As a speaker, have you ever been discontented? Maybe it was hard to engage with an audience, or your presentation didn’t flow like you wanted it to, or a heckler in the audience threw you off.

While being discontented is generally seen as a negative state, there are many potential benefits for professional speakers.

Below are three benefits of being discontented in your speaking:

Motivation for Improvement

Earl Nightingale once said discontent has caused all advancement in the world.

Be careful about becoming content with your speaking. Always strive to do better. Once you lose this drive, your presentations will become stale. People will stop calling you back. Your speaking revenue will take a “nose dive.

Discontent can be a powerful motivator for you as a professional speaker to continually strive for improvement.

Feeling dissatisfied with your current skills or performance may drive you to seek new techniques, refine your delivery, and invest time in your professional development.

So, discontent with your speaking can be all the motivation you need for improvement.

Discontentment can also be a catalyst for innovation and creativity.

Innovation and Creativity

Professional speakers who are discontented may be more likely to explore unconventional or creative approaches to their presentations.

For instance, in our world of increased virtual delivery, what if you could be holographically present wherever your audience is? It may not happen tomorrow, next week, or in six months, but it is worth considering.

Perhaps you have created an innovative way to blend still slides, video, and live action to mesmerize your audience.

How about having your audience role-play during your presentations? It’s worth a try.

The important thing is you are creating and innovating. Before long, you will get a reputation for becoming a brilliant engager of audiences. People will want to attend your future presentations to see what you have come up with next. It’s fun to experiment.

Innovating and creating new ways to present can lead to the development of fresh ideas, engaging content, and a unique presentation style that sets you apart from others in your field.

No one wants to sit through another boring lecture presentation. Make your audience part of your presentation and reap the benefits.

So, discontent with your speaking can be all the motivation you need for improvement and a catalyst for innovation and creativity.

Your discontentment can also hone your adaptability and resilience skills.

Adaptability and Resilience

Speakers dissatisfied with the status quo may be more willing to embrace change, adapt to evolving audience preferences, and overcome challenges.

Adaptable speakers can adjust their communication style based on the audience and context. They can switch between formal and informal language, adapt their tone, and tailor their message to resonate with diverse listeners.

This flexibility ensures effective communication in different settings and with varied audiences.

Resilient speakers are prepared to handle unexpected challenges during presentations or discussions. They should be able to think on their feet, respond to impromptu questions, and navigate through unforeseen disruptions.

Developing the skill to stay composed and deliver a coherent message under pressure contributes to overall resilience as a speaker.

Adaptable speakers prioritize continuous learning and improvement. They seek feedback, reflect on their performances, and actively work on refining their speaking skills.

Embracing a growth mindset allows speakers to evolve with changing communication trends and audience expectations, making them more adaptable to new challenges.

Adaptability and resilience are valuable assets in the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of public speaking.

Successful speakers seek discontentment to motivate them to improve, use it as a catalyst for innovation and creativity, and practice and hone their adaptability and resilience skills.

Seek discontentment and succeed!

Call to Action

Use your speaking discontentment to

• Motivate you to improve continually

• Spark your speaking innovation and creativity

• Practice your adaptability and resilience.

  
  

  “The mind is a machine that is constantly asking: What would I prefer? Close your eyes, refuse to move, and watch what your mind does. What I does is become discontent with that-which-is. A desire arises, you satisfy that desire, and another rises in its place.”

  – George Saunders, American writer of short stories, essays, novellas, children’s books, and novels
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  Frank DiBartolomeo is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and award-winning speaker, presentation and interview skills coach, and Professional Member of the National Speakers Association. He was awarded Toastmasters International’s highest individual award, Distinguished Toastmaster because of his outstanding work in public speaking and leadership.

  Frank formed DiBartolomeo Consulting International (DCI), LLC (www.speakleadandsucceed.com) in 2007. The mission of DCI is to help technical professionals to inspire, motivate, and influence their colleagues and other technical professionals by improving their presentation skills, communication, and personal presence. Reach Frank at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com and (703) 509-4424.

  
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  Don’t miss Frank DiBartolomeo’s latest book!

  “Speak Well and Prosper: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Better Presentations”

  

  Available now at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com