Here’s a little secret for everyone who feels at least a little pressure when going on a stage to give a speech.
Everyone in the audience already has a hero: themselves.
They don’t show up to cheer for you.
They want you to cheer for them.
Which is pretty good news for you because it means that you can stop trying so hard to appear as the hero.
The hero’s pedestal is a notoriously difficult place to be at.
All eyes are on you.
Everyone expects you to save the world from evil.
Which means there’s a constant pressure of proving that you deserve standing up there.
Essentially, it creates a disconnect.
You, the extraordinary, stand high up on the hero’s pedestal while they, the normals, are down on the floor.
This disconnect isn’t just uncomfortable.
It’s a barrier.
To engagement.
To impact.
To transformation.
That changes the moment you switch your role to that of the mentor who helps the audience live up to the hero’s expectations.
When you frame your audience as the heroes, it flips the script on the typical speaker-listener dynamic. It’s empowering and ennobling for them.
Rather than ask “What will impress them?” you ask the (more important) question of “What will help them?”
It eases the pressure on you, because the focus shifts from proving yourself to aiding them.
How might viewing your audience as heroes transform your next presentation? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
PS: This is a short excerpt from my free eBook “Speak Easy” with a simple 4 step approach to show up with more confidence. Download it here: https://michaelgerharz.com/speak-easy