The
Right Amount of Energy We all enjoy being around people with
energy. They inspire us. They are stimulating, fun, and uplifting. An energetic
person has passion in his voice, a bounce in his step, and a smile on his face.
Energy makes a person likable, and likability is a key ingredient in persuasive
communications. Many business professionals underestimate the energy level
required to generate enthusiasm among their listeners. But electrifying speakers
bring it. They have an energy that is several levels higher than the people they
are attempting to influence. Most business professionals could
use an energy boost for public speaking situations such as Webinars, podcasts,
staff meetings, conference calls, and television and radio interviews. Each of
these opportunities requires a higher level of energy than would normally be
appropriate if you were just chatting to someone in the hallway. But how do you
project the fight level of vigor without seeming over the top By weighing
yourself on an energy scale. And on this scale, more is better. The Energy
Scale Recently I helped an executive prepare for his first
major presentation in his new role. "Tell me where your energy
is right now on a scale of one to ten," I asked. "One being fast asleep and ten
being Jim Cramer on Mad Money. You know, the guy who’s yelling and gesturing
wildly on his CNBC show. Where are you now" "A three," the
speaker replied. "OK, what would it feel like to be a seven,
eight or nine Give it a try," I suggested. If they’re being
honest, most presenters place themselves at a three to six on the energy scale.
That means there is plenty &room to boost your energy while not appearing
too zany. But keep in mind, once you hit a ten or higher, you could be the next
You Tube (GOOG) hit--which is not necessarily your top objective! Here are
several surefire strategies to boost your energy presence. 1. Practice
leaving your comfort zone. Record several minutes of your
presentation as you would normally deliver it. Play it back, preferably with
someone else watching and listening as well. Ask yourself and the observer,
where am I on the energy scale Now try it again. This time, break out of your
comfort zone. Ham it up. Raise your voice. Use big gestures. Put a big smile on
your face. Get to a point where you would feel slightly awkward and
uncomfortable. Now watch it. Most likely your energy level will be far more
engaging and still remain appropriate for the situation. 2. Smile and have
fun. Why do most people seem to enjoy Virgin entrepreneur
Richard Branson Because the guy has fun and it shows. He always has a warm,
engaging smile on his face. Of course, you can argue that it’s easy to walk
around with a smile when you’re worth $4 billion! But seriously, smile. It won’t
hurt and it will make you more likable. Most business professionals don’t smile
as much as they should during presentations. I’m helping some executives prepare
for CES, the big Consumer Electronics Show in January where they will announce
new products. They get so caught up in the slides and what they’re going to say
(as they should during preparation), they forget that new products bring joy to
their consumers. In most cases--with the exception of bad news, of course---the
first and last thing you say to yourself before launching into your presentation
should be, "Have fun." 3. Get your body moving. Many
people are uncomfortable using expansive hand gestures. Don’t be. I spoke to
David McNeill at the University of Chicago, who is known for his research into
gesture and speech. He says that clear, confident speakers use hand gestures and
that the gestures leave a positive impression on listeners. He
went on to say that using gestures will help you speak better because for most
of us it takes effort not to use gestures. Don’t be afraid of using your
hands. AOL’s (TWX) Tmveo.com is one of my favorite video search
engines. I use it to retrieve clips of business speakers to study their body
language. Symantec’s (SYMC) John Thompson, Oracle’s (ORCL) Larry Ellison,
Cisco’s (CSCO) John Chambers, and eBay’s (EBAY) Meg Whitman are excellent
examples of people with confident, energetic body language. 4. Study TV
and radio personalities. Stars of television and radio who
score high on the likability scale have high-energy personalities. I had a
conversation with Suze Orman over the phone a couple of years ago and remember
it to this day. Her energy comes right through the speaker. What you see on her
CNBC show is what you get behind the scenes. High energy. The other day I
watched Food Network ( SSP ) star Rachael Ray sign books at a mall where I
happened to be shopping. Sometimes critics poke fun at her "perky" personality
and phrases like "yum-o," but the fact is she has energy and millions of viewers
enjoy it. The network morning-show hosts are typically chosen for their
energetic personalities. Today’s Matt Lauer on NBC ( GE ) and The Early Show’s
Julie Chen on CBS (CBS) are excellent examples, but there are many others on
morning television. Remember, maintaining an energetic presence
is very difficult to do unless you’re involved with something you enjoy. If you
are truly passionate about your company, product, or service, then show it.
Speak with energy and vitality. Your listeners will love you for it. Why is Virgin entrepreneur Richard Branson popular
A.Because he has fun and it shows. B.Because he doesn’t smile as much as he should during presentations. C.Because he is very humorous. D.Because he is famous.