Pitching with Force! – by Frank Rivera

As a course developer and instructor you witness many styles of delivery when it comes to teaching and instruction. You have your cutters, forks, curves, you get it. The cutters always walk up with a joke, they begin with the angle of trying to win the audience with humor. The forks have 3-4 points they want to get across.  The curves, well, they ruin your day.

Former MLB pitcher Steven Ellis notes that pitching mechanics is one of the most complex moves in all of sports. A combination of skill and art, the skill is something that is learned while the art of a pitcher’s own unique style is something that is inspired over time through coaches, other players, determination, and comfort level.

Consider the analogy in relation to your speaking style. Have you ever considered an analysis of your own abilities and strengths? Where could you improve? Who shaped your methods? Did it take years to master your style or were you a “natural” at being center stage? Did you create a delivery that had impact and could touch the audience on a level that was unique?

Awareness of your pitching style is very crucial as a communicator. How you appear and connect with others relates to how you are as a representative, a leader, or business owner. The “pitch” method you deliver is something that can enhance your result in communicating. For any pitcher, they know that the edge lies in one area….the energy they bring to the presentation, no matter what the topic.

But how do you build energy for a presentation? High energy is one thing that excellent speakers are known for. High energy deliverers such as Tony Robbins, Oprah Winfrey, and countless other stage and screen performers deliver at the top of their game.  So what is it?  What do they do? Simple, they warm up! Warming up is the process of using motion, to gain control over emotions, in order to fine tune their locomotion! Let me explain, when one is nervous, emotions are out of control. “The pitcher is wild” so to speak, and has to gain control or their night is over. The same goes for the speaking pitcher. If the speaker is nervous, he may forget his points, she may have to resort to notes, they may just not appear ready. The pitcher may be beyond the nervous stages of his or her career, perhaps they don’t need the warm up because they are masters of impromptu or prose. But every pitcher knows that there are between one and one million people who are about to be on the receiving end of their stage, so why not deliver with power?

High impact “pitching” comes with an effective warm up, and the warm up MUST involve motion. So what do you do? MOVE! Forbes Magazine notes that speaker Tony Robbins is known for his high energy, high impact seminars and the way he prepares before each “performance” is through motion! He takes 10 minutes for jumps, swings, spins, fist pumps, fist bumps, high fives, you name it…he does it.  Energy is based in the kinesthetic movement which serves to charge the body which in turn gives an incredible delivery. Energy leaves the audience feeling energized, focused, and wanting more of whatever you had to deliver. Even the most boring regulatory governmental information, when passed on with energy, can draw a fantastic audience response. Fight on!

Sources:
Ellis, S. (2016). Pitching mechanics: The complete guide. Retrieved from http://www.theultimatepitcher.com/pitching-mechanics-guide/

Gallo, C. (February 24, 2012). How Tony Robbins gets in peak state for presentations. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved from www.forbes.com/…/how-tony-robbins-gets-in-peak-state-for-presentations