Be your best self in 5 simple steps
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Preparation is a fundamental key to succeed. As leaders, managers and employees, how often do we take the time to get into the right mindset before a meeting, a work shift, a presentation, or prior to addressing a customer?
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin
Mental, physical and emotional preparation will empower you to spread your wings and fly without a net. You will communicate and execute with confidence, enthusiasm, conviction, focus and clarity.
1. POSITIVE ENERGY:
Your energy is the first thing people connect with on a subconscious level. Audiences and customers are engaged and sold on passion, authenticity and positive energy. Make a great first impression with your upbeat energy, positive body language, energized facial expressions, and a confident and welcoming tone of voice.
2. INTENTION:
As a keynote speaker (and in any capacity in life) we need to define what our objectives. What strategy have we put in place to achieve them.
My intention is to optimize the value I bring to my audience. I want to hit a home run. Be specific when you set your intention. The more clarity you have, the better your value proposition becomes.
3. EFFECTIVE PROCESS:
In the 5 years that I performed in Cirque du Soleil, preparation for a show was a multi-leveled process that transformed me from daily pedestrian, to a gravity-defying performer that brought the element of surprise and delight. My personal process at Cirque began by checking all needed equipment (costume and props), followed by make-up; each dab masking the ordinary, inviting me to change into something bigger than myself. I'd then warm up an my body by stretching, lifting light weights and some form of cardio to get my blood circulating. An oxygen rich brain is alert and focused. Today, my prep is different, though still needed and implemented. Create your ritual. Ready, set... SHOWTIME!
4. CLARITY:
The final transformation was a mental decision to shift into "SHOWTIME" mode and fly without a net. Offstage, I can be a "victim" of life and all the challenges and burdens that weigh us down: company bureaucracy, bills, arguments with significant others or friends, disappointments and un-met expectations. Life happens. Once I stepped on stage, my mindset negated all personal problems, focused on ONE thing... to be my best self. The audience didn't pay to experience my issues. I respect my audience. I want to be at my best for them, because it's clearly all about them.
5. BE CONSISTENT:
Establish rituals or habits that prepare you. Consistent behavior drives success and achievement. Create your own personal "pre-showtime" warm up that will elevate your game. When you're having a bad day and don't have the energy or stamina to prepare and perform your "show," those are the days that you need the preparation more than ever. Commit to a short, physical warm up and mental and emotional "meditation" or other cerebral activity to elevate your game before heading out to the sales floor, a meeting, a presentation or prior to any form of customer interaction and establish your "showtime" mindset.
BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.
