Just Be You

Those of us who watched the 2010 television broadcast of the Academy Awards got an unexpected treat when a previously unknown 35 year-old NYU film school graduate named Luke Matheny leaped onto the stage to accept the  Oscar for Best Short Film for his movie, God of Love.  Luke, exuberant and smiling, his mop of dark curls bouncing, declared “I should’ve gotten a haircut!” and immediately won us over.  His warm, funny, heartfelt and utterly genuine speech was a breath of fresh air, and more memorable than most of the other more experienced actors and presenters.  Luke was, apparently, the talk of the Academy Awards, and the darling of the media in the days following the program. Almost every review of his speech I read called it “genuine” and “heartfelt”.  I agree.  Luke dared to just be himself up there.  As a result, he was unforgettable.

When I did a little research on Mr. Matheny, I was surprised to read that he’d memorized his acceptance speech and rehearsed it over and over again, wanting to be able to stick to the his 45 second time slot.  I’ll bet nobody in the audience had any idea that his speech was rehearsed, because it felt so, well, genuine and heartfelt.

There are two points I want to make:  The first is that you’re at your most memorable and impactful when you’re willing to just be you.  The second is that you can still be utterly yourself when the material you’re delivering in a speech or presentation has been prepared and rehearsed.  The trick is to rehearse it to the point that it becomes second nature, and then to give over to the moment and allow yourself to breathe and connect deeply with your audience.

Follow Luke Matheny’s example: Encourage yourself to show up as the person you really are—warts and all—in all of your personal encounters. Dare to let your colleagues at work, your friends and your family feel, hear and see the real you—your funny, vulnerable, imperfect, capable and amazing self.  When you are willing to just be you, you encourage others to do the same, creating genuine, memorable communication, and a lasting connection.

SOURCE: http://abecssbr.com/ann-arbor/ann-arbor-2011/guest-columns-ann-arbor-201...