Aphorisms are short phrases that capture principles of Strategic Speaker Coaching. These form part of a series sharing frameworks & tools from the approach.
Go Deeper, Do Less is for the moments you are writing a talk about, or communicating, something you feel uncomfortable about. Rather than skirting around the edge of the issue, go into it more. Sometimes this means slowing down. Sometimes it means letting go of getting everything done right now.
Go Deeper, Do Less
When speakers tell me they are worried about something – what their manager will think when they say something edgy, how they use their arms, whether they’ll ever get the speech written – they often avoid the issue. “I just need a bit more confidence”, they say, “Or a kick up the bum”.
The thing about stuff that we push aside is that it haunts us and comes out in weird ways. In public speaking (or anything relating to communication) it can appear as vague or defensive language, or a block to getting the work done.
“Go Deeper, Do Less” is a reminder that sometimes we need to give ourselves time to name, understand and tend to our fears so that we can move through them. Or that we need to start small, rather than feeling we have only succeeded once everything is done. In the short term, you might feel like you aren’t making progress because you don’t seem to be working directly on your talk. In the long run, though, you save time, because you are less likely to go around in circles or keep making the same mistakes.
When you are writing a new talk or doing anything that is so scary you want to avoid it, try exploring it deeply for a few minutes. Go into it more, rather than skirting around the edges.
By going deep, you uncover territory you would have missed if you had raced through. The spark of new discovery can help to build momentum – and make sure you don’t inadvertently trip yourself up.
When you feel overwhelmed, or you can’t get through a block, use Go Deeper, Do Less. Stay tuned for tools that help you put this principle into practice. Meanwhile, read about more about tools and frameworks from Strategic Speaker Coaching like this one.
About Rachael West: I have been a Somatic and Strategic Speaker Coach for over 15 years. To learn how my coaching incorporates frameworks like the one above and supports you to deliver a great talk that leads to change, contact me by email or on LinkedIn.
