3 Levels of Awareness You Must Know When Speaking to Audiences
March 27, 2012
There are three levels of awareness that we need to be aware of when speaking to audiences.
The first thing we need to focus on when speaking to a group is knowing in advance what you want for them and what do you want them to do. If you are speaking for a corporate group on team building then you may want them to leave with new tools on how to get along better with their teammates and what you want them to do is sign up for your newsletter or buy your book or audio.
You are committed to providing them with tools and resources to continue their learning and to increase their success.
If you are speaking to a group of entrepreneurs you may want for them to leave with tools to increase their sales and grow their business and what you want them to do is to hire you for your coaching to further support them in their goals.
Regardless of what you want for them or what you want them to do you must know the three levels of awareness of human behavior in order to be successful with your audiences.
Level of Awareness #1- What is the known knowledge level of the people in your audience? Can you know in advance of the level of knowledge on your subject? The answer is yes- this can be discovered in pre-event surveys and conference calls but it is imperative that you know this. Often we will assume or presuppose an audiences knowledge and this can either create audience alienation where their thought is, “he or she doesn’t know me or what I already know”. One of the statements I make to my audiences is, “you are a highly intelligent audience” this creates acceptance of my message and ups the value when I share something that they might not know yet they can keep the self perception of high intelligence.
Level of Awareness #2- There will always be someone smarter than you in the audience- get over it! This is a huge awareness piece as it prevents you from becoming belligerent or coming across as authoritarian which will alienate a good portion of the audience. I will often acknowledge “some of you could be up here speaking on this because you have so much knowledge” and then I go on to say, “it’s a good thing I have people like you in my audience- it keeps me on my toes”. This shows that I embrace their knowledge and that I am not threatened or trying to compete with them. Often these people are the ones who will hire me post event as a consultant or coach.
Level of Awareness #3- People respond to people who inspire true desire to help them grow, learn and prosper. We must show up with our egos in check. When we are grounded and secure in who we are, the value we bring and our desire to help others succeed -that is an irresistible combination. Check in with yourself and make sure you are there to focus on the people and their needs in the audience. Highly developed leaders have learned the art of ‘lead thyself first’ and they have done the ‘inner’ work that heightens awareness around ego and power plays. Today’s savvy audience members can sense a speaker that is authentic and solid in their content and in their intentions.
If we use these three levels of awareness we can be assured that our messages will ‘land’ and we will leave with a higher level of contribution and connection. Isn’t this why we want to speak to audiences anyway?
2012 The Year of Transformation!
January 31, 2012
Have you heard about the Mayan Prophecy? The one where the world is going to end in December 2012?
What if I told you that the true prophecy is that we are all entering a year of transformation?
The truth of the Mayan Prophecy is that we are being called to integrate our masculine (business and doing) with our feminine (meditative and creative) to create our next level of success and happiness.
As a speaker to promote and market what you do, it is crucial that you have a balance of business and creativity to ensure your success.
Do this quick self test to see where your dominant energy sits:
1. I would rather create and daydream than make sales calls ___yes ___no
2. I would rather talk on the phone then use social media ___yes ___no
3. I would rather talk about personal stuff than business targets __yes __no
4.I am more comfortable when taking control __yes ___no
5. I prefer to let others take charge __yes __no
Typically if you are more creative and less business focused you have an abundance of feminine energy and if you are more about the business than you have a dominance of masculine energy. Of course it is never that cut and dried – the goal is to balance and integrate the masculine and feminine activities to lead a more integrated life.
For years I was dominant in my masculine energy- it has been in the past decade that I have brought my feminine into balance with my masculine. I was pretty unhappy when in my dominant male energy- I felt put upon, misunderstood and under valued. Today I am centered, more self loving and much more content with my life and work.
I am excited about 2012 for myself but also for you! Now more than ever we have the power and the ability to integrate and create our next big leap forward.
My next event is the Business Breakthrough Weekend in Edmonton AB March 2/3 2012- to find out more go to:
It’s Time to Step it Up and Lead as Women
July 13, 2011
We all have our excuses- too tired, too busy, too much going on and our excuses are valid BUT are they stopping
you from leading as a woman?
More and more women are being called to lead and they are ignoring the call or they are postponing the call.
Why? I think its because we are so used to doing things for everyone else that we feel selfish or we put others
needs before our own.
Here’s the deal though, the world needs us now!
The Dalai Lama himself says that the world will be saved by women from the Western World.
You know that you have wanted to step forward even more than you already have and you know
that you can no longer ignore the inner voice that is urging you to action.
There are two reasons we are stressed, typically.
#1- we are trying to change things that are never going to change
#2- we are not taking the action needed to make the change
We women have gifts and contributions to make to help move the planet forward.
Of course we have families and a life and our well being takes priority but if all is well
and you are hearing the call then the time is now.
How can you lead or how are you already leading?
- Get out there and speak about your business and how you can help
- Join your community leadership as a leader
- Be involved in your children’s activities and take a lead role
- Answer the call to serve in politics
- Lead your associations or membership clubs
It is through leadership that we learn and grow but also how we can make an impact on others.
I urge you that you are being called to action right now! Just step it up a notch and continue to
help move the globe forward- we are answering the Dalai Lama’s call.
You Asked For It……
June 10, 2011
We have had many requests for another Keynote Coach retreat in Calgary and so we are
thrilled to announce that we are having a Keynote Coach retreat on August 19th and 20th.
In addition we are having a Keynote Coach alumni meeting for any previous participant of
the Keynote Coach Retreat on August 18th. If you have been in a Keynote Coach retreat
before you are eligible to attend this one day event for only $197.00!!!
You will get to network with other Keynote Coach alumni AND get an opportunity to
revisit your business and speaking goals in the Speaking Hot Seat.
We are limiting this group to 12 to ensure everyone gets their Hot Seat opportunity so if
you want to get your spot call Dale now at 604 468 2077 or email dale@cherylcran.com.
If you know someone who wants to participate in the popular Keynote Coach Retreat
please refer them to us and receive a referral fee- we believe in sharing the love.
Cheryl
Put Me In Coach- I Am Ready to Play
March 28, 2011
I am so thrilled that I have been getting calls and emails about ladies who are ready to step up their presence and want to create more abundance for themselves.
What these ladies are saying are, “Put me in coach, I am ready to play” and they are no longer hiding behind excuses or fears. They sense and they know that the time is NOW to find someone who can fast track them with their speaking goals.
I am getting asked when I am coming back to Calgary to do a Keynote Coach Retreat and we will be providing details soon!
We have Vancouver’s Keynote Coach Retreat coming in November and soon to be announced events in Chicago and LA.
So are you ready to play?
Here are 3 signs that the time is right for you right now to focus on your speaking to grow your business:
1. You feel ‘itchy’ or ready for the next big thing but you haven’t found the right signs yet to let you know who or what direction you should go.
2. You are ready to invest time and money with someone who has ‘been there and done that’ and can help you get to where you want to go quickly.
3. You are done with the excuses and the fears and really ready to take action to move forward.
If these three signs are there for you right now then now is the time to make the changes and to be held accountable to your greatness. You know you are destined for bigger things, you know that you are being called to show the world all of your gifts and to share your gifts with others and you know that time is getting faster and there is no longer the luxury of putting your goals on pause. The time is right now for you to do something that will catapult you forward.
Email Dale if you want to sign up for Calgary or Vancouver’s upcoming events info@yourkeynotecoach.com
What’s Your 90 Day Commitment?
March 1, 2011
We all set goals and we all have the best intentions to achieve them but often we find ourselves getting side tracked or allowing other distractions to keep us from achieving what we set out to do.
One of the ways to stay true to a big goal or achievement is to set a 90 day commitment and then be held accountable by a coach or a friend.
We just had our Keynote Coach Retreat in Vancouver and it was a resounding success.
At the end of day two we went around the room and I asked everyone to announce the number of speeches they were going to book as part of their 90 day commitment.
They had to provide a number that was a stretch and they had to say it in front of the group. This type of accountability works. Every book I have published I have put it on my website first and then because I had publicly put it out there guess what? I had to write the books!
There is nothing like a book order of 500 books to get you to follow through with your commitment!
The average number of speeches that the attendees agreed to book were 3 and that may seem like a lot in a 90 day period but its important to set a goal that stretches you so that you can really feel the energy around creating in that 90 day period.
If you have some goals that you have been intending to achieve but have been putting them off perhaps it is time to be held accountable?
Here’s your chance- email me to tell me your 90 day commitment and you will be accountable to me!
The 90 days starts now and ends on June 30th- what do you want to achieve or create in the next 90 days?
Can’t wait to hear from you!
Cheryl
What Do You Get When You Put Highly Successful Biz Owners in One Room?
February 24, 2011
What do you get when you put highly successful business owners in one room?
You get phenomenal energy, innovative ideas and breakthrough strategies to take your business to the next level.This Friday and Saturday I am so excited to have the best of the best in business attend my 2 day retreat that is focused on helping entrepreneurs speak to grow their businesses.
The reason it is called “Your Keynote Coach Retreat” is because I have been keynote speaking for over 15 years but also the highest perceived speaking engagement is also the keynote.
However becoming a keynote speaker is not the be all end all and is a very focused endeavor. Rather I focus on using the art of being a really clear and focused communicator in order to attract more clients, grow your business and to sell in volume.
It is known that business owners who can professionally represent their business in a clear, humorous and engaging way are able to recruit more raving fans and ultimately increase their business revenues.
I have facilitated over a dozen of these retreats since 2009 and I can tell you that each group of entrepreneurs has blown me away with their commitment and ability to step up big time.
This group that will be attending on Feb 25/26 include owners of a high profile marketing company, the owner of a very high profile e-newsletter company, a well known writer and former broadcaster, a highly successful financial services owner and others.
Can you imagine what a room full of power players like these can accomplish in two days?
The end result is that every business owner inevitably leaves with renewed clarity and vision for their business and since every business is a direct reflection of the owners energy- we all know what can happen with increased clarity and vision- more business!
I am always blown away by the speaking ability of these high energy business leaders and their ability to take everything they learn in two days and turn it into marketable strategies that are a perfect fit for them and their businesses.
I am passionate to share what I know both as a successful entrepreneur myself and as an in demand keynote speaker with other highly successful entrepreneurs. Every time I share everything I know, and provide support I gain so much through watching their success explode and there is no greater reward than seeing that you can impact others in a big and positive way.
So what do you get when you put highly successful business owners in one room?
Pure and unadulterated joy and expansion!
3 Things We Can Learn From “The Grocery Bags”
February 5, 2011
Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic are known as “The Grocery Bags” and their show has been picked up by Oprah Winfrey’s new network OWN.
I had a dream day with both of them on Friday February 4th- it all came about when my husband Reg purchased a live auction item at the annual fundraiser for The Boys and Girls Club in Vancouver.
The item he purchased included limo service all day, a spa visit to Absolute Spa, lunch at The Italian Kitchen and then shopping at BCBG and Blue Ruby.
First of all lets acknowledge that ‘yes’ I have a fabulous man!
The day was absolutely fantastic and Anna and Kristina are down to earth, funny and easy to hang with. After champagne and a glass of wine with our lunch we headed out shopping (dangerous I know) as soon as we got to BCBG Anna and Kristina worked their magic and started finding all sorts of things for me to try on- I didn’t get pictures of what I purchased but let me just tell you that the outfits they put together for me made me feel like a million bucks!
After spending the day with these two women and finding out more about them as business women I walked away with 3 valuable lessons that I would like to share with all of you:
#1- Know exactly what your brand is and what you stand for.
When we talked about Anna and Kristina’s start in the media industry they shared their struggles when the started and how those struggles led them to create their own brand, their own shows and finally their own production company. When I told both of them that they could be really busy as celebrity speakers they both said that their core brand is the two of them together and their core focus is media. Talk about knowing what they want and staying true to their focus.
#2- Be Authentic In Every Situation.
Anna and Kristina are open, generous and down to earth. This brand definitely comes across in their TV shows but when you meet them in person that is really who they are! We talked about everything you wold talk about with your girlfriends and ended up sharing stuff that was pretty personal. The cool thing about both of them is that you can really see that they like each other and respect each other and they like and respect people in general. This is obviously a huge factor in their success to date.
#3- Don’t Be Overly Focused On “Getting Something”
When we talked about their show being picked up by the Oprah network I asked them what this meant to them. Without missing a beat they both said that it is a huge opportunity and they are looking forward to seeing what happens with their audience reach but neither of them were overly focused on meeting Oprah herself. They very realistically noted that she is an extremely busy lady and is focused on building her network and if they do get to meet her they will of course be thrilled but that is not something they are ‘dying’ to have happen. They are grounded in producing good quality shows and expanding their market recognition. I think many of us can focus on something that could end up being a distraction from our core focus and I was impressed that they both see meeting Oprah as it would be nice if it happened but they are not losing sleep over it.
I think as women entrepreneurs and business owners we can get lost or diverted from our core business or focus. Meeting Anna and Kristina was super fun and hey I got great clothes and accessories but more than that I learned three valuable lessons in running my businesses.
Cheryl Cran, CSP is a keynote speaker, author and consultant and also has a business that helps women speak to grow their business which is Your Keynote Coach her focus includes corporate leaders and entrepreneurs.
2 Day Event In Vancouver
January 13, 2011
Event Date: Feb 25/26 2011
Our next Keynote Coach event is now open for registration!
The Keynote Coach retreats are intimate two day events for a maximum of 12 people who want to create or refine their keynote, seminar or webinar.
In two days you will learn:
- The proven formula and structure for successful keynotes and presentations
- How to tweak your speech title to provide a compelling ‘offer’ to your target market
- The ins and outs of Powerpoint, Mac Keynote and the pros and cons of using slides
- How to write compelling program ‘blurbs’ that describe the content of what you are presenting
- Everything you need to know about audio, visual, room set up and video recording your presentations
- How to build a keynote or speech blueprint that can be replicated and used for all future presentations
- What to do to ensure you are connecting with every generation in your audience when presenting
- How to formulate your thoughts and articulate them in a clear and inspirational style
- How to build your business through your ability to speak effectively and create a call to action
- What to do to build speaking as a revenue stream- marketing to your target audience
- What to do to gain the attention of speakers bureaus and booking agents
- Much, much more…..
Sign up and reserve your spot today http://www.yourkeynotecoach.com/events
