Whether you are presenting your case for a PMO or giving a regular project update, we all must “get on stage” once in a while. For many of us, this is a scary moment. For others, we are fine doing it, but maybe we could be a little more polished.

The most powerful asset we have in persuading others to our point of view is our voice. We can use our voice to gain support for our PMO, to get funding for a new project, or negotiate for the resources we need to be successful. Our voice can help to ensure that stakeholders make our project the highest priority and ensure our sponsor is engaged and supportive.

Interestingly, despite how powerful a good presentation can be, we rarely take time to polish the necessary skills. We focus on the data and our perspective and forget that the power lies in understanding their perspective, not ours. We must learn to speak the language that resonates with our audience and perform as if our job depends on it, because sometimes it does!

Michael Port has been an inspiration, a teacher and coach to me for years. He and his wife are two of the most caring souls I’ve ever met and they helping people all over the world develop their ability to give higher-IMPACT speeches. I was moved by their recent TedX talk and found myself thinking about how this might be a valuable resource for you.

Here are some resources you may find useful as you consider how you can improve both your comfort level and skills when giving presentations and influencing others with your voice.

Website: https://heroicpublicspeaking.com/

(They have free training videos and other resources that you may find helpful.)

TedX performance: scroll down on homepage or go here: https://youtu.be/gw3S07l6iUw

Michael’s book and podcast: http://stealtheshow.com/

Going further: They have several live and online training programs. All of them are a high-quality, high-IMPACT experience. (Note: Many of the people that attend these events are not professional speakers, they are people who want to find their voice or simply improve their ability to create an IMPACT with the power of their voice.)

What do I get out of this?

Michael and Amy don’t even know I’m doing this. They are just two people who have had a big IMPACT on me professionally and personally and I think every one of us has something we could learn from what they teach. I also think that all of us are performers, especially doing the kind of work we do. We have many “hats” we wear both at work and home and they share so many tips and techniques that can help us navigate all sorts of situations with ease. Yes, even the most introverted or shy among us! Hint: I know Michael is an introvert and so am I! So, if we can do it, so can you. 🙂

My hope for you is that you pick up a few new techniques that help you influence others and nail your next presentation. It’s an amazing feeling when you can IMPACT others in a positive way while being your authentic self.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. I’ve listened to the podcasts, read the book, taken some of the online training, and been to HPS live.


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Warmly,