I never worked so long or so hard on a presentation in my life. It was an opportunity to distill decades of my research and teaching into 15 minutes. If all went well, the video would help people apply the power of paradox to achieve their personal and professional goals.
As soon as I accepted the invitation to speak at the TEDx event, I began thinking about how peak performers achieve difficult goals. My earlier review of hundreds of research studies had revealed that those who hit their targets follow three best practices:
Next time you have a tough goal to achieve, put these three practices to work for you:
WILL - How committed are you to the goal? Without commitment, you don't really have a goal, you have an interest. Psychologists measure commitment by the actions people take to overcome adversity. To boost commitment to any goal, brainstorm the answers to this question: "What are the benefits of achieving this goal?"
When I answered this question as I prepared for my TEDx talk, I realized the benefits of giving a great presentation included:
Helping others improve their lives.
Showing people how to stretch when pulled by opposing goals.
Increasing my business by showing I’m an excellent presenter.
SKILL - Do you know what steps/skills are needed to reach your goal? My research with Zig Ziglar demonstrated that creating a written, step-by-step plan greatly increases the odds of achieving difficult goals. To build the skills and plan needed, answer this question: Where can I learn the skills and steps needed to achieve my goal?
To glean the necessary skills for my TEDx talk, I studied both TEDx speakers and those who had coached TEDx speakers. I learned that a great TEDx presentation "takes the audience on an emotional, pragmatic, and surprising journey of discovery." I also learned the steps needed to achieve this goal.
DRILL - Do you solicit feedback as you practice the steps needed to reach your goal? The wise recognize that practice does not make perfect; progressive practice makes progress. Openness to feedback is the third key to goal achieving because it invites course correction before there’s a shipwreck. Use feedback to stay on track by answering this question: How will I solicit feedback as I progress toward my goal?
After much practice and many rehearsals, I was convinced that my TEDx presentation was in great shape. I then incorporated the following feedback into further practice/drills:
Delivered the presentation to seven colleagues individually (one at a time) over a two-week period. I listened to their feedback, chose what would help me reach my goal, and rehearsed more.
Presented to a group of 40 senior executives (during a retreat). Each leader provided written comments regarding what they liked and what to improve.
Invited a TEDx coach and then a professional storyteller to provide input.
Rehearsed, videotaped, and analyzed the "final" presentation 21 times .
Next time you or your team have an important goal to achieve, it’s wise to combine WILL, SKILL, and DRILL to hit your target (the RED zone). Learn more about setting and achieving goals in chapters 10 and 31 of my book, Wisdom’s Way to Happiness Today.
Watch my TEDx presentation here and let me know if you think it hit the target. Feel free to send it to those you feel are going through changes.