BOOK SUMMARY 286
Steal the Show
“Always focus on the outcome you want to achieve in a meeting,
interview, or negotiation rather than how you think you’re doing and what you
think people will think of you.”
- Steal the Show, page 36
There
are many people who would easily rank public speaking as more fearful than
death itself. This valuable, action packed book aims to transform that fear
into courage. By concentrating on the goal for the presentation instead of
people’s impressions, the author believes the fear will diminish.
Michael
Port is a former actor and best-selling author, who now helps people deliver
show-stopping performances by speaking at corporate events. His recent book, Steal
the Show: From Speeches to Job Interviews to Deal-Closing Pitches. How to
Guarantee a Standing Ovation for All the Performances in Your Life by
Michael Port, distills actionable advice for novice and advanced speakers as
well.
Whether
you’re prepping for an interview, sales call, or presentation to the board of
directors, Port’s advice will have you feeling confident and engaging your
audience. Prior to your show-stopping performance though, it’s important that
your authenticity comes out.
The
Golden Egg
Be
Yourself
"Finding
your voice is important for your results. If you want to play different roles
authentically and amplify or downplay different parts of your personality to do
so, it’s important to be comfortable with who you really are and what you stand
for so you never lose sight of your values."- Steal the Show, page 5
Having
the courage to be you, or finding your voice as Port calls it, is not easy. But
then again, if you want to shine and put on the best performance of your life,
you have to leave your comfort zone. Many of the biggest accomplishments have
been achieved when we step outside our comfortable spots and push the limits.
One of
the first steps to being yourself is to let go of your inner critic. Stop being
so hard on yourself and don’t be afraid to take a chance. Port asserts that
reducing self-criticism can boost the natural conviction that what you have to
say matters as much as anyone else.
An
additional tip to increase your authenticity is to not be afraid to talk about
your weaknesses, difficulties or differences. This can be difficult since no
one wants to be seen as vulnerable, especially in a room filled with strangers.
But being open about your weaknesses can make you more approachable and will
allow you to connect with the audience at a much deeper level. As the author
states “what you say doesn’t have to be different to make a difference. It’s
the way you say it that matters.”
Providing
a personal story that’s related to the message you’re sharing can boost your
authenticity. Port also reiterates the importance of not making your
presentation goals unattainable. In other words, you don’t have to have all the
answers or solutions. Admitting you don’t know something can increase your
credibility with the audience. A great place to start boosting your credibility
is through improvisation.
Gem #1
The
Value of Improv
"Every
speaker faces difficult situations and surprises at some point—improv is great
training for saving those moments during a performance."- Steal the Show,
page 182
Learning
to improvise is a great resource for improving your presentations. It boosts
your confidence, increasing your adaptability to handle any situation.
Improvising also sharpens the skill-set needed to deal with difficult moments
when things don‘t go as planned.
A group
exercise Port suggests to improve your improvisation techniques is the story
game. A theme or setting is provided to the group as well as an opening line
such as, The cat jumped over the moon. The first group
member then proceeds to build on the opening line until the facilitator
says next, and the story-line then moves on to the next person and
so on.
Another
technique that the author refers to throughout the book is to adopt a mindset
of yes, and. Saying yes and, “begins the positive cycle of
creative, productive problem solving.” It’s about having the courage to explore
all possibilities to find out what works and what doesn’t. Saying no shuts down
creativity, discourages audience engagement and prevents creative dialogue.
Gem #2
Be in
the Moment
"Showing
empathy for the audience means I’m paying attention to how they are listening
and what they are feeling."- Steal the Show, page 75
A key
step for being in the moment during your big presentation is to be prepared and
well-rehearsed. Preparation gives you the confidence to be present and in the
moment because your brain is not so focused on remembering the material. It
allows you to pick up on the audience’s visual cues and be a better listener.
When listening, clear your mind of anything other than what is being said and
try not to plan your response until the person has finished speaking.
Port
also reiterates the importance of using all your senses to notice people’s
reactions after something is said. Is the audience getting restless or tired or
are they paying attention to every word, writing down notes? Sensing audience
engagement or lack of it allows you to connect with the audience.
Being
in the moment is all about being present. To fully engage the audience, you
have to be aware of what’s going on. This valuable book summarizes many
practical tips from Port’s acting background and public speaking successes.
Following his advice will boost your confidence and presentation skill sets,
and help you to steal the show at your next presentation.
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