No one can tell the unique story of your business the way you can! Embrace your unique brand voice to land soulmate clients.
Okay, I know I'm trudging through murky waters, here. I even considered a different title for this post, considering "public speaking" is one of American's biggest fears. But in all reality, did you know that fear of public speaking can cut your earning potential up to 10%? That's a significant chunk of change!
This issue is especially prevalent in women--an issue we often see modeled to us not only in the business world, but in our personal lives as well. When we are afraid to use our voice, we stay small and give away our power. And females are so freaking powerful!!
If you're feeling the call to take up more space in this world, but have let fear slip into the driver's seat, you're not alone.
This is my Why.
The reason I created Hippieology and continue to share my experience as a business "misfit". I want to see more women like me taking up space on the internet, using their voice, and getting paid to do it.
So how can authentic public speaking help lead to more sales? I've partnered with Cathi Coppinger, owner of Find Your Voice and public speaking mentor, to build this list of the most significant ways public speaking can positively effect your business and personal development. Some of them may surprise you!
Photo by Michelle Holloway Photography
1. CONFIDENCE
Think of confidence like a muscle; the more it's utilized, the stronger it becomes. Full transparency, few people actually enjoy public speaking. In fact, studies have found that as many as 75% of people have a fear of public speaking. But why?? Most of us speak every single day—what makes public speaking so freaking scary?
We believe it’s not the physical act of speaking in front of a crowd that frightens us so much, but more likely, the simple fact that we are stepping outside of our comfort zone. But you know what happens when you know something is going to be uncomfortable and you do it anyway? We build confidence. We meet a strength within ourselves that we might not even know was there. Compounded over time, the more and more you strengthen this piece of yourself, the more confident you become. #GirlPower
2. EMPATHY
I love this one! I think empathy is such an under-rated skill when it comes to business, especially when crafting speeches, delivering presentations, or pitching offers! Remember, the sale isn’t about you, at all (although that fact doesn’t make it any less scary). What makes a successful delivery is how you've made your audience feel.
As Cathi explains in her course, Public Speaking 101, empathy is super helpful in not only crafting, but delivering your offers. You want your content to be entertaining, enjoyable, and educational to your specific audience. Conducting market research on your target audience is important, here, but I'm also a full believer on following our own intuition. Your inner compass already knows exactly where your soulmate clients are. Speak directly to them.
3. COMMUNICATION
This one might seem like a no-brainer. Duh girl, public speaking is LITERALLY communicating. But, I invite you to go a little deeper than that and think about how communication affects the quality of your life.
In relationships, for example, communication is key in letting your partner understand your wants, needs, desires. In a professional setting, effective communication is needed to complete a project. And I can't tell you how many times I've found myself in a foreign country, travelling the completely wrong direction during rush hour due to a teensy little miscommunication.
Basically, by improving our communication skills, we can dramatically improve any type of social interaction we have.
4. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Public speaking is an incredible modality to get to know yourself. In Public Speaking 101, Cathi uses the phrase, “Unleash your inner motivational speaker and banish your inner critic”. In those moments right before a sales pitch, or Instagram Live, can get so in our head, it can feel as though we are floating above ourselves or not even in the room.
But what are we telling ourselves in those moments of anxiety? Are we hyping ourselves up, saying ‘Yo, we got this!” or is your inner critic screaming the loudest, “You’re gonna mess up!”?
The way we do one thing is the way we do all things. Public speaking offers us a unique opportunity to listen to our inner voice. If she’s overly critical, you might find she’s been throwing you off in other areas of your life, as well.
Final Thoughts
Strengthening our communication skills is an absolute necessity to grow our business and live the lives we've always dreamed of, but it doesn't have to suck! Public Speaking 101 delivers fun, relatable ways you can build your public speaking muscle that allow you to be uniquely yourself and share your business' story in an authentic way.
If you're interested in learning more about how to find your unique brand voice, check out this blog post where I share the 2 simple practices I utilize that help me unblock my throat chakra and speak my authentic truth online.
Much Love,
Haley
