Business Book Review: Steal the Show by Michael Port
This is the manual for both those who fear public speaking and those who proudly ‘wing it’. Don’t rise to the occasion; prepare for it.
My Rating: ★★★★★
Length: 301 pages
Publisher: Mariner Books
Released: 2015
Key Takeaways for Personal Branding
In Steal the Show, Michael Port shares how to master your presentations. The best-selling author and former actor, turned consultant and coach, shares techniques for your ‘performance’ - whether you're on stage or presenting in a team meeting.
Studies show public speaking is people’s number one fear, the second being death. But, Port highlights how preparation will help you overcome this fear.
The As if Technique
Port shares an imaginative acting technique known as ‘as if’. It’s a way of converting adverse circumstances into aspirational opportunities.
As if uses the brain’s power to anticipate and create a different way of seeing the world or behaving. A ‘disclosive space’ is the way we see the world and operate in it. Non-performers are described as seeing spaces outside of themselves as separate from them. While performers understand it’s a space they can step into and inhabit. A reminder that you can ‘perform’ in a role.
Acting as if is not about being inauthentic. But rather, understanding in different situations you have different roles to play. Like athletes and top performers, acting as if creates the neurological pathways to achieve your desired vision.
Types of structures
Among his many recommendations, Port shares structures to give your big idea a suitable flow including:
The problem/solution framework
The numerical framework
The chronological framework
The modular framework
The compare and contrast framework
The three-act structure
Creating contrast
As no one likes monotony in a performance, Port suggests building in contrast. Recommending three potential approaches:
Structural contrast
Emotional contrast
Delivery contrast
Three stages of the post-show cycle
Distinct from the book’s counterparts, Port pays meticulous attention to all processes. This includes post-event, suggesting three key stages of the post-show cycle:
The graceful exit
The thoughtful follow-up
The balanced analysis
Favourite Quotes
“Let go of the inner critic who tries to worry you about the fear of rejection.”
“The most common missing element in the thousands of presentations and performances I’ve witnessed is the speaker’s true voice.”
“Finding and sharing your voice is about creating something new, not simply complaining or rebelling against something in the past.”
“The first thing to do to silence the critics is to stop being critical.”
“Create memorable presentations and performances, sometimes you must find ways to surprise, delight, provoke, and push the boundaries of your audience to build and create new things.”
“Every time you make any public presentation or appearance, the clothes on your back are your costume. In television, your clothes are called wardrobe, just as in the service business they’re called a uniform. Your clothing choices for a public presentation of any kind are a representation of your message and brand in the eyes of your audience. They should amplify your personal brand, not distract people from your message.”
“Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion; you fall back on your training.”
Steal the Show is a masterclass in performing. No matter what your role is, it will change the way you view your interactions through this lens. Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage. And all the men and women merely players.”
Steal the Show by Michael Port: Available on Amazon.
