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personal growth

10 Ways You Can Benefit from Speaking at a Conference

This week, Jocelyn Bérard and I presented a keynote address at the Canadian Society for Training and Development (CSTD) Conference entitled Future-Proofing Your Organization Through Change Agility.

We knew that a keynote is a different game to leading a workshop. The audience is bigger (700+), people are physically distanced from you, scripting is required for pace and flow and engagement is more difficult (especially at the end of a day at a conference).


Another challenge is that we had never worked together. Learning about our styles and choreographing our movements was a must. It would take continual revision and rigorous practice to get it right.

As with most important events in life, this one flew by. I will always remember exchanging confident nods with Jocelyn as we launched into our presentation. Delivering our work was as exciting as I hoped it would be.

The best part of the day was when people approached us afterwards to say they appreciated what we had to say. What a feeling!

There are so many benefits to speaking at a conference and only a minority of people choose to do so. Here are the ones that have meaning for me:
 

  • Crystallizes your thoughts on a topic
  • Establishes your reputation as an authority in your field 
  • Builds capability (public speaking, communication, etc.) 
  • Broadens experience base
  • Helps people become better 
  • Meet new people (Jocelyn and I met at a conference)
  • Promotes what you have to offer
  • Scares you and makes you overcome the fear
  • Ups your game
  • Provides a sense of accomplishment

  • All of these benefits have one thing in common: growth. The best part of my CSTD keynote was working with Jocelyn. I learned so much from him and our partnering. We combined our knowledge, experience and styles to create something better than what we could have created on our own.

    Immediately after our session, we shook hands and both said, “Let’s do another”. That’s what most people say after leading their first conference session. You might too.

    Phil

    10 Ways You Can Benefit from Speaking at a Conference

    This week, Jocelyn Bérard and I presented a keynote address at the Canadian Society for Training and Development (CSTD) Conference entitled Future-Proofing Your Organization Through Change Agility.

    We knew that a keynote is a different game to leading a workshop. The audience is bigger (700+), people are physically distanced from you, scripting is required for pace and flow and engagement is more difficult (especially at the end of a day at a conference).


    Another challenge is that we had never worked together. Learning about our styles and choreographing our movements was a must. It would take continual revision and rigorous practice to get it right.

    As with most important events in life, this one flew by. I will always remember exchanging confident nods with Jocelyn as we launched into our presentation. Delivering our work was as exciting as I hoped it would be.

    The best part of the day was when people approached us afterwards to say they appreciated what we had to say. What a feeling!

    There are so many benefits to speaking at a conference and only a minority of people choose to do so. Here are the ones that have meaning for me:
     

    • Crystallizes your thoughts on a topic
    • Establishes your reputation as an authority in your field 
    • Builds capability (public speaking, communication, etc.) 
    • Broadens experience base
    • Helps people become better 
    • Meet new people (Jocelyn and I met at a conference)
    • Promotes what you have to offer
    • Scares you and makes you overcome the fear
    • Ups your game
    • Provides a sense of accomplishment

    All of these benefits have one thing in common: growth. The best part of my CSTD keynote was working with Jocelyn. I learned so much from him and our partnering. We combined our knowledge, experience and styles to create something better than what we could have created on our own.

    Immediately after our session, we shook hands and both said, “Let’s do another”. That’s what most people say after leading their first conference session. You might too.

    Phil

    What’s on Your "Scary List’?

    I had shared with a friend that a blogger I follow talked about how he was scared when he left an executive job to start his own consulting and speaking business. He’s very successful, and very scared. Why is it that we look at successful people and either assumes it comes easily or that they have not felt the emotions we do?

    We talked about how most advances in our lives have been proceeded by feeling scared. And that long periods when you are not scared could be times when you are coasting and not growing.

    We agreed to start a “scary 
    list” that we would review at the end of the year. If we didn’t have ten things on our list then we weren’t living up to our potential. 

    There are a couple things on my list. The biggest (and one I am most scared about) is my book launch. I am confident that it will go well be that doesn’t mean that I am not scared; it’s not a rational emotion. Perhaps it’s the “live without a net” nature of first-time events that makes us scared. Whatever its source, the main point is that it comes when you are growing.   


    As I keep working toward a successful launch I will become less scared. That’s how it seems to work. And maybe some “scariness” is required to propel me to greater heights. It’s been that way in the past. Then it will be time to scare myself again.


    What’s on your scary list?

    Phil

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