Rituals Create Authentic Connection

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹?

Without one, it can lead to lack of confidence, focus, clarity, ability to manage your state, ability to articulate and speak succinctly, ability to cope when things don't go according to plan and the list continues!

Just as world-class athletes have pre-games ritual, I believe every presenter needs one too.

"𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻"

I don't mean wearing the same pair of underwear repeatedly without washing them for a season of conferences, as they do in baseball. 🤢 That will NOT build connection. 😂

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲?

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗯𝘆, 𝗣𝗵.𝗗., 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 for professional athletes says, “Rituals allow you to create a pathway to 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩 your mind and body and feel in control during a time where there are a lot of unknowns. [Then] we are more empowered to respond and make effective choices."

The Haka, performed by the All Blacks, is said to move the players, from "civilian" to the intensity of a rule-bound battle on ‘sacred’ ground. Let alone what it does to its opponents!

𝙄 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙞𝙩!!

Gary, a third-degree black belt in taekwondo. Before he puts on his dobok, he'd stops and kisses his belt, then ties it.

When asked about it, he says, 'Kissing the belt first is actually to honor it, set an intention and say, “I will do my best today while wearing this, no matter what comes my way.”

𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

So what do they include? Could be:

1. Music - your theme song

2. Vocal and body warm up

3. Deep breathing exercises

4. Power Posing (Professor Amy Cuddy's work)

5. Do you have something special that is symbolic that you carry?

I love a good ritual! I do all of the above, and more before performing. What are some of your favourite rituals that you perform and why?

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽!

Tackle the 3 main areas in your ritual:

1. Mind - meditation and creating meaningful statements for yourself help to shift state effectively

2. Body - warm up your voice with vocal exercises. Stretch your body so that you are freer on stage, or when moving on stage

3. Emotions - music is your guide here and can evoke inspiration get you amped up to nail your presentation!

Let me know your thoughts. Do you have a ritual? 😃