There are two key components of physicality – 1) how fears are created in our physical body, and 2) the physical solution to most of our fears.
1) Manifestation of FEAR
- LABELS are critical. The physical characteristics you experience are real, but how you label them determines what you feel emotionally. If you have butterflies in your stomach and label it “nervous,” your mind looks for reasons to be nervous, and then creates fear. If you take those same butterflies in your stomach and use the label “excited,” your mind looks for reasons to be excited, and creates confidence. Therefore, the key is to create labels to match the experience you desire.
- Awkwardness is contagious. Whatever you are feeling emotionally as a speaker, your audience will also feel because you energetically transfer it to them. Thus, it is critical to manage your energy to control what the audience experiences.
- Your physical body works to protect you when you feel fear. This protection is why people get tense, experience tunnel vision and have other physical symptoms of the fear of speaking. When your body is in protection mode, you don’t have access to your confidence, your brilliance, energetic flow etc.; you disconnect from everyone else. While your physical body can create the problem, it can also create the solution.
2) The Physical Solution
- Move with intention. When you’re focused on moving with intention, it gives your brain something to pay attention to. When you’re paying attention to your movements, it’s hard to pay attention to the fears in your head. Movement also moves energy, which creates connections.
- Movements must be congruent. Walking backwards takes away what you’re saying, where moving towards the audience allows your message to land more positively. Never point into the audience; your audience is sacred so treat them with respect. Be more animated, speak louder, look up and be excited when sharing exciting things. Make sure your facial expressions match your message, too, as these are critical movements. When your movements don’t match your message, the audience can lose trust.
- Become your message. Practicing to memorize is NOT what you want to do. Regurgitating a memorized message feels like that – vomit that people want to avoid. Become the message to transfer it more effortlessly, without worrying about the words or how to adjust it if circumstances change.
- Master the art of Silence. Most people are afraid of experiencing silence and what the audience is thinking in the silence. However, studies show that when a speaker is silent, the audience perceives the speaker to be more intelligent. Use silence to build up anticipation or to allow something to sink in after you’ve said it. Be loud with your silence.
- Tonality controls the mood. This is all about the way the words are come out of your mouth. The human spirit is so connected to auditory senses that mixing up your tonality is the quickest way to alter someone’s mood. When you use your tone, volume, speed and rhythm, with congruency & intention, your voice becomes the instrument that can change the experience of your interaction with the audience.
- Opposition is captivating!! If you really want to captivate the human heart, you want to touch them at both ends of the emotional spectrum; make them cry & make them laugh. The closer those two things happen to each other, the more captivating it is. This experience opens people up and allows you as a speaker to control their state. It also works with visual opposition, too! Use oppositional elements to elevate the captivation level of your crowd.
Soon I will share my final video in this speaking series, part 4, where I will talk about Preparation & Practice and how it could be hurting you more than helping you. If you want to learn more about speaking skills to build your direct sales business, click here.
