Give the credit they deserve! The value of recognizing your team’s efforts [Speak on the Shoulders of Giants]
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SURE-FIRE WAY #5: TAKE CREDIT
Throughout your presentation, be sure to use the pronoun “I” as much as possible, as in “Here’s what I did” and “I think this” and “I single-handedly created that.” Do this no matter how big the team that contributed to your presentation. It shows confidence as you take responsibility for the work.
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Did you think there was something off about this week’s public speaking tip?
Hold on! Keep reading.
One of our firm’s education arms, the Institute of Strategy and Valuation, published an article titled, “10 Sure-Fire Ways to Improve Your Presentations: A Light-Hearted Look at Public Speaking.”
Addressing the fear that goes with presenting in front of people, the article presents a humorous look into public speaking—including this week’s sure-fire tip.
We are well aware of the stress everyone goes through when they need to represent their brand or company in front of an audience.
If we could avoid being put in that position, we would.
But… that shouldn’t be the mentality!
According to the article, “If we want to be leaders or achieve anything meaningful in our lives, we will often need to speak to groups, large and small, to be successful.”
Public speaking is an important, learnable skill… we just need to practice.
Yes, it’s easier said than done so we’re here to help and share with you some useful tips!
Looking at this topic from a humorous perspective (instead of the usual serious and fearful way), we know that sure-fire way #5 is actually stating the opposite of what you should actually be doing.
Speeches are written not just to deliver interesting ideas and powerful messages to the audience, they can also be used to recognize people’s achievements.
Your presentation is not only about your story or message, but it’s also about the people that have helped you in your journey. These are the people who have done their part to help achieve your goals and ambitions.
It is important to give credit where it’s due. Whether you are speaking on behalf of a team or as its leader, you need to keep that in mind. Recognition speeches specialize in this aspect, but you can also add this special section to your presentation seamlessly.
How?
Start with a story – One great way you can transition to giving credit during a speech is by starting out with a short story about the person or people involved. This brief yet interesting story will help build up anticipation and help understand the importance of their role and contributions.
You can tell a humorous story to get the audience relaxed, or go for a serious story to reflect the seriousness of the topic. Sharing this anecdote as a part of your POWER OPENER can set the tone of the speech at the beginning, and keep the audience engaged.
For example, you can talk about a story of how that person helped you out during challenging times. You can even mention some of their achievements and their traits, making them more relatable to the audience. This lets the audience know that this is a very meaningful moment in your speech, and that the story plays a significant role.
Present your effort as a whole – Present the effort of your colleagues or the whole organization in a speech by going for a more holistic tone. Using “I” in your speech can come off as you taking all of the credit for something done by a group, diminishing their effort.
DO NOT present your statement as if you are solely responsible for the effort done. Whether it is something that is done individually or as a group, saying “we” or “us” ensures that you are giving credit to everyone who has done their part.
This holistic tone should remain consistent all throughout your presentation. Whether you are a CEO of a company or an employee, always make sure that the words you are using pertain to the success and effort of everyone involved.
As an example, instead of saying something like, “I was able to come up with a plan to resolve the problem”, it would be better to say, “We worked together to come up with a plan to resolve the problem.”
Keep it brief – Giving credit is an important part of your speech, but always make sure to keep it brief and straight to the point. Talking too much and too long can make you lose the audience’s attention. Choose only the crucial details that are related to what you are presenting.
Speeches and presentations are a platform for new ideas and impactful messages that can also be used to recognize the efforts of your team or everyone involved.
As the saying goes, “Give credit where it’s due”. We encounter people who have shared their knowledge with us or have helped us achieve great things. Never forget these people, and give them a moment in the spotlight during your speech.
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Wednesdays: Speak on the Shoulders of Giants”
In a meeting with one person
…a boardroom with five people
…or a huge venue with hundreds of people
—whatever the situation or setting, it’s very important to learn and eventually master the art of public speaking.
No matter what, you always need to effectively get your message across.
What good is a presentation with awesome content if you don’t deliver it properly?
Every Wednesday, we publish different tips, insights, and secrets on how you can improve your presentation skills to captivate your audience and lead interesting discussions.
The need for great presentation skills applies EVERYWHERE.
(Small meetings with your team, big meetings with your boss, an important marketing pitch, speaking engagements for events with a big audience, etc.)
Learning these skills is not just for the corporate world. Being in other industries such as the Arts, Information Technology, Medicine, and Education while knowing how to present well will definitely give you an edge.
Have that advantage.
Hope you’ve found this week’s public speaking tip interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Wednesday’s Speak on the Shoulders of Giants!
Cheers,
Kyle Yu
Head of Marketing
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
Powered by Valens Research
www.valens-research.com
