Excellence isn’t about being perfect.

The single most effective approach to engaging a group is to allow them to glimpse your flaws – with humor. An introduction that pokes fun at your accomplishments, some self disclosure about mistakes, a touch of self effacing humor or an acknowledged misspoken word will often put our audience at ease.

Professional speakers can seem larger than life and letting people see a glimpse of our humanity helps make our message more believable.

A word of caution: This is not the time to air your dirty laundry or introduce controversial topics or intimate self disclosure. If you we need our neuroses affirmed – let’s take those to a therapist and not inflict them on our audience.

Labels: lists, public speaking, word play