So you have all heard that studies say that more people are moreafraid of public speaking than they are of dying.

How is that possible? If you had the choice this instant of going up on stage and spending one minute telling everyone about yourself or having a fatal coronary – what would you choose? I thought so.

So now that you know public speaking can’t be that bad, take a deep breath. Chances are you have been doing a version of public speaking all day… all week. I believe anything you don’t do in front of your mirror (your worst audience) or your dog (your best audience) is public speaking.

So let’s talk about all of the other times. Whether it is a keynote at an industry conference or a sales pitch or an interview for you dream job there are some simple rules to follow that will help you for when preparing.

1. Prepare: Don’t hope you will know what to say in the moment. Plan your main messages in advance. Write them out. Say them out loud. Edit and re-word as necessary.

2. Focus on what you would want your audience to know. We often walk into these situations thinking about what we want to say. We forget that the audience may not want or need to hear it all. When you are planning your messages, make sure they are relevant and meaningful to your audience.

3. Anxiety is just in your head. Nervous energy is like excited energy. Your heart rate goes up, our breathing is shortened, you don’t think straight. The only difference is with nervous energy your thinking is negative and can focus on what can go wrong. ‘I hope I remember my speech.’ ‘I hope I don’t lose the sale’. I hope I get the job.’ With excited energy your thinking is positive. ‘I can’t wait to tell the team about the new plan.’ ‘I know I will meet one meaningful contact at this event.’ ‘This is going to be great first date.’ Nerves can be good they give your speech and presence some much needed energy. Just make sure you keep it positive. Then you can focus on giving your audience great content instead of worrying about what can go wrong.

4. Be bold. Don’t shy away from opportunities to speak. If you don’t do it someone else will and then they may be taking their career to the next level instead of you.

Write me if you need some tips the next time you are getting ready for a big speech.

Before any startup gets serious money, the name of the game is being scrappy and bootstrapping. But once investors are added to the mix, a company grows and things change. Now they need to move from entrepreneur to CEO.

3. Delegate with clear expectations.
Because startups have to bootstrap for so long, entrepreneurs are used to doing everything themselves. Now that there’s more staff, it will be a relief to have help, but it can also be a challenge to let go of some control. The key to successful delegating is setting clear expectations. If new team members know exactly what is needed from them — and exactly when it’s needed — they can more easily deliver quality outcomes while the CEO focuses on steering the company to continued success.

It is often hard for founders to move out of the day to day of product development or client service. To some degree they started their business because that part was fun for them. But if the entrepreneur-turned-CEO is not the keeper of the vision, working on the longer-term plan, their team will not see where the company is going and where they will end up. Keep them inspired and engaged by looking more to the horizon and not always at the day to day.

4. Look the part.
The harsh truth is that people judge how successful or trustworthy a person is based on how they look. Why else would lawyers dress up their defendants in fancy clothes or would actors walk into auditions “looking the part”? The shoes, the haircut, the choice of jeans or slacks — it all plays into how a person is perceived. A polished, professional look can go a long way toward building credibility with new hires and important board members.

Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean wearing a suit. Depending on the culture of a business, its industry and the city that it’s based in, it may be more appropriate to dress down than to dress to the nines. But be smart about it. It’s best to leave the flip-flops, raggedy sneakers, and that comfy college T-shirt with the mustard stain at home. Even Mark Zuckerberg leaves his hoodie at home sometimes.

And remember, as the company continues to grow, so must its leaders. A CEO will constantly need to acquire new skills, greater influence and a bigger vision.

Let me know what challenges you have faced when transitioning from founder to CEO.

Before any startup gets serious money, the name of the game is being scrappy and bootstrapping. Founding entrepreneurs probably didn’t have much of a team to speak of, and they’ve been answerable to no one but themselves, their clients, and maybe a co-founder or two.

But once investors are added to the mix, a company grows and things change. Yes, the investors liked that scrappy nature and demeanor or they wouldn’t have given their money to the startup, but now that scrappy guy or gal has deposited their investors’ checks with all the zeros. Now they have a board and investors to report to, not just co-founders. Now they need to move from entrepreneur to CEO.

Here are some tips to help entrepreneurs successfully move from being the founder to being see and trusted as the leader of a business.

1. Treat investors like the partners they are.
Having a board to answer to will be an adjustment for many entrepreneurs. A board meeting can feel confrontational and stressful, especially because it will be a new experience to make decisions by committee. A board meeting is also a room full of people who have leverage and who may or may not always share a vision for the company.
Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of keeping things from their investors or avoiding uncomfortable conversations because they worry a particular investor will disagree or challenge them. But remember, this is a symbiotic relationship. The CEO needs the investors’ money, their network, their mentorship, and they need the CEO and the company to be successful and profitable. So in board meetings, don’t get defensive. If a big client fell through, keep them updated. If an investor has a strategy that hasn’t been considered, give it some serious thought. If the investors were chosen wisely, they will have been around the block before. Chances are they know what they’re talking about. But in the off chance that you have a board member who does not play well with others, find different ways to engage them outside of meetings. If they feel they are valued in other ways, they may be more open when you don’t agree.

2. Command the room.
This doesn’t mean being the loudest person in the room. In fact, it’s often just the opposite; a strong leader can command a room with complete silence. There is no bluster or arrogance in commanding a room. It is not about looking down on or being ‘above’ anyone else. Commanding a room is about being prepared, connecting with others and being authentically confident.

CEOs have to ‘know their s#*t’ if they want to command a room. The very definition of ‘command’ is to direct with specific authority, so it is important to be an authority on the topic, company, clients. Take the time to prepare, and people will listen.

Eye contact goes a long way toward establishing trust and projecting confidence. People are more likely to avoid eye contact if they don’t feel they have the answers people want. Unfortunately, this just reaffirms to board members and employees alike that a CEO is not ‘in command’ of the facts, the meeting or more. So make sure to acknowledge the other people in the room by looking them in the eye. Don’t shy away from those that may voice challenges. Engage them and begin to win their trust.

Confidence is not something that can just be put on like a suit. It is also something that people feel toward others. If the key players have confidence in a CEO, they are more likely to listen to what he or she has to say. Otherwise, they will find ways to overtake the conversation and leave the leaders of the company talking to themselves.

Check in for the next blog for tips 3 & 4 and let me know what challenges you have faced when transitioning from founder to CEO.

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