “No but….”
WHAT? SO WHAT? NOW WHAT?
FIND A STRUCTURE THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND KEEPS YOU ON POINT EVEN IN THOSE ‘IN THE SPOTLIGHT' MOMENTS.
Place your focus on your audience, be that 1 or 100 people - what do they need to know?
What? - Share your idea.
So What? - Why should your audience care or invest in it?
Now What? - What are you or we going to do to move things forwards?
You can also use: Problem / Solution / Benefit for strategic answers.