Why Leadership Means Performance

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts.

— William Shakespeare, As You Like It

Let’s talk about the face you show the world.

The book I’d like to tell you about—the one featured here—is a book on speaking as a leader to influence audiences. It’s called Speak for Leadership, and I wrote it. In it, I share insights from a lifetime of performing, lecturing, coaching, and training to show how you can speak at your very best. Why does that need to happen when you speak in public? Because whatever level you’re at in your profession—when you present, you’re the leader in the room.

Leaders speak . . . and speakers lead.

But discussing ‘public speaking’ or ‘presentations’ doesn’t tell the whole story at all. Every time you interact with others, you reveal who you are. You may simply be having a conversation. You might be contributing something at a meeting. These days it’s as likely to happen in a phone call or video conference. Whether it’s pitching your products or ideas, detailing your consulting services, revealing a diagnosis to a patient, or discussing strategy with a client, you influence people in your daily interactions in ways that aren’t formal presentations at all. And people perceive you, and yes, judge you, according to what they hear and see.

The truth is, you’re always giving a performance. When it comes to public speaking, you can have a lasting influence on a large audience, an individual, or groups in between. Whether it’s a formal presentation, a conversation, or a chat, the way you carry yourself and express your ideas as you relate to others is vital to the influence you achieve.   

So, what’s the face you show your world?

And anyway, how important is all of this to you professionally? Well, it’s very important. When you make your case with passion and power, your standing and career advancement may suddenly soar. Your visibility is elevated. You might even become known as a memorable speaker. Can you think of  another occasion that will bring you such prominence so quickly? Public speaking makes a big difference—as much in today’s digital world as in previous times. The histories of entire nations, in fact, have been changed by a single powerful speech.

Speak for Leadership is about what you can accomplish when you demonstrate leadership presence as a speaker. Chris Anderson, head of TED, said: “A successful talk is a little miracle—people see the world differently afterward.”[1] And as Shakespeare reminded us, performance is so central to human existence that it is an inescapable part of our lives:  He said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”

If all the world is a stage, that means you’re actually performing in ordinary conversations as well as in speeches and presentations. And you need to command a room in all of those other situations—interpersonal communication, pitches, meetings, and other everyday scenarios as well as speeches that place you in the spotlight. 

When it comes to speaking to be heard, the more you can appeal to listeners through your stage presence, the more successful a communicator you’ll be. You’ll also become more confident and comfortable.

Getting the Results You Want When You Speak in Public

Speak for Leadership is a primer on influencing others and getting the results you want every time you speak, but especially in public speaking. Look up the term “presence,” the quality you need to truly succeed when speaking for leadership. You’ll find that no one definition does the term justice. How could they, when achieving presence in performance includes public speaking, theater, music, dance, singing, sports, and other endeavors? This book examines the concept in terms of successfully speaking to others to improve their lives. Just as important, it explains all of the elements you need to achieve presence in this exciting realm of performance.

Why do I know about any of this? I’ve spent every decade of my life—including the first one—in some kind of live performance, as a singer, musician, actor, professor of communications, keynote speaker, and speech coach to groups and individuals worldwide. My company, The Genard Method, is dedicated to inspiring people from all walks of life to discover the power of their own voice and to reach their full potential as communicators. That is what I offer in this book. And here’s something that should entice you. You’ll learn how to command a stage and succeed with listeners through a theater-based system of public speaking performance.  

Why theater as a model? For over two thousand years, drama has provided the world’s most powerful tools for inspiring and energizing audiences. Theater-based techniques can help you make people care while they trust in your honesty and credibility. When you take command of a speech or presentation or speak powerfully at a meeting, what you say is far more likely to stick. If you use the tools that I’ll be giving you, you’ll be personally memorable as well. Speak as a leader and you’ll “help make people want what you want them to want.”[2] Equally important, you’ll spur stakeholders to take the actions you want them to take, in a way that benefits them. Again: whatever your job title, every time you speak, you are the leader in the room.

So, welcome to the theater of your own life. After all, if you think of your life as a movie, who else can play the leading character as well as you? Talk about the role of a lifetime!

 Get ready to influence people—whether it’s a single individual or a conference audience—at an entirely new level. Take a breath and prepare to become a more confident, charismatic, and successful communicator. The skills you will learn in Speak for Leadership are not extraordinary. In fact, they will help you to be the best you can possibly be, with the talents, passion, and ambition you possess at this very moment.

Always remember that for an audience—internal or external, local or global—what they see is what they get. The ‘what’ here, is you. And to those people, the you performing in this moment is literally who you are.

1. Chris Anderson, “How to Give a Killer Presentation,” Harvard Business Review, v. 91, issue 6 (June 2013).

2. David Ball, Theater Tips and Strategies for Jury Trials, 2d ed. (South Bend, IN: NITA, 1997), ix-x.

This article is excerpted from my new book, Speak for Leadership, coming in January 2022. SPECIAL BONUS OFFER: Click here or below to learn more and to pre-order your copy and receive a FREE copy of my book The Online Meetings Handbook!