Lesson 2: Beware of speaker envy

• Later in the king's life, he had to overcome a lack of faith in himself. The secret for any novice presenter that struggle to get their words out is to persist.
• The king checked his ego; listened to his wife, Elizabeth; and put his trust in Logue. Find your own Lionel and Elizabeth.
• Put the hours in. Bertie progressed as a result of continued exercises. There’s no substitute for preparation.
• Leverage experience. Nothing improves public speaking like doing it, as King George VI found out. 

• Be a true version of yourself. Bertie's stammer humanized him and made him a hero.

• It helps to create effective brand messaging.  It determines how your brand is perceived and also builds trust with customers.
• Customer service relies on good communication. "60% of consumers have stopped doing business with a brand due to a poor customer service experience."  Microsoft’s 2016 Global State of Customer Service Report.
• It enables positive team relationships.  Effective communication helps to unite teams and create a safe environment to express themselves.

• It helps to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. It can help to defuse a potentially explosive dispute while bad communication can set it off.

1. Using a One-Size-Fits-All Communication Approach. Tailor the communication style to the intended audience.
2. Speaking More and Listening Less. Listen to what is said, how it is said, and to what is not said.
3. Assuming Instead of Asking More Questions.
4. Using Negative Tone. Choose words carefully to eliminate negative reactions.

5. Avoiding Difficult Conversations.

6. Reacting, Not Responding.

7. Not Keeping an Open Mind. Accept and respect differences, listen without judgment and consider all sides of an issue.

• The foundational virtue of entrepreneurship is simply courage in the face of limitations. 
• The quality of effective entrepreneurial leadership combines a practical modesty with a frontiersman's ability to step fearlessly into the unknown. 

• Slow Down when you speak. Your listeners have an opportunity to absorb and reflect on what you’re saying.
• Use Voice Exercises to strengthen your voice.
• Record And Listen To Your Voice. Look for ways to improve your pronunciation, your delivery, and your pacing.
• Record Phone Conversations. Replay to hear different ways that you could improve your delivery and articulation next time.
• Focus On Pauses. The drama and power of a speech are contained in the silences that you create as you move from point to point.
• Eat And Drink Well. Energy is essential for good speaking and voice projection. Cold water can chill your vocal chords and decrease the amount of warmth in your voice.

Cry, sob your eyes out, scream and yell. As long as it doesn’t hurt yourself or anybody else, find ways to release and let go of the pain you may be feeling. 

Coping with the end of a relationship is a little bit like a 12 step program. You will reach acceptance far sooner by staying away from that person.

Don’t over-analyze what could have been different. Your mission now is to get to the place where you aren’t battling with yourself about the way things are. Do this with compassion and don’t beat yourself up.

“We have two ears and one mouth, therefore we should listen twice as much as we speak.”

When someone is coming to you for advice, you have to listen, with intent. You are not supposed to jump into a conclusion and start dishing out advice.

Usually, people just want someone to listen to their problems.

Some of the issues the Duke of Windsor had to resolve to assume the throne:

• He had to commit to diligently prepare himself for his royal role.
• He had to own the idea of actually being a successful King.
• He had to trust in a mentor to help him advance to this position of power.
• He had to practice relentlessly between sessions with his coach as he followed an intentional action plan.
• He had to develop confidence in himself.
• He had to overcome early childhood identity issues and resolve prior life failures and humiliations.
• He had to take the initial bold step by delivering his first wartime speech to the world despite his speech challenges.

... in the initial one and a half minute to know whether they are going to listen to him/her any further or not.

This leaves you with a small time span in which you are supposed to grab the attention of the audience.

• Be Loud and Clear without shouting. Don't let your voice creak while being loud.
• Practise Variation. Variation in your tone can convey your expressions.
• Stress on Powerful Words. You can take effective pauses, stress on a certain set of words, which will help your speech sound more interactive.
• Create a Crowd-Pleasing Speech. Connect with the audience from the start. Use tools like humour, story and experiences to attract the crowd.
• Effective pauses build curiosity in the minds of the people listening to you.
• Avoid Ahs and Uhms. To avoid such fillers, practise speaking a lot.
• Sound Enthusiastic and Confident.  Do not sound lousy, monotonous or use the same variation of tone in your speech. Display enthusiasm in your words.