by Debbie Lee
It is common to hear, “To be a better speaker, you need to be a better listener” or even “To be a better speaker, you need to be a better evaluator.”
How about – “To be a better speaker, you need to be a Sales Superstar.”
Disagree? You may refuse to associate yourself with the word ‘SALES’ or give a slight nod and half agree.
I say that every toastmaster is in sales!!
If your belly is churning and some parts are screaming “Noooo”, hang in there and please let me explain.
Every time we speak, we are selling our ideas, our opinion, our knowledge, and our passion.
We are looking for validation and feedback that we have made a difference.
It doesn’t matter if your speech is humorous, inspirational, or informational, we are all in Toastmasters to be more effective in communicating our ideas.
Ultimately that’s saying we all want to be Sales Superstars!!
Trust me it took me a long while to get to this point and being empowered by the word ‘Sales’.
I would really love to share with you my empowering definition of what it means to be a Sales Superstar.
There are 4 key criteria of a Sales Superstar.
- Passion
Passion is contagious!! Have you ever experienced a presenter who does not make sense but their energy and enthusiasm makes you want to buy whatever they are selling? (Well I have, am I the only naïve one?)
Passion brings your message alive and will have your audience wanting to hear more.
- Curiosity
Get curious about your audience. Who are they? What do they want from you? How are you going to help them or give them what they want? Where are they from?
When you engage the audience at a deeper level, you will establish rapport and all the preparation will be worth it.
You will ease into your presentation with wonderful interaction and agreement.
- Problem Solver
This is a flow on from Curiosity, and is about answering your audience’s most pressing questions or needs and addressing their concerns.
Maybe they just need some humour to provide a bit of fun. Deliver a humorous speech and have them laugh and relax into their evening.
When you are able to answer all of the above, you are almost at the home run.
- Results Oriented
In the Toastmasters world, the question is “Have you fulfilled the objective of the speech project?”
The unofficial question is, “Have you made the sale?”
Will the audience take on your call to action?
Will they start to incorporate those healthier eating habits in their lives?
If the answer is “YES”, then let’s crack open a bottle of champagne and celebrate!!
You are a Toastmaster Sales Superstar!!
Before you deliver your next speech, reflect on the 4 Criteria.
I would love to know if it enhances your experience as a speaker and what audience feedback you receive.
Debbie ACG, ALB is a dynamic and passionate speaker and facilitator, who has a strong desire to help individuals develop greater self-confidence through leadership and communication skills.
She is currently the Area Director for R36 and a member of the Rowville Toastmasters Club. She is the Program Director of Empowered to Speak and a Leadership & Career Development Consultant.