Since last summer, I've been taking a class on Monday nights. Last week as I was leaving, one of my new classmates, Jade, said something to me that really took me aback.
She was commenting on something I did that evening. In the moment, I just brushed it off as if I didn't care. But since then, I haven't stopped thinking about what she said.
Did she really just say that to me... She doesn't even know me... I guess that's why she didn't think twice... she didn't know it would strike a chord.
What she said was, and I quote:
"You're so good".
Wait - what - moi?!!
She was referring to a short scene I performed in our improv class. It's been almost a year since I've been attending, but would you believe, it took me three years just to get the courage to join.
For those of you that aren't familiar, improv is a form of theatre in which the performance is unscripted, created spontaneously by the performers. It can make for hilarious entertainment - as you may know from watching "Whose line is it anyway".
Although it's fun to watch, I was mortified by the thought of ever facing an audience in that way or putting myself out there like that.
But as I've told you before, I'm a big believer that drama can improve presentation skills and it's a big part of my continuous learning. I decided to try improv because it was new, scary, and definitely out of my comfort zone.
I cannot stress enough just how hard it was to commit.
In the beginning, I stayed mostly quiet. I participated in the group activities but not the ones where you get up in front of the class. Even the simple tasks would make me nervous. I used to watch in awe as my peers performed fearlessly.
But from the beginning, I had a lot of fun. And knowing I would grow from this, I kept going back. (I'd actually reward myself with chocolate on the drive over.)
Each class, I would consciously push myself to raise my hand a little more, speak up a little more, and give a little more of myself.
Somewhere along the way, I guess I started to feel less scared and less nervous. I even stopped treating myself to the Monday night chocolate. But I never stopped to consider just how far I've come.
So when Jade said what she did, I know she didn't mean too much by it. What took me aback was this: She was now the new person, looking at me with the same lens that I used to view my peers when I first started. That caused me to reflect on my journey thus far.
I'm no superstar, I'm still just learning. But I have made huge strides - by showing up, and also in how I show up.
I'm sharing this with you because I know that you're also on a journey to improve your presentation skills. Wherever you're at in your journey, I encourage you to look back once in a while to reflect on how far you've come. Maybe your slides look better or you don't get as nervous as you used to. Perhaps you interact with the audience or start with a strong intro. Have a think about the changes in what you're doing and how you're feeling. Ask for feedback from people you trust to be honest...and kind. :)
The same goes for all your goals - whether they be personal or professional. Sometimes they may seem daunting, even impossible. Sometimes things take longer than you hoped. Or sometimes you find that you've reached your goal, only to set a new one that's even higher.
Just be sure to celebrate the small wins along the way. In my experience, looking back can actually push you to drive forward. And that's exactly what happened to me this week. I went to class with a completely different mindset - that of a person who is experienced, unafraid, bold, and as some may call... "good".
The result? My best class yet!! I took more risks, I was more creative, I learned more, and I had EVEN more fun!
Go ahead and give it a try.....just imagine what possibilities await you!
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