What if the formula for success has changed? And today, in order to reach career heights - in business, science or even durin presentation - you need to have a high level of emotional intelligence. What it is? And how to develop it?
Introduction
In 1995, the world shuddered at the news: now, to be successful, it is not enough to be a good specialist. You also need to be able to recognize your own and others' emotions. This is what emotional intelligence is responsible for.
For the first time such a theory was put forward by psychologist and science journalist Daniel Goleman (Daniel Goleman.
He believes that people with high levels of Emotional Intelligence (EI) achieve success much faster.
Of course, this skill is important for representatives of a wide variety of specialties, but for those who are engaged in the public sphere or regularly make presentations, it is simply necessary.
After all, it is important for a speaker to understand emotions, both his own and those of others, so that his speech “hits right on target”.
Below we will analyze what EI consists of and show you how you can develop it.
How To Control Your Emotional During Presentation
Step 1. Learn to be aware of emotions
Emotional intelligence begins with identifying emotions.
To understand them as best you can, you need to constantly ask yourself the following questions:
- •What is my emotional strength? What about weakness?
- •How does my current state affect my thoughts and decisions?
- •How do my emotions affect the actions and words of others?
If you regularly think about the answers to these questions, then you will have a clear understanding of the nature of your emotions, as well as the ability to manage it.
- •What am I thinking now?
- •What am I feeling now?
- •Which emotion outweighs the rest?
- •Will this emotion help in the performance?
- •How can I change my state?
- •What thoughts can help you overcome your anxiety?
Sometimes, in order to get the “right” emotion, you need to immerse yourself in memories. For example, about another event at which you successfully performed.
Try to remember what the situation was like, what you thought about most often, take a deep breath ... and feel confident in yourself.
Step 2. Pause
Be sure to take pauses while speaking. They will help you focus on the essentials and give the audience time to think.
For example, you can ask the audience questions and wait for a reaction for a few seconds. Or deliberately stopping in the middle of a talk to look around and see how they react to your words. If the reaction is positive, feel free to continue speaking as planned.
That being said, if the audience is not so happy, experiment! Add a little goodwill, imagine that you are delivering a speech in front of loved ones. And then you can steer to the "desired" key.
Step 3. Controlling thoughts
It is sometimes difficult to control your emotions. However, the initial reaction to events is thoughts. And if we learn to control them and choose the "correct" reaction to what is happening, then it will be easier to cope with emotions.
They say that there are no initially positive and negative events. Our reaction makes them that way. Therefore, even if the light or microphone turned off during the presentation, this does not mean at all that everything is lost.
Perhaps unusual conditions will help make your performance even more memorable and vivid.
Step 4. Philosophically treating criticism
Of course, we don't really like criticism. However, if you learn to perceive it correctly, then you can get some benefit from the “not the most pleasant pill”.
How to do it?First, look at yourself from the outside and understand whether the words "criticism" are objective. If you feel that there is some truth in them, work on yourself.
Think about how it will help you become better. As a result, not only will your qualities strengthen, but also your self-confidence will grow.
Step 5. Show your authenticity
Of course, in the presentation you should not openly tell the whole biography or expose hidden episodes from life, but you need to be yourself.
This means being guided by our principles and values, and also sincerely sharing opinions.
This approach will definitely be appreciated, says Daniel Golman.
You have a set of qualities, skills and knowledge that, perhaps, many in the audience only dream of.
You have your own view of things, and even if it does not coincide with the opinion of the majority, feel free to share your theories, predictions and tactics.
Step 6. Praise Others
And finally, another component of emotional intelligence is being kind to others. We have already written earlier that it is important to be genuinely interested in the audience, and then people will reciprocate you.
However, in presentations, it can be quite problematic to show interest. And here jokes can come to the rescue.Many performances are not complete without this technique.
Some celebrities have even made jokes as their signature style. Among them is the American TV presenter Ellen DeGeneres. In 2014, at the Academy Awards, she addressed actress Amy Adams: “You are an amazing actress!
Today, two films with your participation are nominated for an Oscar. It's so ... twirling on the tongue ... selfish! "
From the facial expressions of Adams, it was clear that she liked the words of the TV presenter.Jokes that emphasize the level of success, attractiveness, or other pleasant qualities of the interlocutor are always delightful.
You can add this "spice" to your presentation.
Think about what strengths and talents your audience has, and then focus on them.
