Last night I was reading bedtime stories to my 6-year-old, or rather he was reading to me, and I learned 3 things you can apply in your adult life to improve communication and show up like an expert. 

1. Every time he came to a word he wasn't sure about, he got really, really quiet, so quiet that I could barely hear him.

He was hedging his bets, not wanting to speak up because he was afraid of making a mistake. It got me thinking about all the places adults do this:

• You trail off mid-sentence when you're unsure about your argument

• You talk really quietly because you don’t want to make a mistake

• You don’t talk at all because you fear being judged 

Is this you?

So much of your ability to persuade other people comes from your confidence. 

And confidence starts with believing you have something valuable to share and that you have the right to be speaking in the first place.

2. Even when my kiddo could sound out a word, he didn’t necessarily know what it meant.

This also happens in conversation.

My husband and I might try explaining a complex topic and think our 6-year old is following along, but if we stop and ask if he knows what a particular word means, he often shakes his head NO. 

The same thing happens when speaking in front of an audience, or at a business meeting. 

How many times have you sat through a professional presentation littered with industry jargon and acronyms you had to look up? 

You could be the premier subject matter expert, but if you don’t speak in terms your audience understands, they might have no idea what you’re talking about and miss your point entirely. 

Assume you know more than your audience and define concepts, terms and acronyms.

Explain things like you’re talking to my 6-year old. 

If you’re worried that you’ll look stupid, it’s quite the opposite. Instead, you’ll be admired for your ability to translate your work to a general audience and make it accessible and relevant.

3. The last thing I noticed is how my kiddo likes to look through all the pictures before he reads the book.

He likes to preview the material and get a sense of what’s coming. 

This is exactly what happens in a good presentation.

Hook your audience at the beginning and then let them know what’s coming.

This lets your audience know they’re in the right place, that it will be a good use of their time, and that your information will be relevant to them. 

Which of these tips can you use right away? Drop me a note and let me know.

If you have kids at home, turn bedtime stories into practice time. 

I love helping clients improve their confidence and build their presence with tools and strategies that make communication more fun.

Here’s what my client Mimi Bishop said:

“Madeline asks the good hard questions that create a presentation that draws people in and engages them so they walk away having learned something from someone they will not forget. With Madeline’s expert help, the quality of my presentation is night and day.”

Do you want to be more clear and concise at work? 

Do you want to improve communication on your team? 

Do you want to turn your idea into a talk?

I can help you speak clearly and concisely in any situation.

Let’s chat.

Hi, I’m Madeline.

I help quiet leaders and organizations communicate their story and invite audiences into their world.

Together we’ll transform how you communicate, at work, at home, in life.

Get in touch at madeline@madelineschwarz.com.

I’ve loved swimming since I was a child. 

There’s something meditative about being in the water and zoning out as your body cuts through the water.

I’ve always had a preference for pools, finding comfort in being able to see my hands, touch the bottom, and count laps as I go back and forth.

Enter Summer 2020, many months since I’ve been in a pool in Brooklyn, and I’ll take any body of water I can find. Creeks, waterfalls, lakes, puddles.

For the first time in 43 years, I swam across a lake (two in fact). 

Crossing a lake is thrilling and terrifying. 

There’s a lot of build-up:

• wondering how long it will take

• worrying about the invisible (or imagined) dangers

• wondering if you have enough energy to swim back

• hesitating because it’s cold

Eventually, you just have to jump in.

Put one hand in front of the other and start.

Swim into the fear.

It’s a lot like speaking.

• You build it up in your mind. 

• You imagine the dangers and worst-case scenarios.

• Your nerves takes over and your brain tries to tries to talk you out of it.

You’ve got two choices when that happens.

You can stay paralyzed in fear or you can trust yourself and go forward.

The next time you’re standing at the edge of the lake hesitating, be it an actual lake or the lake of fear standing between you and a presentation, use these techniques to stay present in your body and move through your fear. 

1. Slow down your breathing

Rub your hands together and slowly inhale and exhale. Tapping into another sense, in this case touch and experience what your hands feel like, slows down the sympathetic nervous system and allows you to access a different part of the brain.

2. Ground Yourself

Put your feet on the floor and feel the ground beneath you. Stand if you can. If you can prop up your computer and create a standing desk, I recommend it.

There’s a reason they stand in your power. It’s easier to command presence, project your voice and confidently inhabit your body when you stand.

3. Practice

We all start somewhere. Don’t be afraid of a little dirt and mud. Dust it off and keep going. Sometimes the process is messy.

4. Do it Scared

Fear is a natural human emotion. It’s okay to feel scared and take action anyway. 

I used to be terrified of public speaking and getting comfortable speaking in front of groups is one of my proudest achievements. Being on the other side of that fear is one of the most liberating experiences of my adult life. 

If you’re wondering what awaits you on the other side of the lake, swim into the fear. 

I’m here to help.

Hi, I’m Madeline. I help quiet leaders and organizations communicate their story and invite audiences into their world.

I’ve trained hundreds of professionals to confidently articulate their ideas and transform how they communicate at work, at home and in life.

I’ve worked with companies such as Mastercard, The Jewish Museum, Mt. Sinai and Ellevate Network.

Get started with my free resource Get Clear on Your Message.