How To Become A Master In The Art of Public Speaking (Part 1 of 2) | Eric Edmeades

Mindvalley Talks・2 minutes read

Eric is initially hesitant but eventually speaks at the marketing conference in Poland, facing challenges like a sparse audience. He emphasizes the importance of effective communication, sharing personal anecdotes and strategies to overcome fear of public speaking.

Insights

  • The speaker, Eric, faced initial challenges at a marketing conference in Poland but managed to engage a sparse audience effectively, highlighting the importance of overcoming obstacles to deliver impactful presentations.
  • Childhood experiences and societal conditioning significantly shape individuals' fear of public speaking, emphasizing the need for empathetic teaching practices and understanding the physiological effects of fear on cognitive function.
  • Deep breathing plays a crucial role in signaling safety to the body, promoting a sense of security before public speaking engagements, and altering emotional states, underscoring its importance in enhancing confidence and reducing stress during presentations.

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Recent questions

  • How can public speaking fears be overcome?

    By understanding the physiological effects of fear on the brain, individuals can work towards overcoming public speaking anxiety. Fear triggers a shift to more primitive brain functions, impacting cognitive abilities and decision-making. Deep breathing before speaking signals safety to the body, influencing DNA and promoting a sense of security. Techniques like soft gazing and starting with humor can enhance confidence and audience engagement.

  • What is the importance of effective communication?

    Effective communication is crucial for enhancing relationships and professional success. It involves understanding the audience's concerns and interests, as well as having strategic communication objectives before any presentation. By focusing on addressing people's needs and concerns, one can influence them effectively.

  • How can one improve public speaking skills?

    To improve public speaking skills, individuals should avoid showing nervousness to the audience to receive genuine feedback. Techniques like deep breathing, soft gazing, and starting with humor are recommended to enhance confidence and audience engagement. Understanding the physiological effects of fear on the brain and changing one's physiology can also help in improving public speaking skills.

  • What are the benefits of deep breathing before public speaking?

    Deep breathing before public speaking signals safety to the body, influencing DNA and promoting a sense of security. It helps in avoiding stress and switching to the reptile brain, which hinders conscious thinking. Proper breathing patterns can prevent the production of cortisol and adrenaline, promoting a sense of safety and security crucial before public speaking engagements.

  • How can one establish a connection with the audience during public speaking?

    Initiating a talk with a predictable laugh is suggested to create a positive atmosphere and establish a connection with the audience. Techniques like soft gazing and starting with humor can enhance confidence and audience engagement during public speaking. By understanding the importance of conveying emotions through eyes and changing physiology to alter emotions, one can effectively establish a connection with the audience.

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Summary

00:00

Eric's Unexpected Journey: Marketing Conference in Poland

  • A friend asked Eric to speak at a marketing conference in Poland as a favor during his speaking tour in Europe.
  • Initially reluctant due to a busy schedule, Eric agreed after a second friend's request.
  • Arriving in Poland, a taxi instead of a car was sent to pick Eric up, causing confusion.
  • The taxi driver couldn't locate the conference center, leading to a delay.
  • With limited time before his speaking slot, Eric struggled to find the correct hall at the vast conference center.
  • Despite the chaotic start, Eric managed to register as a speaker and was escorted to the main hall.
  • Upon reaching the stage, Eric discovered a sparse audience of around 15 people scattered in the room.
  • Feeling unprepared and disheartened, Eric contemplated leaving but decided to stay and deliver his speech.
  • Eric engaged the small audience by orchestrating a lively and interactive introduction to draw more attendees.
  • Despite the challenging circumstances, Eric shifted the atmosphere and successfully engaged the audience with his presentation on the value of food relationships.

10:28

Enhancing Communication: Key to Success and Survival

  • The speaker aims to counter the negative influence of the food industry on people's relationship with food.
  • Communication skills are highlighted as a valuable gift to enhance relationships and professional success.
  • Society unintentionally suppresses effective communication skills, making life more challenging.
  • Encouragement is given to express thoughts and feelings confidently to improve relationships.
  • Sitting around a fire and sharing stories is emphasized as a vital aspect of human history and survival.
  • An anecdote about facing rhinos illustrates the importance of staying calm in dangerous situations.
  • The power of storytelling is underscored as a fundamental aspect of human communication and survival.
  • Historical examples demonstrate the impact of powerful speeches on societal change.
  • Practical advantages in the corporate world, like height and gender pay gaps, are discussed.
  • Public speaking is highlighted as the most potent professional advantage, surpassing other factors like height or gender.

23:37

"Childhood fears shape public speaking anxiety"

  • The speaker recalls being terrified of public speaking, to the extent of feeling physically ill at the mere thought of it.
  • Despite this fear, the speaker emphasizes that no one is born afraid of public speaking, highlighting the impact of social conditioning on individuals' communication apprehension.
  • The origins of communication apprehension are traced back to childhood, where societal norms like "children should be seen and not heard" begin to shape individuals' fear of speaking.
  • The speaker shares a personal anecdote about a childhood misunderstanding that led to a lasting fear, illustrating how children often create meanings that become ingrained rules in their minds.
  • Teachers, in their efforts to educate, sometimes inadvertently instill fear in students through methods like calling on unprepared students, triggering a fight-or-flight response that hinders learning.
  • The speaker reveals a strategy he developed in school to avoid embarrassment when called upon, highlighting the impact of fear-induced chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline on cognitive function.
  • The consequences of public speaking mishaps in childhood are shown to have lasting effects, as classmates may never forget or forgive mistakes made in front of them.
  • The unintended lesson learned by students in such situations is that public speaking is terrifying, potentially leading to long-term anxiety around speaking in public.
  • The importance of understanding the physiological effects of fear on the brain is emphasized, as fear can trigger a shift to more primitive brain functions, impacting cognitive abilities and decision-making.
  • The text concludes with a cautionary tale of how a seemingly harmless classroom interaction can inadvertently instill lifelong fear and anxiety around public speaking, highlighting the need for more mindful and empathetic teaching practices.

35:54

From Homeless to Hollywood: Overcoming Fear

  • The speaker shares a personal journey of overcoming fear of public speaking, starting from being homeless in Edmonton at 15 years old.
  • He recounts being invited to tour Industrial Light & Magic studios, where he criticized an investor pitch and was asked to give a presentation.
  • Despite initial reluctance, he impresses the investors and is offered to run the company, eventually leading to him buying the studio.
  • This opportunity led to working on major films like "Avatar," "Pirates of the Caribbean," and "Transformers," as well as developing life-saving technology for the U.S. Military.
  • The speaker is later invited to speak at an event in Vancouver during the Olympics, where he suggests a strategy to attract industry professionals by offering tickets to the closing ceremonies and gold medal hockey game.
  • Despite skepticism, the plan succeeds, and the speaker attends the event, where he impresses a Chinese producer who offers funding for a 3D movie project.
  • The producer sends a quarter of a million dollars for development, attributing the success to the speaker's comfort with public speaking.
  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of being comfortable with saying no to opportunities to avoid FOMO and accelerate manifestation of financial freedom.
  • He shares a personal anecdote of turning down an invitation to Richard Branson's private game reserve to prioritize his commitments.
  • The speaker concludes by revealing his strategy for getting on stage at A-Fest and having his products published on the Mindvalley platform.

46:17

"Quality over quantity in effective communication"

  • Vishen decided Mindvalley would focus on quality over quantity, reducing authors from 80 to 14.
  • The speaker aimed to be one of the 14 authors, acknowledging the challenge.
  • Traditional marketing methods emphasizing self-promotion are outdated.
  • To influence people effectively, one must focus on understanding and addressing their needs.
  • The speaker illustrated this by role-playing a child convincing parents to visit Disney World.
  • Effective communication involves understanding the audience's concerns and interests.
  • Strategic communication objectives are crucial before any presentation.
  • Avoid showing nervousness to the audience to receive genuine feedback.
  • The speaker shared a story of a woman who undermined her successful talk by revealing her nervousness.
  • By understanding Vishen's interests and values, the speaker successfully secured a speaking opportunity at A-Fest.

57:30

Eric's Conference Dilemma: Vancouver to Mykonos

  • Eric is invited to speak at a conference in Vancouver and Mykonos in the same month.
  • He rushes from Vancouver to Mykonos for the second event.
  • Mindvalley had arranged a hotel room for Eric, but he had already booked his own.
  • Eric faces a dilemma when told not to speak about diet at the conference.
  • Despite the challenge, Eric remains calm and confident before going on stage.
  • Vishen asks Eric to do another 20-minute talk, which is unusual for Eric.
  • Eric decides to speak about his project, "The Hindsight Window," without much preparation.
  • Eric believes his talk will have a major impact on the audience.
  • Eric emphasizes the importance of not showing nerves on stage.
  • Eric discusses the significance of breathing properly for feeling safe and avoiding stress.

01:07:28

"Breathing impacts emotions and confidence in speaking"

  • Improper breathing can lead to a switch to the reptile brain, hindering conscious thinking and promoting pessimism due to the production of cortisol and adrenaline.
  • Breathing patterns in response to threats, like encountering lion tracks, trigger the body's fight-or-flight response, leading to the production of adrenaline and cortisol.
  • Deep breathing signals safety to the body, influencing DNA and promoting a sense of security, making it crucial before public speaking engagements.
  • Eyes play a significant role in conveying emotions and wellbeing, with focused gazes indicating fear or threat assessment, as seen in reactions to lion tracks.
  • Emotions and body responses are interconnected, with physiological changes influencing emotional states, emphasizing the importance of changing physiology to alter emotions.
  • Excitement and nervousness share similar physiological responses, with the distinction lying in the individual's perception of the situation.
  • Deep breathing is proposed as an addiction, contrasting it with chemical addictions like caffeine or nicotine, highlighting its role in signaling safety to the body.
  • The act of smoking is likened to a child's oral fixation, with the real addiction being to deep breathing and the sense of safety it provides.
  • Techniques like deep breathing, soft gazing, and starting a presentation with humor are recommended to enhance confidence and audience engagement during public speaking.
  • Initiating a talk with a predictable laugh is suggested to create a positive atmosphere and establish a connection with the audience, as demonstrated by comedians like Jack Canfield and Eddie Izzard.
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