First, we must present our authentic selves.  No matter to whom we're speaking, how many, or in what venue, we will not be heard unless we are being ourselves.  Within the first few minutes of any interaction our audience is figuring out our "trustability".  People only listen to those they trust, they only trust those they deem to be authentic, and the only way to be authentic is to be YOU.

Unfortunately, many of us feel that being ourselves won't measure up, won't get the job, get the raise, get the piece of business.  What if that were the case?  Assuming you could somehow attain your goal while pretending to be someone you're not, how long do you think you could keep up the act?  Wouldn't you tire of it after a while?  When and how would you allow the real you to be seen?  Kind of a mess, right?  (And as a friend of mine says, "You might as well be yourself, everybody else is already taken." )

As a public speaking coach,  I often have clients come to me thinking they have to be made into someone other than who they are.  My job is to encourage them (and sometimes it takes A LOT of encouraging) to turn UP the volume on their individual styles.  My mom always says, "Celebrate your differentness."  Guess what?  When presenting yourself to the world, this is great great advice.

Now,  while I do want you to get out there and sing your own song, you need to sing in a key and with lyrics that each audience can understand.  Be you, but don't be focused on YOU. At bespeak we advise presenters to: "Turn your focus 180°".  Your audience must be your primary consideration in every presentation you give.

What does this mean, exactly?  It means being mindful of your audience for starters.  Those of us who do well at presenting ourselves do this almost without thinking about it.  You wouldn't talk to a new prospect the same way you talk to someone you've been doing business with for years.  You wouldn't talk to an interviewer about your skills and abilities the same way you'd talk to a new acquaintance at a social event. You wouldn't (or shouldn't) talk about a new product or service to an external customer the same way you would to someone in your own department.  Different audiences require different vocabularies, levels of discourse, etc.

 Not only should the vocabulary be different; the angle of your message should be different as well.  For example, you would present the idea of a vacation to Disney World differently with your children as the audience than you would with your parents as the audience.  Their motivations, reservations, hopes and fears are very different, thus your approach must be different.  Makes perfect sense, right?  Then apply this same principle to the rest of your life; particularly your professional life.  Whatever content you're presenting must be not only in a language your listener can understand, but presented in a way that's most meaningful to them.

Lastly, when you present you need to be present, be connecting. As you present yourself, your idea, business, service or product, watch and listen to your audience.  Are they engaged?  Interested?  Confused?  Annoyed?  Bored?  Angry?  As you interpret their response, your own presentation should change accordingly.   Remember, your goal is to get your message across.  That can only be judged by your audience's response. 

Like it or not, we are all presenting all the time.  Remember to be you, turn your focus 180°, and be present  when you present, and you'll be presenting successfully.  How will you know?  Easy, you'll be heard.