“I’m concerned that I’m not connecting with the audience. I’m sharp about tech details, but this speaking stuff is outside my comfort zone,” Henry, a member of my audience, said. He was asking for more guidance after one of my speeches.

I shared with him some details, taken from my speech The Savvy CEO: Master of Media Appearances.

Here we’ll cover a brief overview as embodied in the S.A.V.V.Y. process:

S – story
A – attention
V – vulnerability
V – victory
Y – yearning

1. Story

Through the use of storytelling, we truly connect with audience members.

In my book, Relax, You Don’t Have to Sell, I shared the S.T.O.R.Y. process which includes:

S – set how we like the hero
T – target the hero’s goal
O – open with a grabber
R – reveal the struggle
Y – yearn for the Triumphant Ending and “What I learned…”

To get the full benefit from storytelling, it’s necessary to carefully structure your story. Ultimately, we’re seeking to grab the audience’s attention and to move their feelings.

2. Attention

A key to quieting down your nervousness is to pay attention to your audience members. What material is connecting with them? What is their body language conveying?

When I first began speaking, my right leg fluttered like a hummingbird’s wings. I overcame this situation by shifting from “How am I doing?” to a new focus on the audience—“How are YOU doing?”

The idea is shift from self-consciousness to audience awareness.

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3. Vulnerability

“Vulnerable?” my new client, Sam, asked. “I don’t get that. The company, the board of directors requires me to be strong and clear in my objectives.”

“When dealing with the media or in an all-hands speech, it helps to show you are a human being and not just a stuffed shirt,” I replied.

“How do I do that?”

“We pick something that is an Appropriate Vulnerability.” I went on to share how, in his later years, Dr. Wayne Dyer warmed up the audience by talking about how his teenaged daughter would lightly poke at him by putting her hands on her hips and begin with: “Daaad, you know that …”

Being vulnerable in an appropriate manner wins you the connection with the audience.

4. Victory

Audiences love a well-earned victory. Somewhere in your presentation, show the goal, the setbacks and the real struggle. Then, when you express the Triumphant Outcome, the audience celebrates with you. You take them on the journey so the victory feels like their victory, too.

5. Yearning

Make a real connection with an audience by connecting with their Secret Desires—what they’re yearning for.

For example, I was working with a client. She serves women in the second half of their lives. One Secret Desire is to avoid feeling alone. So for the description of an event, I added the detail that she “finds that women often start new, lifelong friendships at her retreats and events.”

I chose the term Secret Desires with care because many people often hold these details close to the vest.

Here is a partial list of Secret Desires:

1. Not to be alone
2. Not to appear stupid (analytical individuals including engineers and accountants demonstrate this desire)
3. Not to be vulnerable
4. Not to be obsolete
5. Not to fall into financial ruin

We can note Secrets Desires in a positive way: smart, attractive, successful and rich (for example).

Researchers note people’s deep desire to be appreciated and recognized.

Somewhere in your speech, you can include words like: “By your applause about that detail, I realize that you have your fingers on the pulse. You’re really sharp to notice that …”

Pay close attention to your rapport with audience. A bit of praise goes a long way for warming up your connection with your audience.

In summary, to connect with your audience effectively, remember to be S.A.V.V.Y.:

S – story
A – attention
V – vulnerability
V – victory
Y – yearning

Warmly,
Tom

Tom Marcoux
Spoken Word Strategist – Executive Coach
Speaker-Author, 44 books so far 🙂
CEO

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PitchPowerFest.com * GetTheBigYes.com

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Soar with Confidence: An Executive Coach Reveals Secrets, Lies and Countermeasures So You Excel Like Top CEOs and Leaders – Pitch, Lead, Succeed

Get the Advantages to take your business to a higher level. Learn Leadership Advantages, Pitch Advantages, and Success Advantages. To Soar with Confidence, you learn and use principles for top level communication to board members, team members and the media.
“Marcoux demonstrates how to “Prepare a Compelling Story that Moves Emotions.” He mentions techniques that he teaches clients for developing compelling Ted Talks.” – Dantalion Jones

Darkest Secrets of Making a PITCH for Film and Television: How You Can Get a Studio Executive, Producer, Name Actor or Private Investor to Say “Yes” to Your Project

Learn the vital skills of pitching your ideas and enrolling others into your vision. Get that “Big Yes” to funding your project. “This insightful book shows you how to zing a curveball right past the parts of the Hollywood exec’s brain that want to say no before you even make your pitch. You will learn what works when pitching, and more importantly, why, so you can get to YES much more often. Buy this book now. Consider it Spring Training before the big game.” – Danek Kaus

Darkest Secrets of Persuasion and Seduction Masters: How to Protect Yourself and Turn the Power to Good

This invaluable guide, used by people in 15 countries and now in its second edition, will help you become immune to dark persuasion. Learn to use countermeasures to defend yourself against unethical persuasion and seduction tactics. Break any trance in which a salesperson is trying to get you to buy something not to your benefit. “Learn how to defend yourself against manipulation. Best book you’ll ever read to protect yourself, feel strong and move forward in your life. Highly recommended!” – Dr. JoAnn Dahlkoetter

Secrets of Awesome Dinner Guests: What Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Helen Keller, and John Lasseter Can Teach You About Success … (The Power of Your Personal Brand)

Imagine dining with Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Helen Keller, and John Lasseter. These seven people share one thing: They’re great communicators. So this book will help you become a great communicator. “Marcoux especially stresses the importance of personal branding, of coming across as trustworthy and dependable.” – Einar Masson

What the Rich Don’t Say about Getting Rich: Work Smarter, Live Better

You want wealth, abundance and enjoyment–yes? Wouldn’t it be great to learn the real strategies that the Rich use to create Sustainable Wealth? This book takes you behind-the-scenes to what really works. You’ll see a lot of myth-busting, and you’ll learn the strategies that get real results. “Tom Marcoux gives you an inside look on the psychology of what it takes to be successfully wealthy in life. It’s more than just taking advantage of opportunity, but also about taking care of yourself. This book discusses a number of strategies that we often overlook when it comes to leading a successful life that leads to wealth generation.” – Barry Adamson II

Amazing You: Enjoy the Power to Get It Done, Get Stronger, Get Credit for It … featuring Secrets of Extreme Confidence

Would you like to Amaze yourself? This book helps you Get Stronger so you can Get It Done! You’ll learn how you can Get Credit for It! All three elements are crucial so you rise to a higher level of success and happiness. Think about it. If you get it done, but you’re a physical wreck—you lose. If you get things done, but you don’t Get Credit for It—you cannot get new clients. And, you’ll lose your current clients—if they don’t know, in their gut, how their lives are better because you’ve brought them significant benefits. Here’s a secret: You can unleash the Amazing You! Executive Coach Tom Marcoux helps you develop Extreme Confidence. “Tom Marcoux, once again, has written a book filled with practical insights and veteran business expertise that allows individuals to acquire the tools to balance personal and professional life. Tom’s wisdom possesses depth and the experience of someone who has ‘walked the walk.'” – Dr. Arthur Ciaramicoli

Darkest Secrets of Charisma: Overcome the Lies about Personal Magnetism, Get People to Feel Your Charisma and Influence Others with Your Words

Learn how you can tap into your natural gifts and tendencies to radiate Three Types of Charisma. Discover how to influence people with your words. “Marcoux explodes this myth: Charismatic people always feel comfortable before and during an important event, such as public speaking, networking or some other social event. This book shows how you can feel discomfort but still come across as confident and charismatic.The secrets include ways to radiate all three forms of charisma Marcoux describes as Warm Trust Charisma, Natural Charm Charisma and Magnetic Charisma.” – Danek Kaus