Welcome back to “Irresistible Communication”. Two minutes, twice a week. No nonsense advice on leadership communication. Think of an outstanding speaker you've seen. If you're listening to this podcast, you certainly don't believe that they were born in the spotlight of the stage with some natural talent for speaking. Great speakers are great because they speak often and they never stop improving. Essentially, they use a very simple four step cycle. Prepare. Present. Reflect. Repeat. It's a cycle that's as straightforward as it is impactful. Prepare. Present. Reflect. Repeat. Through this loop, your speaking skills will naturally evolve, becoming more authentic and engaging each time. A huge misconception would be to think that world-class speakers are made in stage one of that loop. That it's all about the preparation. But that's not true. World class speakers are made by going through the entire process over and over again. And over and over again. They prepare meticulously, sure. But the act of going on that stage and experiencing the moment is just as much part of the process. Preparation will only get you so far. Practical experience wants to be made. You cannot make it during preparation. And then, reflection is equally important. What went well? What didn't? What was the feedback? Did your metaphors anecdotes and call to action work? That's crucial information for the next time. Prepare. Present. Reflect. Repeat. That's the process that will help you make the leap from good to great speaker. Keep lighting the path and share it with a friend!