I’ve just finished reading a book called “You are Awesome” by Matthew Syed. It’s written for kids 9+ but it’s so engaging I would recommend it for adults too.
Syed makes a point about the importance of practice in getting good at something. For it to be useful it helps if it is stretching.
I’ve thought about how this could apply to speaking. I have a hunch there are more people that want to speak than are speaking.
If you’re one of them, I have a set of steps you could use to plan your progress and stretch yourself through practice.
Each step is a little bigger than the last.
Each step builds by taking
A little of the last
And adds something new, leaving
Space between for reflection and to
Catch your breath, before
Moving on up!
Here are the steps:
- Speak up in a meeting
- Present to your colleagues
- Be part of a team presentation
- Compere an internal event
- Be active at a conference
- Attend a conference workshop
- Be part of a panel
- Speak at a conference
- Chair a panel
- Run a workshop
Where are you at the moment?
Have you just taken a step?
What’s ahead?
Have I got the steps right?
What would you add?
Thanks for reading and happy speaking!