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Imagine this. You're called to the podium . . . you start to speak and something wonderful happens. You feel dynamic and alive, and your words flow without effort. Before you know it, your audience is in the palm of your hand. Your presentation proclaims that you can do the job. Your pitch turns into a sale. Your remarks become motivational highlights. It's obvious to everyone that you're a real pro. And your audience responds to your power with understanding and acceptance.
Sounds wonderful doesn't it? Professionals in all the performance arts — actors, dancers, musicians, athletes — speak about those moments when all the years of training fall into place and everything "clicks." Time is suspended as performer and audience draw strength from each other in an electric, emotion-charged connection. The best performers experience this connection time and time again because they've trained themselves so well that at performance time, it simply "happens."
As a speaker, you too are a performer. Not only are you the star of the performance, you're also the writer, director, producer, and choreographer of your drama. You're in charge of makeup, wardrobe, props, and lighting. Though your goals may be pragmatic and concrete — to influence company policy, to shape budgets, to get the job — like other performers you're also in the business of winning an audience.
Unfortunately, most business speakers assume this level of excellence is beyond their reach. It isn't. Like all pros, you can train yourself to make it happen. Studies consistently show that in business, communication skills top the list of qualities considered important for success. How well you communicate determines whether you keep the client, get the job, or walk away thinking "I've blown it." In fact, your speaking ability is not only the deciding factor in whether or not people listen to you, it's an absolute requirement for leadership.
Look around you and you'll see that the people who are the most successful are usually the best communicators, able to convey information in a way that touches other people personally. They can sell their ideas at all levels, within the organization and outside it. Some of these people have a natural flair for guiding, persuading, and influencing the people around them, while others have worked long and hard to acquire this talent.
The methods and exercises found in Speaking Magic come from a variety of disciplines, including dance, theater, sports, singing, and the martial arts. With them, you'll be able to overcome stage fright, relax under pressure, speak with power and authority, rehearse more effectively, and ultimately develop that elusive quality known as stage presence. Whether you're new to the presentation arena or just need a bit of polishing, you can use the information in this book to perfect your skills and become a more dynamic, exciting, and influential speaker.
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