Persuading Crowds Part 4: A Crowd of Many
Being Present: Looks different because with a crowd of one you want your audience to dominate the conversation. Talk less, listen more. With a crowd of many, this really isn't feasible unless you have two hours of material and eight hours of time. Conversation slows the tempo and pacing of a presentation which is why it is so important, when developing a speaking event, to plan out the timing of audience participation.
Persuading Crowds Part 3: A Crowd of One
Be Present: Dale Carnegie was a master at this. If you haven't read it, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' absolutely has to be the next book on your reading list.
If you want to persuade you have to be interested and engaged in the other person. Talk less, listen more, ask questions, basically shut up and get out of your own way.
To use a great theatre term, 'live in the moment' with your other. There cannot be anything more important than the conversation you have in the moment. Your other is the most interesting human being in the world. That's the role you play in 1-2-1 crowd persuasion.
Persuading Crowds Part 2: A Crowd of Self
The Crowd of Self
This is the crowd that shuts us down again and again before we even have the opportunity to persuade others. This crowd has been growing inside of us for decades and reminds us constantly of perceived failures, humiliation, shame, regret, harsh criticism all in an effort to emphasize we are not enough. Not smart enough. Not talented enough. Not attractive enough. Not--insert your own limiting belief here--enough.
Persuading Crowds Part 1: An Introduction
Crowds come in all shapes and sizes.
Some of us are skilled in persuading crowds of one, but we struggle to persuade crowds of many.
Others, myself included, feel much more comfortable persuading crowds of many but find it more difficult to persuade crowds of one.
Still, there are those who find it extremely challenging to persuade crowds of one or many because they haven't persuaded the most important crowd: the crowd of self.
'Commitment and Consistency' or 'How Your Business is Like a Rom-Com'
Too often I see businesses make the "Easy A" mistake. In a vain effort to build an experience which will attract everyone, they struggle to lean into and fully explore an experience capable of attracting anyone.
They offer too much, are consistently pivoting for a new perceived client, always changing their messaging and ultimately creating distrust in the experience of their business.