Bless his heart.
My sentiments as I watched this poor
father, herd his two little blond girls into the priority security line at the
airport, alone. Standing behind them, the shorter and younger of the two girls
turned around, looked up and smiled at me. Melted my heart. I smiled and asked
her, “Do you know where you're flying to?”
“Texas!”
“No way. Me too! Do you know what
city?”
I had stumped her. She looked at her
Dad for help. I followed her lead and glanced up to see a father who was
smiling apologetically for his daughter’s newfound interest in me.
“Dallas.” He answered for her.
“No way. Me too!” I responded,
shifting my gaze back to her.
By this point, it was ID and
boarding pass check time. Then quickly over to a moving belt, grab a bin or two
or three, unload your liquids, remove your laptop, remove your shoes, step into
the peeping tom machine, step out the other side, better grab your things before
they get crushed, and be on your oh so TSA merry way.
I grabbed my obligatory Starbucks on
my way to the gate, and boarded into seat 3A. Head down; phone out: check
Instagram, check Facebook, iMessage my peeps. Look up: FATE!
Walking down the aisle and stopping
at my row, was none other than Mr. Dad and his two blonde daughters. He
laughed, I said hello. He situated his daughters across the aisle and then sat
down beside me. Someone had decided that our journey together wasn't over.
I find out the girls, Alex, age five
and Ashley, age three were traveling with Dad to visit their Aunt and cousins
in Dallas.
And off we went, soaring to 30,000
feet for the next two and a half hours. All was quiet for the first two hours.
Then Ashley came over and climbed into her dad’s lap with a book, Grace for
President. He happily read it to her. She got down, went and grabbed
another book and returned to his lap.
“The Ugly Duckling!” I announced
when I saw the book. Ashley smiled and said, “You read it.” The apologetic look
came across her father’s face again.
“Of course.” I replied, delighted.
Ashley dismounted her dad’s lap and climbed into mine, The Ugly Duckling in
hand, and we embarked on our literary journey together.
As we finished the book it was time
to make our final descent. Ashley returned to her seat leaving me to reflect. I
was on my way to a speaking engagement and reading The Ugly Duckling was
the best presentation preparation I could have had.
How reading to a child can help
improve your speaking skills:
1. Enunciation. When you read
aloud to a child, you are forced to speak and pronounce each and every word.
And because you are in teaching mode, you will speak slowly and more clearly,
therefore your enunciation is naturally enforced. Yes, you will flub over
words, even in children’s books, mostly because you aren’t used to speaking
when you read. How often do you glaze over words when you read silently? You
can’t do that when you are reading a story to a child.
2. Emphasis. Children’s
books give you great words to practice your emphasis. CRACK! Animal sounds,
action words, and animated exclamations allow the practice of varying your
inflection, your reading speed, and your overall performance. Embrace the story
and use it to practice your emphasis.
3. Empathy. I felt for
the little Ugly Duckling. When the Ugly Duckling was sad, I read in a sad
voice. When the Ugly Duckling found out it was really a beautiful swan it was
elated, I read in a happy and excited voice. The biggest power you must own
when you are speaking is your ability to transfer emotion. Practice your
empathy out loud.
4. Enthusiasm. It’s simple.
Children do not like boring. They need stimulation. If you are going to read a
book to a child, be prepared to use your full tank of energy and enthusiasm. Go
all out! The same is true for any presentation you give. Save the audience from
a painfully boring and monotone presentation and please, go all out!
Reading aloud is about effectively
transferring the message to the audience. The same is true for your speaking
skills. Whether you are a teacher, a coach, a parent, a leader, a salesperson,
a waiter, or a human, when you apply the same enunciation, emphasis, empathy
and enthusiasm used as reading to a child, your presentation will win and your
audience will be entranced.
I’m your Double-Tall, Non-Fat,
No-Whip Sales Barista. How may I help you help yourself?
Stephanie Melish, one of
the few, hand-selected, Gitomer-Certified Speakers is the ONLY Double-Tall,
Non-Fat, No-Whip Sales Barista in the world! Stephanie trains, sells, and
speaks to companies and associations all over the country. To book Stephanie
for your next event, please visit www.GitomerCertified.com
or contact the Michelle at Buy Gitomer via email at michelle@gitomer.com or by
calling 704-333-1112.
