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Guest post by: Milly Sonneman Become an Author

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What is the mystery "X" factor so you can give persuasive presentations - just like a Fortune 500 CEO? Let me tell you a secret.

A lot of smart people can't answer that question.

But we're going to answer it together, right now.

"X" stands for the unknown. It refers to everything you do not know and your audience does not know.

Let's look at a how this plays out in real life.

Whether you are a CEO or not.

A lot of times before giving a presentation, something happens. Life happens. For instance... Your plane was late. You got stuck in rush hour traffic. You had a fight with your wife. You yelled at your kids. You forgot to take the right exit. You spilled coffee on your trousers.

You get the idea.

What do you do? In most professional settings, the natural urge is to cover up these external events and instantly look professional. That's code for pretend everything is perfect. Hide the things that just happened. And whatever you do, at all costs: don't talk about it!

But this is foolish and stupid.

It's foolish because what just happened is still affecting you. It's stupid because the incident is still impacting your mood, your focus and your effectiveness in delivery.

While I'm not encouraging you to reveal deep, dark secrets in a professional business presentation, I do want you to stretch the zone. Look for what you can share appropriately. Stay professional. Speak like a CEO. But get real.

When you share more about yourself, what happens? The audience warms up. The zone of "X" diminishes.

You can't just say more about yourself without opening up a new zone of connection with the audience. Keep this in mind. You aren't just revealing personal information. You are reducing the "X" factor.

Now, what if it's not a physical thing? What if it's more personal? Say, you're anxious and nervous about public speaking. Your palms are sweating. Your knees are shaking. You get hoarse and lose your voice.

Again, the classic advice is - don't reveal this.

I couldn't disagree more.

Instead, I encourage you to feel it. Express your feelings. Let your audience in. Public speaking is the #1 fear of most professionals. Even for CEOs and top leaders.

Don't you think you'll build some kind of bond with your audience if you give them a taste of your own experience?

You bet you will. And remember. This isn't about giving a huge dissertation or digression into your childhood roots of presentation anxiety. It's an acknowledgement of what is going on in the moment.

When you do this, you are doing the yeoman's task. You are reducing your own jitters AND you are reducing the "X" factor.

By being more vulnerable, your audience sees you as stronger. It's somewhat counter-intuitive and it may run in opposition of classic training you've had. But the risk is worth the reward.

When you take this risk, it pays off. Your audience gets on board. You've built rapport. Trust is deeper. People are actively listening.

Once you learn how to navigate the uncharted waters of the "X" factor, your presentation skills will put you ahead of the competition. You will be unstoppable.

Present like a Fortune 500 CEO and engage every audience. Learn how to master the "X" factor in presenting.

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