Finding Our Authentic Message as Speakers

As speakers we often struggle to find the right topic to speak about. Some of us look to our passion and identify things that we really get excited about or things that really make us angry. Others go to their experiences – maybe the challenges or really good experiences from the past. Still others focus on their background and what has become their expertise. Each of these are great foundations for finding the message to focus on as a speaker. But the true test of whether your topic is your most appropriate one is to examine its authenticity in relationship to you.

So ask yourself these three basic questions about your topic as a speaker.

1. Is it the message of your life?

Each person’s life tells a story. Your message should reflect the story of your life whether it comes from your passion, experience or expertise. When your message reflects your life it grows with you as you grow in speaking. You gain more experiences and you can continue to discuss your experiences in sync with your message because it is the message of your life. Do you know your life’s message? Looking at the thread that ties your life together gives you a chance to see its story. Finding your message is like uncovering buried treasure. It takes time and is well worth it because this is the foundation of a great speaker.

1. How does your message reflect your past?

If your message represents the thread of your life then if reflects your past. You have stories that support your message and your experiences. You have humor and sadness. When you add both to a presentation you engage your audience in ways that go beyond just facts. And when your message reflects your thread and your past you have a message that is authentic. 

1. How will your message grow with your future?

The perspective that I share with you is grounded in the thread of your life. Once you uncover the thread and see how it unfolds you gain confidence in your future. If you capture your thread and build on it then everything you do in your future will also spring from this thread. So it will grow with your future because it is the root of your past.

Once you understand that speaking authentically means speaking form your core, you will find it easy to uncover any message you are trying to share. It starts with knowing your personal core and the message of your life. Speaking authentically means speaking from your passion, experience and/or expertise. And it means growing with your message as you grow with your speaking ability.

Take time to be clear on your thread and your message and you will shave years off your learning curve as a successful professional speaker.

Norma T. Hollis, America’s Leading Authentic Voice Doctor® helps speakers find, live and share their authentic voice. A former owner of a speakers bureau, online directory of speakers, as well as a speaker, facilitator, author and coach to speakers, Norma helps speakers step into their authenticity. She is building a network of speakers and coaches known as Authenticity Ambassadors who she certifies to deliver her Authentic Voice System. Learn more about Norma and her authenticity program at http://www.GiftsFromNorma.com 

Your Voice

Everyone’s life tells a story. It’s like a message that lives within as our activities uncover a trail of experiences that become our story. Our story unfolds one day at a time as we seek to resolve everyday issues that frequently become lifelong journeys. In the process we inspire ourselves to move forward if for no other reason than because there are no other viable alternatives.

As we enter into the second quarter of the year we continue to write our own story. Some of us enter the second quarter with an assessment of the previous three months and strategic plans to accomplish for the incoming quarter. Others approach it in a creative frame of mind allowing life to flow as it presents itself. Still others find an approach that falls between these two perspectives. Each path reveals a different route to authenticity.

Finding your authentic path is really important. In our youth we struggle to find out who we are and what we want to do with our life. At that time we have very little perspective about what life is and even who we are in the world. And sometimes once we get into the world we find that our view of ourselves gets challenged as we learn views that we never even considered before. 

Those who are lucky find career paths that honor their natural gifts and talents. Those who have the greatest internal drive find that they become entrepreneurs because it’s the most effective way to authentically express self. The lucky ones outmaneuver the financial world yet most live a life of passion that seems to be married to struggle. The really lucky ones become an overnight success that only takes 15 years to build.

This is the path of authenticity. Knowing who you are and being it, no matter what. As you enter the second quarter of the year you have the opportunity to make a new commitment to invite authenticity into your life. Will you?