Selling Yourself in Meetings 161
People don’t want to waste their time or be bored.
The attendees want the meeting to go well for their own sakes.
This automatically spells support for you and you can count on it.
It’s up to you
On the other hand, if you’re preoccupied with yourself rather
than the group and the event, you’ll soon feel the positive vibra-
tions converting to the sort of negative energy that causes cold
sweat and a longing for oblivion.
So forget yourself.
Concentrate on your role.
Remember: All communication is sharing ideas, an intellec-
tual act of love. You can’t give yourself totally to your audience
when your concentration is on yourself.
Many of us are reluctant to play a role. We don’t want to be
considered actors. If we do, our audience will think we’re pho-
nies. At the same time, we fear that our real selves will automati-
cally be rejected. Both visions are false.
The underlying reason for every successful public performance
is the communicator’s ability, at least partially, to forget about
himself and his imagined shortcomings and concentrate on the
event, his role in it, and the audience he’s delivering to. It’s the
trademark of all successful communication. Remember that and
you’ll succeed. Worry about a hair being out of place, and you’ll
fulfill your fear of failure.
What does the group expect?
Leadership is the first quality. From chairpersons, discussion
leaders, speakers, and instructors, the group wants leadership.
During your time as chairperson or speaker, you’re presiding.
You’re the one in charge. You have the right to control what hap-
pens and the obligation to see that it’s effective. Sins against good
leadership include:
- Lack of control.
- Lack of preparation.
- Rambling or boring presentations.
- Indecisiveness.