Podfluence Returns: Enhancing Your Professional Communication Skills

John: 00:00:00

Welcome to Podfluence, the podcast that helps professional communicators tune

2

: 00:00:04

up their presentation skills to increase

your impact , influence, and authority.

3

: 00:00:09

My name is John Ball and

4

: 00:00:10

my mission is to provide you, the

professional communicator, With everything

5

: 00:00:14

you need to maximize your performance

on the stage in interviews, training,

6

: 00:00:19

hosting media, or leading your team.

7

: 00:00:21

If you want top level professional

and personal presentation skills,

8

: 00:00:25

make sure you follow the show.

9

: 00:00:33

And for some of you, welcome back.

10

: 00:00:35

If you are an original listener to the

show then thank you for sticking with us.

11

: 00:00:40

This show has been on hiatus for almost

an entire year And I think by the time I

12

: 00:00:46

publish this it might well be a full year

before an episode is released and You

13

: 00:00:52

may be wondering What has been going on?

14

: 00:00:55

Why has the show been away?

15

: 00:00:57

Let me just quickly address that and

then get into why the show has come back.

16

: 00:01:01

I have been very fortunate over the

last year to start working alongside

17

: 00:01:08

The Speaker Lab, which is, if you

don't know The Speaker Lab with Grant

18

: 00:01:12

Baldwin, it is a company that helps

people who want to build and grow

19

: 00:01:16

professional speaking businesses to

be able to set up their businesses

20

: 00:01:19

and get booked and paid to speak.

21

: 00:01:22

That is amazing work.

22

: 00:01:23

I absolutely love working with them and

is such an amazing fit for me as well.

23

: 00:01:28

And I've been very happy doing that for

this year , and plan to continue doing

24

: 00:01:32

so for a long time into the future.

25

: 00:01:34

It also has required a significant

amount of my time and energy for me to

26

: 00:01:39

ensure that I'm able to deliver that

work to the best of my ability and

27

: 00:01:43

serve the students in those programs

as well as they deserve to be served.

28

: 00:01:49

And so that has taken me away somewhat

from focusing on podcast growth

29

: 00:01:54

and other areas of my own business,

30

: 00:01:57

whilst I have been working with

The Speaker Lab and I have to tell

31

: 00:01:59

you, it's just an amazing journey.

32

: 00:02:01

I am a very lucky individual.

33

: 00:02:04

And if you haven't checked out The

Speaker Lab before, do go and take a

34

: 00:02:08

look, at least check out the Speakalab

podcast, especially if you are a

35

: 00:02:12

professional speaker or would like to

be getting booked and paid as a speaker.

36

: 00:02:17

Within that experience, I would say

I commonly encounter people who do

37

: 00:02:22

want to have professional speaking

businesses, but don't necessarily have

38

: 00:02:27

the speaking skills to be able to do that.

39

: 00:02:29

And the presentation skills to be able to

effectively carry an audience with them.

40

: 00:02:35

And whilst I do think most people

will find those Those things will come

41

: 00:02:39

with time, is not really the kind of

thing that you should be leaving to

42

: 00:02:43

chance however, I'm very aware that

my own interest and expertise by now

43

: 00:02:48

in influence and persuasion skills and

platform presentation skills is more than

44

: 00:02:55

adequate to be able to lead this journey

for you and refocus this podcast onto

45

: 00:03:02

professional communication skills, mainly

in the area of presentation, it really

46

: 00:03:07

is about how we hold ourselves, how we

project ourselves out into the world

47

: 00:03:11

and the energy that we put into things.

48

: 00:03:15

And our ability to be present in

particular situations, and also

49

: 00:03:20

our ability to have emotional

range and be able to take

50

: 00:03:24

people on the journey with us.

51

: 00:03:26

And if you really want to lead, people

often particularly admire, Steve Jobs

52

: 00:03:30

as a leader, the late Steve Jobs.

53

: 00:03:32

Understandably so.

54

: 00:03:33

Now, regardless of whether he was a

bit of an asshole or not in real life,

55

: 00:03:39

he had incredible leadership skills.

56

: 00:03:41

He had the ability to take people

with him on a journey and to tell a

57

: 00:03:45

story, to cast a spell, if you like,

with some charisma, with vision,

58

: 00:03:49

with passion for what he was doing.

59

: 00:03:52

And there are many people

out there who can do that.

60

: 00:03:54

Who we don't necessarily see so much

in the public eye, but there's also

61

: 00:03:58

many people who would like to be able

to do that and often end up thinking

62

: 00:04:01

you either can do that or you can't.

63

: 00:04:03

It's maybe something you're born with.

64

: 00:04:04

It's that X factor.

65

: 00:04:05

It's that charisma thing.

66

: 00:04:07

Those are not things that

most people are born with.

67

: 00:04:10

Certainly some people have natural

propensities to be more charismatic,

68

: 00:04:15

to be more extroverted, to be able

to entertain or, you know, Hold a

69

: 00:04:20

conversation, but that doesn't necessarily

make them better communicators.

70

: 00:04:24

It can often sometimes make them

more naturally interested in other

71

: 00:04:28

people, which does help hugely in

being more interesting yourself.

72

: 00:04:32

And then say, if you want to be

interesting, be interested in other

73

: 00:04:35

people, that's definitely true.

74

: 00:04:37

But books like how to win friends and

influence people wouldn't have anything

75

: 00:04:40

like the level of popularity that they do.

76

: 00:04:44

If these skills weren't essential.

77

: 00:04:47

And one of my favorite books, other than

how to win friends and influence people,

78

: 00:04:51

which is, I still think is an amazing

book, even though some elements are dated.

79

: 00:04:56

I also love influence the psychology

of persuasion by Robert Cialdini.

80

: 00:05:00

And over the years, I've been thinking

about how there are many elements

81

: 00:05:05

of influence and persuasion that

Robert Cialdini doesn't talk about.

82

: 00:05:09

And I think generally he is talking in

more in terms of individual influence

83

: 00:05:14

that we're able to have on people.

84

: 00:05:16

And also in terms of influence

and persuasion skills that can

85

: 00:05:19

be easily learned or adapted to.

86

: 00:05:22

I want this show to be something

for professional communicators,

87

: 00:05:26

people who are primarily speaking

for a living, whether that is as

88

: 00:05:29

professional speakers or as coaches,

maybe even as lecturers, trainers,

89

: 00:05:33

business owners, business leaders.

90

: 00:05:36

If your role.

91

: 00:05:37

Requires you to be able to communicate

to other people as effectively as

92

: 00:05:41

possible and sometimes in large groups

Then this show should be a great

93

: 00:05:47

resource for someone like you We all

need to hone and practice our personal

94

: 00:05:50

and professional presentation skills.

95

: 00:05:53

Outside of the world of politics or

professional media, very few people

96

: 00:05:56

get media training and often the media

training that you would get in, even in

97

: 00:06:00

the political industry, it probably would

be helpful, but it may not be Quite so

98

: 00:06:05

relevant, like the ability to not properly

answer a question isn't necessarily

99

: 00:06:09

something that's going to help you out

if you're going and being interviewed

100

: 00:06:11

on a podcast or something like that.

101

: 00:06:13

So, we probably don't need to worry

about those elements of media training

102

: 00:06:17

so much, but being able to be a little

bit interesting and not drone on about

103

: 00:06:22

yourself or your life without giving the

person interviewing an opportunity to ask

104

: 00:06:26

you questions or to interject at various

points, because you love the sound of

105

: 00:06:30

your own voice or because you are just so

used to carrying on speaking when people

106

: 00:06:35

are trying to interrupt you, not good.

107

: 00:06:37

And those things do not help you to

come across well, professionally.

108

: 00:06:43

But also there are influence and

persuasion skills that we need to master.

109

: 00:06:47

And as I always have with the

show and always will, we need to

110

: 00:06:51

stay ethical with those as well.

111

: 00:06:52

Influence and persuasion tools, like

any tool, can be used for good or bad.

112

: 00:06:57

I want to encourage you to use

your tools of influence and

113

: 00:07:00

persuasion for positive ends.

114

: 00:07:02

However, that is something I cannot

control but it is something I want

115

: 00:07:06

the show to continue to examine as

it has done since its inception.

116

: 00:07:09

Very first episode.

117

: 00:07:14

A few years ago, I did start to focus

the show in far more on podcast guesting

118

: 00:07:19

and how you podcast guesting, and maybe

even podcast hosting skills as well,

119

: 00:07:24

to a degree, we're going to lose that.

120

: 00:07:25

I think we'll keep that as part of things.

121

: 00:07:26

It just didn't make sense anymore to keep

that as the central focus of the show.

122

: 00:07:31

It is a little bit too tight of a

niche to some degree, and there were so

123

: 00:07:36

many people out there who are working

that niche incredibly well but helping

124

: 00:07:40

you become an amazing podcast guest.

125

: 00:07:41

Isn't really strictly my goal because I

don't really want to do the sort of agency

126

: 00:07:45

side of that, of getting, helping people

get onto podcasts and stuff like that.

127

: 00:07:48

It's like, it doesn't interest me

what interests me, sorry about it,

128

: 00:07:52

but what really interests me more.

129

: 00:07:55

Is helping you when you are on those shows

be able to come across really well and

130

: 00:07:59

to be actually amazing someone who people

will really want to listen to someone

131

: 00:08:04

who has a ton of value and that requires

putting in a bit of work I want to help

132

: 00:08:11

people develop their charisma I want to

take a look at the influence levers that

133

: 00:08:15

Bob Cialdini forgets about or who may

well maybe neglected or maybe chose not

134

: 00:08:21

to include in his book but ultimately, be.

135

: 00:08:25

I've decided to bring the show back

because there is still a demand for it.

136

: 00:08:29

And public it's ultimately, it is your

support as listeners that has brought the

137

: 00:08:37

show back when I was probably going to

cancel it and just start another show.

138

: 00:08:43

So I have done that.

139

: 00:08:44

I have started another podcast with

my good friend, Angela Bezignano,

140

: 00:08:49

which is called The Coaching Clinic,

where we are helping people to build

141

: 00:08:53

and grow Successful and sustainable

coaching practices with all the business

142

: 00:09:00

elements that they need to have.

143

: 00:09:01

And with what needs to happen in

your sessions and what can go wrong

144

: 00:09:05

and all those kinds of things.

145

: 00:09:06

Lots of fun conversations.

146

: 00:09:07

Angie's a great laugh.

147

: 00:09:08

If you haven't tuned into that show

yet, it's fairly short episodes,

148

: 00:09:11

pretty much me and Angie every week.

149

: 00:09:13

But if you are a coach in some way,

or maybe, you know, someone who is,

150

: 00:09:16

do check that out, because you're

going to get some great value from it.

151

: 00:09:20

Podfluence does get featured on several

podcast networks, and because the show

152

: 00:09:24

has been almost daily receiving public

votes, positive votes of people liking

153

: 00:09:30

the show, and the listening figures

have stayed fairly high, in fact they

154

: 00:09:35

have actually over the last few months

been increasing significantly, I

155

: 00:09:39

think it might be something to do with

those networks that it's featured on.

156

: 00:09:43

But for a show that has been on hiatus

to still be getting good downloads just

157

: 00:09:48

makes me think, wow, I think there is

still some life in this old bird yet.

158

: 00:09:53

And and so we're going to continue on

with pick up the reins on Popluence and

159

: 00:09:58

bring you, but it was essential for me

before doing that to get really crystal

160

: 00:10:03

clear on what the mission of the show

was and what it's If influence skills,

161

: 00:10:07

presentation skills and professional

communication skills are not your bag, if

162

: 00:10:12

that's really not your jam, I understand.

163

: 00:10:15

And that is where the show is going.

164

: 00:10:17

I apologize if that's not a fit for

you and hope you maybe will find

165

: 00:10:21

interest in some of my other shows

or that you will find a show that is

166

: 00:10:24

going to meet the needs that you have.

167

: 00:10:27

I'd love to hear what they are like,

if this isn't, if this isn't quite what

168

: 00:10:30

you wanted from the show, let me know.

169

: 00:10:31

Let me know what is because I may be

able to point you in the right direction.

170

: 00:10:35

Given the amount of podcasters I'm

connected to, or we might be able to

171

: 00:10:39

include some elements in the show that I

just keep things interesting for you too.

172

: 00:10:43

I plan to keep that mix of solo

shows and guest interviews.

173

: 00:10:49

But really keeping things much

more focused on you developing your

174

: 00:10:52

communication skills like this show

My hope is that with a show like

175

: 00:10:57

this that is already well established

and has over 15 000 downloads already

176

: 00:11:04

That we can take it forward Then get

some really amazing guests on for

177

: 00:11:08

you people who names you might have

heard of, if you're like me and you

178

: 00:11:13

read a lot of personal development

books, there's a good chance.

179

: 00:11:17

There's a lot of names that I'm

going to be getting on the show

180

: 00:11:20

that you will have heard of.

181

: 00:11:21

And those are the people that

I'm going to be inviting on.

182

: 00:11:24

And And I hope that that's

going to be high value for you.

183

: 00:11:27

It's only going to invite people like

Simon Lancaster back onto the show.

184

: 00:11:30

Just, he's an amazing

expert in rhetoric skills.

185

: 00:11:33

We'll certainly try and get some more

body language experts on here as well.

186

: 00:11:37

And I'm more beyond that people who

have those amazing storytelling skills.

187

: 00:11:43

There's plenty of those

people out there and.

188

: 00:11:46

And people who are just fantastic

on the platform as speakers,

189

: 00:11:49

like really super engaging.

190

: 00:11:51

As you can imagine with my connections

now through the speaker lab, I have a lot

191

: 00:11:56

of connections to those people as well.

192

: 00:11:59

So you can bet that the interviews

that you'll be seeing coming up

193

: 00:12:03

are going to be high value for you.

194

: 00:12:04

And that you'll be getting

the best of my knowledge and

195

: 00:12:06

experience along the way too.

196

: 00:12:09

If there are particular things

you want to see in the show, reach

197

: 00:12:11

out, reach out and let me know.

198

: 00:12:12

You can email me john

at present influence.

199

: 00:12:14

com john at present influence.

200

: 00:12:17

com and if you'd like to support the

show, you can certainly do that as well.

201

: 00:12:20

There are ways to do that in the

captivate website for the show.

202

: 00:12:24

The link to our captivate

site is in the show notes.

203

: 00:12:26

So please do go and check that out.

204

: 00:12:28

You'll find that that is

exclusively a link for this show.

205

: 00:12:31

It will also connect you with the other

podcasts that are in the same network as

206

: 00:12:35

this show that we have available for you.

207

: 00:12:37

And you will see that how

you can support the show.

208

: 00:12:41

If you would like to do that, one

of the easiest ways to do to support

209

: 00:12:44

the show is to leave us a review,

not that it helps people to not does

210

: 00:12:49

nothing to help with discoverability,

but it does somewhat help with getting

211

: 00:12:53

amazing people on the show when they

can see that people are tuning in

212

: 00:12:56

and getting a lot of value from it.

213

: 00:12:58

So if you haven't already,

please do leave us a good review.

214

: 00:13:01

On apple or on spotify or wherever you

would prefer to do that and if it's

215

: 00:13:05

really good, I might just even read it

out on the show So that's it podfluence

216

: 00:13:10

is back and I hope that's good news

for you if you are a new listener

217

: 00:13:14

Then I hope you'll be following us for

the new episodes and maybe check out

218

: 00:13:17

some of our back catalog as well See

what you like in there from the 172

219

: 00:13:23

Episodes that have already come out

before and if you're a longtime listener

220

: 00:13:27

then Thank you for sticking with me.

221

: 00:13:29

And I hope that you will continue

this journey with me and maybe even

222

: 00:13:33

check out some of the other shows

that we have available now as well.

223

: 00:13:37

So thank you for listening to

all this and I hope that you're

224

: 00:13:39

excited for what's coming up.

225

: 00:13:40

So I'm going to be back very soon with

a show that's going to be particularly

226

: 00:13:44

focusing in on what I learned during

my time working in the sales arena.

227

: 00:13:50

That has helped me with my coaching

and my communication skills and

228

: 00:13:54

how that might help you as well.

229

: 00:13:55

So that's going to be my next episode.

230

: 00:13:57

And then we'll be back

with some interviews.

231

: 00:13:58

That's a few interviews that

never came out last year that

232

: 00:14:01

are long overdue for release.

233

: 00:14:03

So you're going to be getting

them pretty soon as well.

234

: 00:14:05

I'll look forward to seeing you next time.

235

: 00:14:07

But wherever you're going, whatever you're

doing, have an amazing rest of your week.

236

: 00:14:11

See you next time.