Beyond Your Blog: The Keys To Getting Beyond the Written Word with TeleclassesSpeaking on the telephone can be just as scary as speaking before a live audience. What makes it so scary?

1. The Numbers-

Imagine you’re preparing to go on stage to speak and someone pops into your dressing room to let you know 3500 tickets have been sold and they’re expecting to sell out before the event starts.

How would you feel? Nervous as all get out that’s for sure.

When I’m acting in a play, I never like to be told how many people are in the audience. If someone says something about it I start imagining each and every person sitting in their seats times two for each eyeball that will be looking at me.

Sometimes it’s best not to know the final numbers until you get comfortable with being on the stage. Sure, you want to know how well your event is doing, but when it’s nearing showtime, it’s not helpful at all.

Let’s take that into a teleclass environment.

Clearly, it may be hard not to see how many people are on your call. As soon as you log into Instant Teleseminar or Free Conference Calling and go to your event you can see how many people are waiting for your arrival. If you’re using webinar software such as WebEx or GoToMeeting you can also see who’s logged in.

This causes the nerves to flair up even more. In both scenarios you are eventually going to see the audience so why not visualize them long before they get there.

See yourself in the moment. Imagine the number of callers that you’re comfortable with and go from there. If necessary, hire a Virtual Assistant to assist with your online events and moderate the phone lines. This way you don’t have to see how many are on the call as you are speaking.

2. The Silence-

On a teleclass you will more than likely have your audience muted during your presentation and possibly take questions at the end. How do you handle taking a breath or a sip of water and hearing absolute silence?

When you’re speaking at a live event you can see the body language of your audience and know whose with you and who you’ve completely lost. Teleclasses aren’t so simple.

Imagination is key for speaking at your teleclasses. Channel your inner child and go back to when you had an imaginary friend, dolls, or played make believe.

Growing up I was always teaching my dolls. I would line them up and write on my chalkboard teaching the night’s lesson based on my homework assignment in school. I’d imagine them asking me different questions and even sometimes not paying attention. My young mind was able to draw from my experiences in school in addition to using my imagination.

There was usually at least one doll who would be talking to someone while I was talking or one who needed me to repeat what I just said and of course there was the one with the endless questions. As their teacher it was my job to handle any situation that came up.

During your teleclasses when there is dead silence, imagine your audience diligently taking notes, nodding their heads, or speaking back to you affirming the information. Think of possible questions they may have such as the terms you are using. Explain in detail as if someone asked for clarification and speak in the language of your audience. For example, in my teleclasses and blog talk radio show I refer to URLs or domain names as web addresses or website because everyone may not understand what I’m talking about.

3. The Wait-

Think of your mentors or someone you admire. How many people also consider them a mentor and admire them? Imagine if they never took action and got their message or idea out to the world.

What you do not only affects you, but those around you. When you hold onto what you have to offer the world you put others in a state of waiting. Is your message for you and you alone or is it for other people? Only you know the answer to that question. If you are to speak your message and you’re afraid, it’s normal. But being so afraid you never act is the most scary of all.

Those who are waiting for you will find someone else who has what they are looking for, but wouldn’t it be better if it were you.