Archive for the ‘Workshops’ Category

How to avoid a common mistake in storytelling

Are you a specialist in your field?  Do you have a way of working, coaching, developing a product or creating art that is so unique that you can’t wait to talk about it?  That’s fantastic!  There are people eagerly awaiting your story, and hungry for what you have to offer.  The trick is not to bore them before they get to the good stuff about you!

We all have experienced the situation that I am talking about; You simple ask, “ what is it you do?”  to a new acquaintance and what seems like an eternity later, the flood of information is still rising  and you are searching the room for a rescue.

Well-intentioned as this person may be, they suffer from what my husband has termed “lack of situational awareness”.

We certainly don’t want to think that we could ever be that person (heaven forbid!) but there is an awareness that we need to have when we develop our stories; I am speaking specifically of stories that we tell about ourselves, what we do, and how we help others.  These stories are crucial to the success of entrepreneurs, authors, coaches… really anyone that wants to be successful and influence others.

The key is to keep your story succinct.  Follow this easy template:

• Who are you?  Or Who is the person/ client that you helped?
• What happened to you or them?  What was the problem?
• What did you do?
• What is the result of your actions/ program/teaching, etc?

The most difficult of these steps for most enthusiastic professionals is the third one, “what did you do?”  (This is where “succinct” gets forgotten) This step is the most difficult because a specialist loves what they do, and wants to proudly say “how” they do it.  Problem is, the listener, at least initially, is more attracted to “what was the result?”  Don’t forget, it is human nature to constantly use the filtering question, “what’s in it for me?”    Drown your listener with your “process” and they won’t see the payoff quickly enough, and they zone out.  Eyes glaze over and a polite exit from the conversation will most likely me next. 

To prevent that disconnect, learn to be aware of when you go into “process.”

An example:

A woman named Liza runs an alcohol  recovery program.  She proudly tells: “ A 21 year old man was brought to me; he was living on the streets, hungry and very thin and truly didn’t know how he would survive the next night, I introduced him to our unique program and within months he learned that he could contribute  greatly to society, and now owns a business, and a home and is living a life he could not imagine just two years ago!”

Curious about that program, huh?  Notice, nothing is said about the process of what she does… the experience of the young man’s recovery is engaging, and we are left to ask the question, “ wow, what is this program?”  If you get the listener to want to know more, then you have permission to go into what your process actually is.

Had Liza gone into detail right in the beginning, “ we placed in him a room in our facility where there was 24 hour watch, and provided him with nutritional testing, and a need-specific diet.  We engaged him in group session and single therapy sessions on a daily basis until…. ( blah blah…uh huh), how many people would be ready to ask for more information?  There would be no need, and the experience of the man’s story would have been diluted by excess of words.

It takes some practice to understand what “process” tallk sounds like…    I had a coach that would call me on it! Every time I would start to describe the “How I do It” she would shout, “process!”  (And I would hate her momentarily…  but, it helped!)

Focus on the experience of what you do.  Let them see how you can help them, their company, their loved one.  Then, let them ask for more.

Watching others present and host can create a false need to be like them, and we may not even realize that we are creating that expectation for ourselves!

You have uniqueness and your own style and presence that cannot be duplicated, and so do the people that you are watching.  Don’t misunderstand, admiration is fine and appreciation of talent is great. Watching great communicators can be a powerful bit of homework when you are training to be excellent in that area yourself!

The trick to freeing your charisma comes from the ability to blend what you appreciate in others with your own attributes that no one else processes.  Sometimes it takes someone on the outside with a trained eye to help you do just that. 

As a media trainer it is sometimes my biggest challenge and the most rewarding aspect of what I do.

Experience how it feels to free the flow of your natural Charisma and its power of attraction with our private sessions and workshops.  http://www.charismaoncamera.com/Classes_Workshops.html

Need to know more?  Contact me at Sandra@charismaoncamera.com, or 866 -672-3818.   I’ll book your free phone consultation to determine if our training will benefit you!

I have been at odds with a crooked palm tree for a long time.

Every time I would enter my bedroom, my eyes would inevitably focus on this plant and I would sigh in irritation. For whatever reason this palm has grown sideways, twisted, and then just slightly upward.  It defies the rule of a straight and majestic palm.  It was not pretty to me. Since I can’t discard a living thing, I placed it in the master bedroom because it was less likely to be seen by guests.  That decision prompted the lesson because I inadvertently positioned it in my eye line every day.

In truth, I saw it as a representation of how off-course parts of my life were. I had new business ventures and my learning curve resembled the path of an arcade pinball.  Some days I would be right on track, then an unforeseen challenge would knock me to the side and I’d want to start all over.  The tree mocked me. I scowled at it.   I wished it straight.  Then I’d wish it dead.  I imagined how pretty that area of the room would be with a lovely “perfect” tree in its place. It taunted me daily.

Just this past weekend, we had several plants treated to their much-needed repotting and feeding; as the crooked palm was lifted back inside the house I was sitting with my business coach.  I saw her eyes glance toward the offensive plant and I immediately quipped, “ I don’t know what to do with that, It’s so ugly.  I don’t know why it has grown like that.”  

Her simply stated response was filled with the type of wisdom that comes naturally to a great coach. With an appreciative evaluation of the twisted trunk, she said, “It’s not ugly.  Think of it as a lovely symbol of how the path to success is not a straight one, but as long as you are still growing, success is still being achieved.” 

I contemplated the tree with this new filter.

Certainly, this palm was persevering, despite the odds that caused its deformity in the past.  The leaves were bright and fresh green could be seen as new shoots were sprouting.  It was still reaching for the sky, undaunted.  It was really something beautiful.

I love this tree now. 

How many times do we sigh in disgust at our perceived inadequacies, or try to hide our flaws at the cost of the progressive experience of learning to accept ourselves, as we are, where we are.  I’ll admit I’m guilty.

I work with very smart, successful, talented individuals to overcome inaccurate perceptions of their shortcomings every day (Almost nothing can help with this better than a camera lens).  Often, the very thing that we think of as an obvious personal weakness is part of our uniqueness that is so attractive to others.

A nursing professional doing an informative video for others in her field need not worry that she doesn’t have the polish and cadence of an entertainment reporter; it’s her down-to earth approach to her information and her subtle, honest humor that will create a comfort level with her particular audience. She is perfectly equipped.

I always recommend media training to really share information efficiently, of course, but I also firmly believe that we are perfectly and divinely gifted with the individual characteristics that enable us to best communicate with our desired audience.  Our perception may be the only thing standing in the way of our greatness.  Sometimes it takes an outsider to help us appreciate our most beautiful assets.

Where are the beautiful crooked trees in your life?

The greatest story ever told is the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of the baby Jesus. It has been written in nearly every language spoken by man. It has been painted, acted and sculpted. It has been analyzed and romanticized. But it is the most recognized story on Earth. It is the reason for the Season!

That’s proof that the art of storytelling is powerful!  It can be found every culture and in every land as a means of education, entertainment, and moral enlightenment. It is the most effective way of organizing information.  I bet your family will have plenty of old stories  told this holiday season!

Your information can benefit from a story.  Maybe it’s the tale of your life or the transformation of your client, or a funny anecdote.  It could be all of the above!

It’s best to start with your story.  You may very well have need of different versions, depending on the audience before you, and the amount of time allotted to share your information.  You may have a 30-minute version, but you will more likely be in need of a 2-minute version and it may be a bit of a challenge to edit your history so drastically and still maintain the integrity, entertainment value, and important emotive power. Some things to keep in mind:

Every effective story contains these 5 elements:

• Setting: Usually made clear early on
• Character: what is the age, position, their desires or dreams?
• Experience, or plot: actions that have consequences and reactions to these consequences by the characters
• Climax: The height of tension in the narrative
• Resolution:  How was the problem overcome?

By having your story clarified, you will be able to establish your credibility for speaking on your topic and establish a level of empathy with your listeners.

With the actual sharing of your story, there must always be a feeling of spontaneity, even if you have told it a thousand times!  Remain open to reaction from your listeners or audience. This will help them to feel a part of the tale.

Ultimately, you want your listeners to be caught up emotionally and transported to a different place then where they were before they met you.  Motivational speaker Les Brown says, you want to “distract” your audience; meaning pull them away from the current “story” in their heads (whether it’s that they aren’t capable of achieving their goals or the review of their grocery list!)

What makes a good storyteller great (and why not aspire to be great!?) is they tell stories of the type or in the style that suits their personality the best, with an open, honest and effortless ease.

So now,     What’s your story? 

 Business goes on, right? Well, we are still building our support system for you!  

Our new workshop and class dates for January are set. CLICK HERE for more information. If you are unable to make it to our workshop in December then gift yourself a powerful start to the New Year!  

ONE BIG ADVANTAGE: The price of my private sessions is shared by a group… Easy on your finances, and still intensive training and great improvement in skills and confidence!
Classes are VERY limited in size, so don’t wait to secure your spot, please!

Sure, private sessions are always available.    I suggest private sessions if you have a definite media opportunity that you are preparing for right now… there is no better way to make super quick progress in the polishing of your skills and Charisma!

The Holocaust Museum  in DC may not be the first place that someone would plan to visit over a Thanksgiving Weekend, but there I was with my husband reliving this  period of systematic persecution of European Jewry; I cannot tell you how grateful we felt for all of our blessings after that experience! 

The numbers were the first things to drive it home to me. For example, this ghetto, 10,000 died, this city, 50,000 were gassed, (at the next display) 75,000+ then 250,000.  Ultimately 6 million people lost their lives.  After experiencing the exhibits at the museum the dead were longer just faded pictures in a history book but faces of fathers, mothers, sisters and children.

This Christmas season may be difficult for many that are looking at financial challenges; The pull of the holiday sales and the desire to fulfill your loved ones’ gift lists can intensify that infamous stress that we can associate with this time of year. I invite you to join me in looking at this season with a different perspective. Let’s carry the gratefulness for our blessings through the entire season and into next year.

After all, when we look back at our favorite Christmas memories, how many gifts come to mind? I bet, not too many. 

I know for me, it was time spent at the Christmas train set that my Dad built every year, and visiting cousins and seeing Grandma. It was Mom’s Christmas cookies and visits from the neighbors.

This holiday season I’m looking for the memories that will be made with family and friends as the true “gifts”.  The price is right and they last forever, no extra warrantee needed.

If you are an author… you shine through your written word.  You are eloquent and witty and confident.  Because you are all of this your book is set to fly off the shelves, you just have this little promotional tour and some interviews….(Screech!)  What happened to the confidence that grounds the writer behind the keyboard?  It’s not unusual for a talented author to feel a bit askew when it comes to the promotional drive for their book.  In fact, it’s quite common.  With smaller publishing houses offering little to no marketing support, it is often up to the author to push the sales of the book with a face-to-face tour, complete with book signings and interviews. 

 It can be make or break time!  Don’t hesitate.

This is a campaign, my talented writer friends, and just like any politician starting on a campaign tour, clear preparation is necessary.  The book is ready.  Maybe the signing dates are set, but if you are not ready to handle the public and the interviews your momentum will come to halt.  Don’t chance it.

Invest some time in getting your key points down.

Like:

• Describe your book? (30 seconds or less!)
• Why did you write? (what drives you?)
• Why your book now? (what problem do you  address and how will you solve it?)
• Your call to action (buy the book, obviously!  But what else?)

You already have these answers, but work them until you can say them in your sleep.  They should become as much a part of you as your topic, or characters themselves. With these engrained in your head you should feel grounded and better prepared to take on the world!

Some other key things to consider;

• Is there any controversy surrounding your topic?  Be prepared for that!
• When being interviewed, for gosh sakes, please mention your title ONCE.  Let the interviewer promote you and your book.  Repeated mentioning the name of your book looks entirely too desperate.  Just don’t.
• Don’t forget your call to action… ever!
• What will you wear?  Seriously.  It is important!  This is your brand here. 

I think it is a great investment of your time to work on this preparation.  It has guaranteed payback if it is done well.

Specifically focused training can be a great way to accomplish a clear view of all of the above points before you head off to promote.  Contact us at Charisma on Camera, let us know what your plan is, and we can advise you of the best training for you! It is a free consultation.  www.charismaoncamera.com  info@charismaoncamera.com