I’ve been asked to coach the CEO of a major global corporation. Google his name and an abundance of videos pop up. I’m watching portions of many of them to assess where I can help him.
He has no problems with stage fright. He steps forth boldly, almost a little cocky. He strides across the stage, from one side to the other, as he talks, very deliberate and purposeful motions, like an athlete.
His slides are impeccable. Not too much, not too little, fabulous graphics. He works well with his slides, doesn’t look at them at all.
His content is honed, his key messages expertly crafted.
He delivers the message with great conviction. Strong voice.
His pauses are deliberate. Well-timed humor.
It all looks rehearsed. Very rehearsed.
I’m watching theater, not communication.
He’s working hard to impress you.
The problem is, I can see the script.
The problem is, he IS the script.
He’s “on stage,” overly aware he’s playing to an audience. He’s talking to “the world out there.” You don’t get the feeling he’s talking to you.
The problem is, there’s no personal connection with him. No soul.
He’s impressive, but he doesn’t draw you in. He doesn’t make you believe. He doesn’t make you trust him.
He simply makes you watch him.
It’s a very well-crafted performance of, “I want you to believe me.” Except you don’t.
You can’t connect with an actor you know is acting. You can only connect with a human being.
Somewhere along the line he lost himself. He is gone.
This is a man who has been given so much advice on “how you need to come across”, it overwhelmed and finally drowned his soul. Unfortunately, he listened to it. It led him into crafting this artificial persona. The persona he’s been told Wall Street and a faceless group of investors demands.
I’m seeing the superficial performance of a well-scripted theatrical role: “the successful CEO you should invest in.”
It always makes me sad to see how “corporate success” and living up to others’ expectations can bend a person’s ideas about themselves so out of out of shape, they forget who they are. I am so happy I can help them because I can see who they really are underneath all the “I’m supposed to’s.” I always love who I see. I love when they find themselves and they fall in real love with themselves too.
My job is to return his soul back to him.
To help him find that quality, that essence of himself, that makes him say, “This is really me. This is who I am.” To show him that his true self can win and is the only self that wins. To show him how true communication works.
He’ll be a thousand times more successful than he even is today.
Best of all, he’s going to experience the joy of discovering himself again. He’ll feel real good about himself. I can’t wait to see this happiness on his face.
But, looking at him right now, connecting to himself is just the first part … What does he feel for his audience? Nothing. He just wants to impress them. They’re not even real people to him.
My next job is to rekindle his ability to connect with humanity, with others.
That’s the only chance he’ll have of winning their hearts.
And the best part of that is how good he personally will feel when it happens. A joy that can’t be described in Earth words.
Now he will be able to begin to truly communicate.
I’ve helped people win the hearts of large audiences and to close billion-dollar deals. It’s much sweeter and longer-lasting in the presence of real humanity. Yours and theirs.
Impressing people is a shallow victory. Infusing your talk with your own spirit, creating rich understandings, and connecting with the soul of your audience is what it takes to create a truly extraordinary outcome.
Here’s the link if you want this kind of coaching: Premier one-on-one coaching
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