We’re all in the conversation business. The quality of our life is a direct function of the quality of our public speaking conversations. Look at the success of powerful politicians or business leaders — those who create the best conversations win.
Even the word “conversation” comes from the Latin root — conversari, which means to live or keep company with. In fact, people will decide whether they want to keep company with you based on their conversations with you. So how good is the quality of your conversation? How compelling is the experience of talking with you? Does it energize others?
Think about it: we’re all in competition for one thing — other people’s time. If they give you their time, you must give them the highest R.O.T. — Return On Time.
Keep in mind, when you help others get what they want, they’ll want to talk to you. Here are four simple insights to radiate enthusiasm and make people want to talk and listen to you. Best of all, these insights are so simple you can begin practicing them now.
1. Be Excited By The Prize:
Know the result you want to achieve for yourself and others. Make sure it’s a result that thrills, excites and delights you. Keep it at the forefront of your mind. Let others see and feel your excitement – it’s contagious.
If your prize is the privilege of talking to 100,000 people and selling 100,000 books in the next year, keep that prize in mind. If your prize is winning that interview, keep that prize in mind. If your prize is winning a chance to woo a potential client for your business, keep that prize in mind. Every time you think of the prize, you’ll be turned on — and that enthusiasm will in turn draw others into your conversation.
2. Be Inspired By Your Purpose:
If you have a powerful enough WHY, you’ll always find the HOW. It’s the inner drive that motivates you to constantly expand your contribution to others. It’s what makes you want to raise the quality of your conversation every time. Make your purpose to excite others into action. Excitement galvanizes people into doing things they would never otherwise have done.
3. Be Masterful Through Your Preparation:
There is no short cut. Success goes to those who have invested the kind of effort that makes them masters of their craft. Whether it’s Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, Martin Luther King or Mike Lipkin, preeminence means preparing to win. Be ready by taking all the steps to be ready. You know what you need to do, so do it. No excuses. Being totally prepared will give you the mastery to be magical.
4. Be Connected Through Your Caring:
It’s always about making other people successful. Their success must be more important to you than your own.
Be so committed to their success that you consistently give them more than they expect just for the pleasure of it. Live Above The Line. Tell them how much you care and then walk your talk. When people know you care, they will trust you. And trust is the ultimate bonding agent.
Talk to as many people as possible and make every conversation count. Every meeting with every person needs to be a masterpiece. So start practicing now.
Mike Lipkin is Canada’s preeminent sales empowerment coach, author and motivational speaker, measured by the number of speaking engagements every year. He conducts more seminars, workshops, focus groups, sales meetings, and corporate off-sites than any other speaker in Canada. Lipkin is also the president of Environics/Lipkin, the motivation and sales empowerment practice of Environics Research Group-one of Canada’s largest leading research houses.