Great Speaking is a Conversation (mini-sode)

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Great speaking isn’t a one-sided performance; it’s a dynamic conversation.

In this mini-episode, Lauri dismantles the myth that speaking is a monologue, showing how treating your speech as a shared experience can inspire, empower, and transform. Learn how to connect with your audience on a deeper level, even when standing at a podium or speaking on video. By reframing your mindset and tuning into the audience's non-verbal responses, you’ll create shared experiences that truly resonate.

TAKEAWAYS
1. Great speaking is a two-way street. Reframe your mindset to see even formal speeches as a conversation, not a solo performance.

2. Your audience’s half of the conversation is non-verbal. Tune into facial expressions, body language, and energy shifts to truly connect.

3. Set an intention for your audience. Before speaking, align with your higher self and decide how you want your audience to feel.

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Episode Transcript

Lauri (00:00):
You know those speakers who have everyone on the edge of
their seats hanging on everyword.
You know the ones who make youfeel like they were speaking to
you and for you the whole time.
One of the things that thosespeakers know is that great
speaking is a conversation.

(00:20):
Yes, I mean even when thespeaker speaking is standing on
a podium or on video or on Zoom.
Most of us are trained to thinkthat speaking is a monologue,
actually even a soliloquy, andwe take responsibility for the

(00:42):
whole entire experience, whichis an awful lot of pressure.
It seduces us into performingfor them like a dancing puppet
rather than talking to them.
Once we commit to giving aspeech or a talk, we start to
think of it as an experience ofseparateness.
I'm here and you're over thereand we're two separate entities

(01:07):
in two different places, andthen, if fight or flight starts
to kick in, we might even startto think of it or feel like it
is an adversarial experience.
It's the audience versus me.
Whether or not we're eventhinking about it that way in
our minds, our bodies might gointo that, and then we take on

(01:31):
all the responsibility and weget ready to dump the
information that we want them toknow and get out of there as
quick as possible, withoutleaving any room for their
experience, without listening tothem and giving them space to
digest.
Most people in the speakingworld don't say this advice

(01:54):
anymore, and yet this is part ofwhy one of my biggest pet
peeves is the old picture theaudience in their underwear
thing to get over the nerves,because if we're picturing the
audience in their underwear,we're not really connecting to
them.
We have no chance of listeningto them, which to me, is really

(02:17):
disrespectful.
Great speaking really truly isa conversation, and by great
speaking I mean speaking thatinspires, speaking that empowers
the people in the room,speaking that brings
transformation of some kind,speaking that is an emotional

(02:39):
experience as well as anintellectually stimulating
experience.
So the next time you'respeaking whether it's shooting a
video or speaking to a roomfull of people or being on Zoom,
imagine treat it as aconversation, reframe it for
yourself, even with a formalspeech, even if you're standing

(03:07):
on stage at a podium with amicrophone in front of you.
Here's how it works.
As the speaker, your half ofthe conversation does include
most of the talking.
It's the verbal half of theconversation.
The audience's half is mostlynon-verbal.
To do that before theconversation even starts.
Connect to your higher self,connect with why you're speaking

(03:30):
in the first place, and thenset an intention for what you
want for the audience.
One word or a short phrase whatdo you want them to feel?
What do you want the vibe inthe room to be?
And then Listen as you speak,listen to their nonverbals,

(03:52):
notice their facial expressions,their body language, feel the
energy in the room shiftingmoment by moment, breath by
breath.
See, feel their movement towardthat intention that you set
Really truly connect with them.

(04:17):
Set Really truly connect withthem.
See them, listen to them,notice the nonverbal half of the
conversation that they'regiving you, primarily nonverbal.
There may be places where theylaugh or cry or nod and make
noises of being with you andconversing with you back toward
you.
When you're seeing it as aconversation, it becomes a
shared experience.

(04:38):
Your audience will feel seen,even though you may be the one
in the spotlight on the stage.
Let me know how that goes.
If you're on YouTube, drop amessage in the comments.
If you're listening on atraditional podcast platform,
look for the Send Laurie, aMessage link in the description.

(04:59):
And if you enjoyed this, pleaseshare with a friend or a
colleague who you think mightenjoy it too.