Traveling Sales Woman - Tips on Public Speaking

Today's a travel day. I'm back in the groove of traveling just about every other week for work. Last week I was home in San Diego, the week prior I was in Las Vegas for the IMEX conference. See pics from the Beyond the Bar panel! We had a great discussion about the importance of including non-alcoholic options at events... something I will write a separate blog post about... 

In 4 hours I'll be in flight to Dallas, Texas; visiting THREE different corporate offices tomorrow - Amazon, Toyota and Ericsson. Tis the season for conferences and customer visits! 

I've had the opportunity to speak on a number of panels this year. Before you have experience it's hard to get the invite, but once people see you or notice a LinkedIn post of you with a microphone in hand, the asks start rolling in. Public speaking does not make me nervous, it's something I enjoy. If any part of speaking gives me nervous, it's the quotes and recordings that will be on in the internet, potentially in perpetuity.

Preparation is really important to ensure thoughtfulness in words. It can feel SO CRINGE to watch yourself on recordings but I usually do, to give myself notes and feedback. 'Dead Face' and bad posture are two things to avoid - being in front of people and a camera you have to be conscious of what you say and how you appear. Looking totally bored while another panelist is answering a question, is a bad look. Listening intently to what other people are saying keeps the conversation flowing, rather than being completely in your head about what you just said or plan to say next. 

Here are a few tips for public speaking:

1. The topic of conversation matters. Accept talks where you are an expert, interested or involved in the subject matter. Have something to say.

2. Write. Writing helps you understand what you think about topics. I journal extensively to suss out what I want to say out loud, then do my research to have accurate, appropriate data to support. 

3. Dress to impress! Where something that makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Something comfortable you won't fidget with on stage, but something that gives you confidence. 

4. Posture! Sit up straight and smile!

5. Concise answers. Answer the question, tell a story, make a point. DO NOT RAMBLE. 90 second to 2 minute answers tend to be the sweet spot, especially when there are other panelists. Say what you came to say and leave time for the other panelists to speak. 

Tomorrow Ericsson is hosting a Femme Forward event for AWS, Toyota and Pepsi employees. I'll be on a panel with a few other fantastically interesting women, discussing the power of mentorship and sponsorship. We'll be wearing pink to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. 

xoxo

maddymo 


Currently Reading: 

Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering 

Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up 

Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Do You Want Kids?"

It's a new year! The holidays are behind us! However, the existential threats to human existence persist, leaving us millennials wondering if the roadmaps our parents laid out for our lives in the 80s and 90s are still paths worth pursuing, or even possible to pursue. Across nations, states and cultures - the mega question (primarily posed to women) is - "Do you want kids?". WANT? Wanting is a tricky word. Wanting something does not mean it will happen. The Four Noble Truths that are central to Buddhist philosophy are: (1) Life is suffering, (2) attachment to desire causes suffering, (3) suffering ends with the attachment to desire, and (4) the Eightfold Path is the path to liberation from suffering. We do have free will over the choices we make moment to moment, and those choices amount to the life we have. If you have a sense of your life purpose and that includes parenthood, that's a beautiful and meaningful thing to pursue and hope for. I understand why having
Read more

March Madness - SXSW, Legos, Team Building & Tigers

Image
SPRING BREAAAK! I might not officially get spring break off as an adult but I'm taking one anyways! Before March even began I knew this month was packed with plans. The plan this week is no plan :sunglasses smile emoji:. LET'S START WITH SXSW.  When I lived in Austin, SXSW was my favorite time of year. Speaking on a panel at SXSW was something I always wanted to do. I remember last year an author and influencer I follow Tinx did a panel with Mark Cuban and I thought 'I want to do that, but when will I ever be important enough?'. Turns out 2024 was the year and Women in Tech & Media was the topic! Imposter Syndrome isn't something I've ever identified with much - however at Amazon there is a major insecurity that comes with what level you are in our internal leveling system. This month I did get a major milestone promotion approved that bumped me up a level, but that hadn't even happened yet when I was invited to speak. That one number did make me feel l
Read more

Things I'm Loving Lately: Summer 2024

 I love love love love love love SUMMER! Right now, I'm sitting in my backyard enjoying this beautiful July day in San Diego - sunny and 75. Here's what I'm loving for summer: 1. Spending time outdoors . The only thing I get 'fomo' with is sunshine. If the sun is shining, I must be enjoying it. As a 9-5 corporate America worker, I still find ways to get outdoors while getting my work done. Working from home or in the office, coworkers have become accustomed to my video conference backgrounds being flora and fauna. There is a spectacular garden onsite at the Amazon San Diego office location, which I frequent. Suntanning is my 'guilty' pleasure, leading to the next thing I'm loving... 2. Super Goop Sunscreen. I'd been quite loyal to Sun Bum sunscreen products the past few years, but recently I've been OBSESSED with Super Goop products. Especially their Glow Screen and CC Screen . Combined or stand alone both products give you the perfect "no
Read more