I’ve never met anybody who didn’t wish they could give a great presentation.  I’ve met a lot of people who are kidding themselves about what they’re willing to do about it.  These are people with good intentions and bad habits that are killing them.

As those of you who read this blog reguarly know, I can write with absolute certainty about these mistakes because I’ve made all of them.  One of the dirty little secrets about professional speakers is that they cheat too, sometimes.  I’ve cheated and I don’t recommend it.  It’s not worth the price you pay in anxiety, stress and sometimes, total failure.

Most people know even before they walk to the front of the room, whether they’ve done enough.  In my experience, even newbie speakers have a sense that they’re simply not prepared.  However, as I say, some of the worst cheaters I know are leaders who think they’re pretty good at this.  As soon as you start believing your own press releases, you’re headed for mediocrity.  

Here are 7 suggestions to help you mend your cheatin ways:

#1: Start thinking, outlining and researching as you have the presentation date…don’t cheat yourself out of the time it takes to find great material and develop keen insights 

#2: Get on the phone with the meeting planner…don’t cheat yourself out of the opportunity to really know your audience and learn what they care about.

#3:  Write it out…don’t cheat yourself out of the opportunity to be an articulate leader - use the script to hone your ideas and choose poweful words and phrases. 

#4:  Let it rest….don’t cheat yourself out of those aha moments that come to you in the early morning or on a walk; let your subconcious work on it and the presentation will write itself.

#5:  Put practice on the calendar…don’t cheat yourself by pretending you will practice when your schedule is already brimming.

#6:  Track the number of practice sessions by marking your script…this is one of my favorite tricks…i make a mark like this /// at the top of the script each time so I can’t kid myself about how many times I’ve done it before I go live.   

#7:  Get feedback…don’t cheat yourself out of the sage advice and counsel of people who are good presenters and have your best interest at heart.  Find them and tell them you want to know how you can be better.

Speak Like a CEO Boot Camp - we’ll make you sweat here, so you don’t sweat out there.  www.bates-communications.com/bootcamps

Watch this video and learn what Alan Weiss, author of the business best seller Million Dollar Consulting, has to say about executive coaching with Bates. http://www.bates-communications.com/testimonials/

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One of the most ridiculous reasons I’ve ever heard for not investing in your career is that you don’t have time RIGHT NOW. 

When do you think that time will appear?

If you don’t have time to invest in yourself today, do you think that some magical realignment of the universe will open up an expanse of time on your calendar?  Will you ever be LESS busy than you are today?   The reality is that if you don’t learn to manage time and invest in your own success, your time will be less and less your own.  Other people will always be in charge of your calendar and your career.

As a wise mentor once told me, the issue is never time, and its never money.  It is always priorities.  So here’s my question - what are yours?  If you’re not putting a high priority on accelerating your career development, who is?  Time to figure out what’s holding you back.  Here are a few possibilities: 

You’re afraid that admitting you need help is admitting you’re not perfect.  Nobody’s perfect.  Top performers see their opportunities and always invest in themselves.

You haven’t developed the essential habit of getting a little better each day.  You don’t become great at anything in an afternoon.  Start now.

You’re afraid to ask for money for coaching or professional development because you don’t think they’ll approve it.  Companies always have money to invest in their high potentials.  Even in turbulent economies.  High potentials are people who out perform, believe in themselves, and are willing to ask for what they need.

You’ve tried learning something, found you’re not not a natural, and given up.  As a coach who works with top executives, trust me, it takes years just to develop confidence and skill on the platform.   Nothing worth doing is easy.

If any of those sound like you, time to figure out what’s holding you back and deal with it now.  Today becomes tomorrow, and if you’re still asking yourself the same questions then you’re simply not moving ahead, or taking charge of your own destiny.

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