Wait - did she really say that?!

A couple of years ago I was sitting in the audience when a speaker used the the r word.  She was a competent and dynamic speaker and frankly, I was shocked.  And while she continued speaking without missing a beat, I was already mentally preparing in my head what I was going to say to her privately at the next break.   I planned to tell her that I found that word offensive and not appropriate.

As the speaker wound down and segued into a break, she surprised me.  She took the time to circle back to her earlier comment and apologize. She said it simply, plainly and, to my assessment, genuinely.  It wasn't overly apologetic and she didn't rationalize her use of the word in any way. She didn't equivocate and say that she apologized if she had offended anyone.  She simply apologized.

Now she could have apologized immediately and that would have been okay too.  I suspect, if it had been  me, I would have been quite flustered and overly emotional if I had attempted to apologize immediately.  I would like to think that as she finished up that segment of her speech, she was quickly rehearsing in her mind how she would handle the apology.

We all misspeak.  We all make mistakes.  Own up to yours and simply apologize if it's appropriate.

Sound Bites

I had the opportunity to hear from Morgan Spurlock, the documentary film maker behind Super Size Me.  The format was that of a conversation with the evening's moderator asking questions to various film makers.  This was not an overly rehearsed event.  In fact, the format just kind of evolved as the evening's moderator found that several well known film makers accepted his invitation to be a part of the evening.

Many of these on-stage conversations were kind of rambling and as I sat in the audience for two hours, my attention waned.  But that all changed when Morgan Spurlock took his seat on the stage.  It was clear that he has had fair share of media training, or at least experience with talking to the media.

Spurlock's every answer was concise and powerful.  His rate of speaking was noticeably faster than the other film makers on stage that evening.  His energy level was also higher than those who spoke before him.  This made a huge difference.  Even though he was the last speaker of the evening, it was much easier to pay attention to him.  Enthusiasm is contagious.  The next time you take a podium, give off the enthusiasm that you wish the crowd will display toward you and your message.

Storytelling

Last week I had the pleasure of hearing a story from Shannon Cason on the stage of the Detroit Film Theatre.   I have always wanted to attend a moth storytelling event but have never been able to carve out the time to do so.   I happened to be at the DFT last week to hear from documentary film makers and Cason's storytelling was an unexpected bonus on the program.

Unlike the process of including a story within a presentation, storytelling events feature only the story, on its own.  I have heard storytelling on public radio and on podcasts, but to hear one performed live in front of me in a large theater, was another experience entirely.

Cason's personal story is compelling and it involves robbery, gambling, addiction, love of family and redemption.  As I listened to him I found myself talking out loud in response to the suspense, saying things like, "Oh no!" and "No way!"  I was very much aware that I was part of an audience and it felt almost like I was on a roller coaster ride as I found myself being tossed and turned emotionally.

Storytelling like this involves careful planning and practice.  Every word has an impact.  Editing and rewriting is key.  And let's not forget about delivery - it needs to be genuine and yet peppered with vocal variety and dramatic pauses.

Storytelling can add drama to your next presentation and a good story will also make your message memorable.  I encourage you to make the time to see some real artists at work by checking out a live storytelling event.

The Power of a Story

Zonya Foco is a nutritionist and motivational speaker who can masterfully handle large crowds.  I have seen her speak in person a couple of times and have always been impressed.  It's not always easy to invite audience participation, as she does here with my daughter, but she is so skilled in what she does that it seems to always pay off for her without mishap.

Zonya's public speaking skills could be the subject of multiple blog posts, but I would like to mention today how she uses the power of a story to impart information about health and nutrition.

We've probably all heard about the importance of planning ahead when it comes to healthy eating.  But instead of just putting that advice on a list of tips, Zonya took the time to tell us about that through the use of a quick story.

She set the scene by telling us how she was visiting an old college friend and how they got caught up with each other's lives while sitting in her friend's kitchen on a school day afternoon.   Zonya told the story of how her friend was trying to prepare dinner for her busy household and her kids started coming through and asking about what they could eat until dinner.  Zonya's friend pulled out a beautiful glass plate from the fridge that was laden with cut up vegetables.  The kids were able to snack away while dinner was being prepared, thereby averting any unhealthy snacking.

Zonya told us how impressed she was with this and how she asked her friend about it.  Her friend told her that the dish was a family heirloom and she decided to use it more often and get joy from it.  She told Zonya that she simply kept it filled with washed and prepped veggies so that when the kids needed to eat and she needed to prepare dinner, it was ready to go into service.

The power of a story is that it allows the audience to create a visual and a scene while learning the information.  I have often wondered whether this is a true story or if it was crafted by a professional motivational speaker to effectively illustrate a point.  Does it matter?  What does matter is that the speaker is able to share information that will be remembered long after the presentation is over.

Thanks for the tip, Zonya!  

No pictures needed

In contrast to what I wrote yesterday, sometimes it's effective to leave the slide presentation at home and present without a presentation aid.

A few years back I attended a series of lectures related to the autoimmune condition known as scleroderma and the need for medical treatment, support systems and fundraising.  I had the pleasure of hearing from a scleroderma patient, advocates, medical professionals and...a professional make up artist.

I didn't know what to expect when the make up artist took the podium.  She was soft spoken and unassuming but she delivered a powerful and carefully prepared speech.  She started out by talking about her experiences working with celebrities on movie sets and in glamorous locales.  It was certainly interesting to hear about a line of work that was new to me, but what really grabbed my attention was when she segued into a touching story about applying makeup to someone who suffered from an autoimmune condition that led to excessive growths all over her face and neck.  The speaker took the time to describe the woman's fragile demeanor and lowered self esteem and how that changed as she took the time to carefully apply make up to her face.   It was the first time this woman had bothered to have makeup applied and the process of someone doing so had a therapeutic and empowering effect on the woman.

There were no before and after pictures.  We had to rely on the presenter's words to convey to us the transformation that had taken place.  The power of her carefully chosen words were felt by everyone in the room.  The presenter read slowly and dramatically from a prepared manuscript, not something I typically recommend.  But in this case, it worked beautifully in conveying the deeply personal process of making over someone physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Even though I have never seen a picture of this woman, the story was told with such detail and insight that I have never forgotten it.

Memorable Opening Lines

I asked my students recently to tell us about the most memorable speech they have heard in person and to explain why it was memorable.  Deryk told us about a speech he attended in high school.  He said that the speaker's opening line was, "Do you have big butts?"

Deryk went on to explain that this was the speaker's way of pointing out to the audience that we often let our but's or our excuses, get in the way of achieving our goals.

This example shows that our opening lines give us the opportunity to make a lasting impression on our audiences.  Don't throw away your opening lines by telling us your name or the topic of your presentation.  Tell us something we will never forget.  Tell us something we will remember long after the speech is over.  Make an impression like the impression that was made on Deryk.

Let the Product Do the Talking

Donors and close friends of Wayne State University were recently invited to the Masonic Temple to hear from Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson about the latest happenings on campus and the status of the Capital Campaign.  It was a lovely evening with food, cocktails and mingling but the real star of the show wasn't President Wilson.

While the President did give a brief update about the University, he spent the bulk of his time at the podium moderating the remarks of four Wayne State undergraduate students.  After introducing each, he allowed them to say a few remarks about their experience on campus as a student.

This is always a gamble.  When I used to plan and host Visit Days at another university, a great deal of prep time was always spent recruiting and rehearsing with college students to allow them to take the microphone and talk to prospective students and parents.  It's not easy to find students who will willingly do this and who can be engaging and conversational while also saying what you want them to say.  The goal is for the students to appear poised and polished, while also coming off as genuine and unscripted.  What often results is that some students appear overly practiced while others seem like they could have used a bit more rehearsal time.

While President Wilson is always an engaging presenter, the audience enjoyed hearing from the students.  We got a little different flavor of the Wayne State experience every time the microphone was passed.  This variety kept our interest and we could see where our donations are going and the impact we are making.  Don't be afraid to let your product take the microphone, be they clients, customers, students or patients.  Just be sure you rehearse with them first.

The Best Presenter I Never Heard

A few years ago, a good friend suggested I read Left To Tell, a memoir of Rwandan Holocaust survivor, Immaculee Ilibagiza.  It was a riveting read and I have since recommended the book to others who have also been deeply touched by reading her story.

A couple of years after that, I learned that Ilibagiza would be speaking at a fundraising dinner near my home.  So my friend and I bought four tickets for the big event and made a night out of it with our husbands.  There was an elaborate silent auction and a fairly nice dinner and program before Ilibagiza took the podium.  The venue was a Catholic high school and the event was held in their brand new gymnasium.  I think it was the first formal event held in that room.

I don't think I heard one word that Ilibagiza said.  The microphone system and acoustics were so bad that it was impossible to make out any word she said.  I was beyond frustrated.  And I grew more and more agitated the more I strained my attention to try to hear anything she was saying.  My friend and I exchanged sympathetic glances at each other.  The event organizers were trying to improve the sound system but to no avail.  Ilibagiza said her remarks and I suppose those tables nearest to the podium were able to hear them.

My friend seemed much less annoyed than I was.  She smiled at me and said that she wasn't going to dwell on it and that, if asked by anyone how the event was, she said she was going to say it was great.  End of story.  She had made peace with the disappointment.  Her gracious attitude certainly took the sting out of the evening for me.  Thanks to her attitude, I recall getting over it rather quickly and didn't make a point of complaining about it when friends asked me later about the speaker.

Is there a point to this story?  I guess you could say it's a cautionary tale about the need to make sure you have an effective sound system.  Or it might just be a story about a good friend who already knew the real meaning of Ilibagiza's life and didn't need to actually hear about it at the event.

The Thrill of a Live Presentation

I had the opportunity to hear Ta-Nehisi Coates at the University of Detroit Mercy this year.  The buzz around the event had been circulating on social media for months.  Many of us bought our tickets in advance, not wanting to miss out on this evening.

As the hall filled, many of us looked around in amazement.  We couldn't believe he was packing the place.  Young and old.  Students and professors.  Suburbanites and Detroiters.  I looked around and saw representation from several different Metro Detroit universities.

You can read more about the evening here but the backstory on how he came to speak is even more interesting because it illustrates what can happen when people actually talk to each other.  Coates phoned UDM History Professor Roy Finkenbine and you can read all about it here.  Yes, it seems that people still do use telephones to talk to each other.  Try it sometime.  Forget the email and try dialing the phone number.  The human connection just may lead to something like this: a sporting arena filled with folks waiting to hear from an author in person.  He did not disappoint.

How about those Emmy speeches?

Okay, I'll admit.  It was thrilling to see Lily and Jane glamming it up on live TV so soon after seeing them in person.  But I digress.

Watching live award shows is fun for me.  It's always interesting to see how people use their minute on stage to accept an award.  Some award recipients are overcome with emotion to the point that they can barely speak coherently.  Others appear well prepared and even have note cards at the ready.  It makes for interesting television. 

This analysis focuses on the time allotment for the various award winners and even has links to all the speeches.  The article breaks down the acceptance speeches by their length, noting that some winners were allowed more time than others.  You can take a look at the speeches and pick your favorites. 

It should come as no surprise that some award winners are allowed more time than others.  Advertising dollars are on the line and there are schedules to keep.  Someone has to decide how much time someone will have and while that will depend on a variety of factors, the speaker's abilities and their message will have an impact on the decision.  Not to mention their outfit, notoriety, career status, and even age.

The right mix of preparedness, shocked delight, spontaneity, seriousness and entertainment is needed to hit an acceptance speech out of the park.  Add in nerves, high heels, bright lights, live television, a little alcohol, and you'll never know what you'll see.

The best advice for acceptance speeches?  Prepare your main point or sentiment in advance, even if you think your chances of winning are slim.  But don't over prepare: allow for some spontaneity.  And above all, be yourself. 

Model Listener

Whenever my students present group speeches, I remind them to exhibit good listening behavior while they are at the front of the room but someone else in their group is talking.  Rarely do I see it.  I normally see the fellow panelists doing any of the following:  Going through their own note cards.    Whispering to a fellow panelist.  Rolling their eyes or smiling at a friend in the audience.  Staring off into space.  Slouching inattentively.

But when Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and ROC United’s Saru Jayarman took the stage at a recent event in Detroit on the Wayne State University campus, I was struck by Fonda’s excellent listening posture and demeanor.  She must have heard her fellow presenters give their spiels before, but you would never know it by looking at her.  Like the two-time Academy Award Winning Actress that she is, she never wavered in playing the role of giving her full attention to the speaker at the podium.

Take a lesson from Jane Fonda:  listen attentively to your fellow presenters, especially when you’re sharing the stage with them.  Today's distracted audiences need to see good listening behavior in action.  Let's hope they take a cue from Fonda.

A professorial Vicente Fox at Wayne State

Although I haven't had a chance yet to watch the video clips or talk at length to those who were in attendance, it seems like a very professorial Vicente Fox took the podium last night at Wayne State University.  Fox must have left his video persona at home in Mexico.

You can read about the evening and his remarks here.  Of course the online comments after the article are entertaining.  I don't think any tough questions were asked at the event, but if I find out I'm wrong, I'll report back.  Respectful dialogues need to be encouraged in these live settings and I would like to see event facilitators make sure that they happen.  Is it risky to allow the time for this?  Yes.  But therein lies the real benefit of live public speaking events.

Will Vicente Fox be R-rated tonight at Wayne State University?

As mentioned in an earlier post, Wayne State University is hosting Former Mexican President Vicente Fox tonight.  This isn't the first time Fox has lectured at Wayne State.  He's been invited back to kick off this fall's lecture series marking the 10 year anniversary of Focus on Contemporary Issues in Society (FOCIS).

Unlike ten years ago, clips of Fox are all over the news.  And John Oliver.  And YouTube channels.  In his latest video, Fox repeatedly uses the F word and often throws up his middle finger.  This notoriety will certainly increase attendance at the event.  But which persona will show up at the podium?  Will I regret bringing along my 13 year old son?  Probably not since he's already seen the videos in question.  I'm just glad that Fox's off-color persona is getting people to pay attention to the issues of the day and come on out to a public event to discuss them.  I hope the crowd will be courteous and that alternative viewpoints will be welcomed and discussed.  There is no substitute for that.

Public Speaking IS alive and well....

Yeah, that's me and Michael Eric Dyson.  I attended an event a year or so ago and he was the keynote speaker.  I have always admired the oratorical abilities of this Georgetown professor.  What a thrill to be in the audience and hear his voice booming over the room as I tried to grasp the many points he made in rapid succession.  It's always a treat to catch him on Real Time with Bill Maher, but to see him in person?  There's no substitute.

Well, the good news is that he's scheduled to speak at Wayne State University at 6 pm on November 16, 2017.  But that's not all.  There's a couple of other, nationally-known speakers on tap between now and then.

How would like to hear Vincente Fox talk about his very public disputes with President Donald Trump?  That's happening on September 18th.  Ever wanted to hear a Fox News contributor and an MSNBC contributor square off live and in person on the Press and the Presidency?  That's coming up on October 24th.

Make the time to hear these speakers LIVE.  See for yourself why these speakers are in demand for their views and for their public speaking prowess.  More information and RSVP details can be found here

Good 'Ol Public Speaking

I'm always on the look out for examples of Good 'Ol Public Speaking.  Here's an example of how a political candidate shows up to speak to people in real time.   Not a robocall. Not a text message.  Not a Live Video on Facebook.  Not a postcard in the mail.  Not a TV interview.

My then-14-year-old daughter wanted to host a Meet and Greet for a Gubernatorial Candidate in our home.  Would anyone show up on a Sunday afternoon?

Over 50 people showed up.  And they wanted to hear from the candidate and ask questions about her positions.   That they took to time to travel to our home, converse with complete strangers and then listen to the candidate speaks volume of their interest in the candidate and the political process.  These 50 individuals will prove to be far more valuable to the candidate later in the campaign than the thousands who may follow her feed on social media.  There is no substitute for hearing someone speak in person.  The stakes will be high to deliver in that presentation, but the impact will be far reaching.

What examples can you find of public speaking in today's world?  I would like to feature  more on this blog.