In this article, John Scarrott, Communications Skills Trainer and Coach, and an AAE trainer, shares a helpful approach for budding speakers and outlines the path to the stage.
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 to get good at something. And for practice to be effective, it also helps if it is stretching. I realised this was a good description of my journey to the stage, one made in small steps that gradually increased in size.
If you’ve decided it’s time to make your move towards the stage, I have a set of steps you can use to plan your journey, walk the path, and stretch yourself along the way.
Here are the steps:
- Speak up in a meeting
- Present to your colleagues
- Be part of a team presentation
- Compare an internal event
- Be active at a conference
- Attend a conference workshop
- Be part of a panel debate
- Speak at a conference
- Chair a panel
- Run a workshop
And here’s why they work:
- Each step contains something that you need to speak at a conference.
- Each step is a little bigger and more stretching than the previous one.
- Each step builds on your skills by taking a little of the last step.
- And asks something new of you, by putting you ‘out there’ that little bit more.
- The steps are flexible. It’s fine to shuffle the order.
- It’s also fine to leave time and space between each step.
- Use it to reflect on your experience and to catch your breath, then...
- Move on up to the next!
What do you think?
Have I got the steps right?
What would you add or change?
What’s at 11?
Where are you at the moment?
What’s next?
Why not get in touch and let me know?
And in any case, thanks for reading, and happy conference speaking!
John Scarrott is our partner trainer and coach specialising in the areas of conference chairing, speaking and facilitation as well as chairing and participating in committee meetings. We offer bespoke training workshops to associations that want to support volunteers, members and speakers to perform well at their events and meetings.
