10 biggest performance mistakes
10 BIGGEST PERFORMANCE MISTAKES 1
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NO RISK The samurai were invincible because they entered battle “already dead.” They had nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing full out – and so do you. Don’t bore your audience by playing it safe. Inspire them by stepping out of the ordinary.
UNDER REHEARSED Have you ever seen a speaker who doesn’t seem to know where he/she is heading? They fidget with notes or struggle to remember lines rather than connecting with you? If you show up unrehearsed, your audience may forgive you, but they certainly won’t trust you or want to follow you.
WEAK CONNECTION There are no bad audiences. There are no bad listeners. There are only performers or speakers who have failed to connect. Get out of your head and out of your own self-consciousness. Be fully present with your audience and stretch yourself to make connection.
POWER POINT DEPENDENT You want your audience riveted to you, not the Power Point screen. If you must use Power Point (Really? Are you sure?), use it sparingly. Stand near it and in front of it to regain their attention after you’ve shown a slide. Make sure that you, your movement and your voice lead the timing and presentation – do not stand there just waiting for the next slide to pop up!
NO INTENTION What’s the point? Really, what’s the point? You must remain very clear about where you are heading, what your audience needs to hear and understand and feel from you. What do they need to take away? Every piece of your presentation must contribute to that end. And you must be committed to seeing that they get it!
OVER USE OF um, so, okay, and then How frustrating to listen to a speaker who “um’s” his way through a presentation?!? Not doing it takes practice, I know. But the less time you spend saying these non-words, the more time you can devote to meaningful words—or meaningful silences. Take note of your favorite default non-word. Then pay attention to how often you use it in normal conversation—and work to eliminate it!
www.boeason.com/action.html
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NO PHYSICAL PRESENCE Those non-expressive, robotic talking heads put us to sleep! Own the room! Be alive in your body and your movements! Don’t just take a timid step or two but go somewhere on the stage or in that conference room! Let your excitement or passion or humor or pain express through your body!
TOO QUICK TO FILL IN SILENCES Give your audience time to absorb, think, respond. Let them wonder, question, anticipate what’s next. Let yourself be comfortable with silence – even if your listeners are slightly uncomfortable with it.
DRIFTING OR ROCKING FROM ONE FOOT TO ANOTHER What impression do you get when someone rocks back and forth or shifts from one foot to another? You figure that they’re uncomfortable, right? Maybe they’re even hiding something or feeling guilty? Definitely not the impression you want to give to your audience! When you move, move with purpose. When you stand, stand with confidence, feet firmly rooted into the earth.
NO PERSONAL STORY We can get a little moved by statistics if they’re startling enough. We can become motivated by hearing about someone we don’t know if the story is told well enough. But the real power? It’s in your very own personal story. The connection between your story and your topic can be loose as long as the story exposes the truth of who you are, and you tell it with vulnerability and authenticity—with generosity.
You don’t know how much artists go through to make it look so easy. It’s all in the practice. —Lauryn Hill
www.boeason.com/action.html © 2012 Bo Eason Experience / DB21, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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NO RISK The samurai were invincible because they entered battle “already dead.” They had nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing full out – and so do you. Don’t bore your audience by playing it safe. Inspire them by stepping out of the ordinary.
UNDER REHEARSED Have you ever seen a speaker who doesn’t seem to know where he/she is heading? They fidget with notes or struggle to remember lines rather than connecting with you? If you show up unrehearsed, your audience may forgive you, but they certainly won’t trust you or want to follow you.
WEAK CONNECTION There are no bad audiences. There are no bad listeners. There are only performers or speakers who have failed to connect. Get out of your head and out of your own self-consciousness. Be fully present with your audience and stretch yourself to make connection.
POWER POINT DEPENDENT You want your audience riveted to you, not the Power Point screen. If you must use Power Point (Really? Are you sure?), use it sparingly. Stand near it and in front of it to regain their attention after you’ve shown a slide. Make sure that you, your movement and your voice lead the timing and presentation – do not stand there just waiting for the next slide to pop up!
NO INTENTION What’s the point? Really, what’s the point? You must remain very clear about where you are heading, what your audience needs to hear and understand and feel from you. What do they need to take away? Every piece of your presentation must contribute to that end. And you must be committed to seeing that they get it!
OVER USE OF um, so, okay, and then How frustrating to listen to a speaker who “um’s” his way through a presentation?!? Not doing it takes practice, I know. But the less time you spend saying these non-words, the more time you can devote to meaningful words—or meaningful silences. Take note of your favorite default non-word. Then pay attention to how often you use it in normal conversation—and work to eliminate it!
www.boeason.com/action.html
7
8
9
10
NO PHYSICAL PRESENCE Those non-expressive, robotic talking heads put us to sleep! Own the room! Be alive in your body and your movements! Don’t just take a timid step or two but go somewhere on the stage or in that conference room! Let your excitement or passion or humor or pain express through your body!
TOO QUICK TO FILL IN SILENCES Give your audience time to absorb, think, respond. Let them wonder, question, anticipate what’s next. Let yourself be comfortable with silence – even if your listeners are slightly uncomfortable with it.
DRIFTING OR ROCKING FROM ONE FOOT TO ANOTHER What impression do you get when someone rocks back and forth or shifts from one foot to another? You figure that they’re uncomfortable, right? Maybe they’re even hiding something or feeling guilty? Definitely not the impression you want to give to your audience! When you move, move with purpose. When you stand, stand with confidence, feet firmly rooted into the earth.
NO PERSONAL STORY We can get a little moved by statistics if they’re startling enough. We can become motivated by hearing about someone we don’t know if the story is told well enough. But the real power? It’s in your very own personal story. The connection between your story and your topic can be loose as long as the story exposes the truth of who you are, and you tell it with vulnerability and authenticity—with generosity.
You don’t know how much artists go through to make it look so easy. It’s all in the practice. —Lauryn Hill
www.boeason.com/action.html © 2012 Bo Eason Experience / DB21, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
