[ThursdayClub] The 4th Dimension
Happy Friday!
Hope you had an awesome week – I know I did! Last week I had the honor of speaking at the 17th annual WOW Forum in CT. This was my first in-person speaking gig since the pandemic started and OOOH it felt SO GOOD to be live again. There’s nothing like being surrounded by people who want to be inspired – nothing.
I’m not one to memorize my speeches, because more often than not you need to be able to pivot and shift and last week was no different.
The overall topic of the event was Mindfulness. I was the closer of the day and without fail each of the speakers that grabbed the stage before me had mentioned or referred to a point I was going to make. So – last minute I had to change my angle and it was totally ok because I’m a 4th dimension speaker – I engage, entertain, AND educate.
The 4th Dimension process
It all starts with knowing your audience. Last week I knew a few of the people in there, but I listened throughout the day. What did they really clap on, when was their silence, what is the overall demographic.
ENTERTAIN. I always start my speaking gigs off with some light-hearted banter, get the audience relaxed and focused. I want them to feel like I’m speaking right to them and only to them – like we were at their kitchen table with a bottle of wine. I’m also incredibly REAL during my engagements – nothing is off the table. I want everyone in the audience to relate to me on some level. In this instance it was all about “OMG – she’s a real freakin person”!
ENGAGE. Next – I move around a lot – I look at eyes, I ask questions. I continue with the real – the authentic me. Last week we were required to wear masks unless speaking on stage – so it was a bit hard to be a non-verbal communication ninja reader – but I’ve done this enough to know when people are zoning out. The goal is to get people so tied to your words, to you that they listen intently, take notes but more importantly, you want them to BELIEVE what you are saying so much they take action.
EDUCATE. In every one of my speaking gigs, I want people to learn something. I don’t start off with the educating part of my speeches until I’ve entertained and engaged them. By this point, I’ve got their attention and have their minds primed for info intake. I get to the point of what I want them to learn and then…..
The 4th DIMENSION. I give homework. Because so few people actually take action after a workshop or conference, I make it my mission to give homework. I push them to take action – I inspire them to GO. I look at them intently and help them BELIEVE that they can do whatever they put their mind to – and achieve whatever they desire if they are willing to put the work in.
This 4th Dimension is where the magic happens. You can’t get that from reading a PowerPoint, from droning on about statistics – you get that from being real, from knowing your audience, and from getting on their level.
The 4th Dimension requires the speaker to be vulnerable – to share about themselves but make the audience KNOW it’s all about them.