Breaking Through the Fear Factor to Speaking

Is there part of you that really, really wants to take a quantum leap and become a speaker, but the other part of you is afraid you won’t succeed? Because of this, we don't take risks, we don't pursue our dreams of becoming a speaker. We play it safe and play it small in life. We call this the “Fear Factor”!


The way to break through the Fear Factor is to be willing to stretch yourself and step outside your comfort zone. It may be uncomfortable at first but understand that's only temporary. You're stepping into new and unfamiliar territory. It's okay to feel uncomfortable. But once you get to the other side, you'll feel exhilarated and excited. Once you start speaking in front of groups, you’ll know that YOU did it! You broke through the Fear Factor to the other side!

Creating Your Vision for Your Event

Before you start planning your event, take the time to write your vision for your event. Your vision should describe your event as vividly and specifically as possible. It should inspire you, excite you, and guide you through the journey you’re about to take. The vision for my first event, when written, was three pages long. I read my vision each day. As I read it, I would visualize what the event would look like, who the participants would be, what it would be for them as they entered the room, how I would feel standing before them, and the breakthroughs they would experience.

Creating and reading your vision daily as you plan your event will help you take your dream and make it real!

The One Thing You Must Say at the End of Your Talk

The one thing you must say at the end of your talk and you’re probably not saying is the “Call to Action.” If you’ve given a great talk with great value, the audience will be interested in what’s next. Your “Call to Action” is what you want your audience to do next. Your “Call to Action” is your Special Offer. Do you want them to sign up for a complimentary session with you, your upcoming workshop, receive your free report? Often speakers end their talk by saying, “If you have any questions, I’ll be here for a while to answer them.” That’s all they say. Then they’re so disappointed when only a few people come to see them. I invite you to set aside time the next time you speak to present your “Call to Action.”

Do You Have a Product to Sell From the Stage?

If you have given a great talk, the audience wants to learn more from you. As a speaker, you have a group of people eager to hear what’s next! This is your opportunity to increase your revenue stream by offering a product your audience needs and wants to buy. Creating a product or program can be very exciting! Before you start creating a product, you want to make sure you’re creating a product they will buy. Here’s eight questions to answer that will help you create the best product.

1. Who is your audience?
2. What is the topic?
3. What format will you use?
4. How much will you charge for your product?
5. How will you brand your product?
6. Who will help you create your product?
7. How are you going to market and promote your product?
8. What goes into a sales page?

   

Handling Questions

You’ve given the best talk of your life, but if you’re not in control of handling questions, all credibility is lost! The final impression audience members remember is the way you handle questions.

After you’ve finished your talk, raise your hand and say, “Are there any questions?” When speaking to a large group, repeat or rephrase the question to the audience. The reason you do that in a large group is to make sure everyone in the room has heard the question.

When repeating or rephrasing a question, avoid saying, “The question is,” or “That’s a good question.” If you credit one person with asking a question, you have to credit EVERYONE for asking a question. You don't want people to feel their question was not as important. It’s best to avoid getting yourself into this situation so you don’t sound repetitious.

Finding Places to Speak

Looking for places to speak? If you want to share your message with the masses, you have to get out there and speak. There’s many places to speak. Here are some places where you can find speaking engagements.

Business Networking Groups

There are many business networking groups always looking for speakers. Some well-known groups are Business International Network (BNI), Le Tip and Meetup groups. Also, do an Internet search for “business networking groups” in your city to find when they meet and visit them to see if they bring in speakers.

Local Service Clubs

These service clubs are in every city and meet on a regular basis. They are the Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club, and local Chamber of Commerce. The Rotary Club is always looking to fill their meetings with content. This is a great way to get out there and present your message.

Special Interest Groups

There are many different interest groups out there. Whatever your interest is, there’s probably a group for you to speak at. If you go online and check out Meetup.com, you’ll find a variety of special interest groups.

Social Media Groups

Everyone’s on social media these days. Check out Facebook, LinkedIn, and Eventbrite.com for events that are happening. You can search online by topic and geographic location. I suggest you visit these events to see if it’s a good fit for you.

Creating Your Speaker Sheet

If you’re contacting places to speak, you want to create a sheet describing your background and experience as a speaker to give to them. This sheet is called your “Speaker Sheet.” It can be a one or two-sided sheet (my speaker sheet is two-sided). The person making the decision to hire speakers wants someone who will specialize in their particular type of audience. You want your Speaker Sheet to tell the potential client everything they need to know, so they will hire you.

Here’s what to include in your Speaker Sheet:

• Your title across the top of the page
• Your photo with brief bio
• Testimonial under bio
• Contact information to reach you
• Testimonials listed on the right side of the page
• Brief description of your speaking style (2nd page)
• Topics you speak on (2nd page)
• Contact information to reach you (2nd page)
• Partial Client List on the right side of the page (2nd page)

Now you have what you need to create your own Speaker Sheet!