Building and Protecting your Reputation |
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Hang on, who stole my summer ? (please adjust if you're in the Southern hemisphere). It can't be October already.
The new James Bond film has finally arrived in cinemas - we're off to see it tomorrow, so I'll let you know whether two hours and forty-three minutes of car chases and things exploding is worth sitting through.
The reviews have been good, so I'm looking forward to it. As for the next Bond, I haven't had the call just yet.
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In case you hadn't noticed, it's party conference season. At this time of year, I watch the speeches from the party leaders and offer my view from a professional speaking standpoint. I've done a few radio and TV interviews about Keir Starmer's first live speech to a party conference. He's not a natural orator, though he spoke for ninety minutes (which is at least an hour less than a Bond film) and handled hecklers well. Seven out of ten, I reckon.
Here's my video report. |
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For some time now, I've had requests for people wanting a group coaching programme to up their speaking game.
But if you're looking to dip your toe in the water, why not take a look at the group programme which starts in November 2021. Only $97 a month for two and half hours of monthly content.
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 | Thom Singer is known as “The Conference Catalyst” as he creates an atmosphere of fun and interaction that lasts beyond his presentation.
I've known Tom for many years. We chatted about a return to live speaking, hybrid events and how the speaking world has changed.
He's a really successful speaker who has a great take on what speakers are going to need over the next few years. He shared his wisdom with me a few days ago.
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The MediaMaestro is veteran country musician George Frayne, better known as Commander Cody, who died this week.
Together with his band, The Lost Planet Airmen, the Commander has been delivering his brand of country rock for half a century.
Frayne was also an accomplished artist, studying and teaching at the University of Michigan. He founded the band in 1967 and they released their first album, Lost In The Ozone, on Paramount in 1971. It reached No.82 on the Billboard chart and included “Hot Rod Lincoln,” their adaptation of Tiny Hill’s Top 30 US hit of 1951, “Hot Rod Race.”
He gave people a lot of fun as well as a lot of great music. |
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The MediaMug is a social media influencer, who claims to be a "seasoned pro at first dates". She has shared an extensive list of rules she believes men ought to stick to during the first date.
Brooke Miccio, who posts regularly on TikTok, put together the rules based on her own personal experience of first dates, including certain things she will do, and what she expects from her date.
Brooke said she will always make sure she arrives three to five minutes late, because she wants her date to already be sitting down at the table when she arrives so it's not awkward, however, she did say she would never turn up "crazy late" or anything like that.
She also offered her personal opinion on who should pay when it comes to a first date."I'm going to say it, especially for the first date, if you're trying to court a woman, the guy has to pay," she said. "I'm going to offer, obviously, but it's a test."
She added a time limit too. "It's definitely easy to linger, especially if you're having a good time but max 2.5 hours. Like my social battery runs out and any more than that, I'll get drunk and it's messy," she added.
It's not clear whether anyone has actually agreed to her rules.
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Speaking Tip - How to handle a heckler |
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One of the greatest fears of speakers is being heckled or interrupted. It can even happen to a political party leader However, it needn't be a disaster. Dealing with a noisy audience member will improve your standing with the audience, and show them that you can think on your feet (Note: if you can't think on your feet, stay sitting down).
The way to deal with any interrupter is to show confidence. One option is to ignore them completely. Often, this works, since they usually only have one thing to say. Or you can address them directly, dealing with them in the same way that you would deal with a hostile questioner. Finally, you can use a prepared funny line, provided you have gauged how the rest of the audience might react.
If you have a persistent questioner, then either deal with their question or ask them politely to wait until the end of your speech, when you will deal with the issue they have raised. If they simply won't be quiet, then stand firm, and tell them that the will have their turn to be heard. In rare circumstances, it may be necessary for the Chair of the meeting to intervene, but try to handle the incident yourself if you can.
Don't worry about coming up with a brilliant response, since a speedy retort is better than a delayed witticism. Stay calm and collected and all will be well. You might like to rehearse a few put-downs for hecklers, but beware, as the last thing you want is for your audience to turn on you.
Alas, if you ever try stand-up comedy, there will be occasions when the hecklers win. There's a story about Malcolm Hardee's infamous comedy club in Greenwich - The Tunnel. Jim Tavare came on stage, and used the opening line "Hi, I'm a schizophrenic." From out of the darkness came the shout "F*** off, both of you". |
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Media Tip - How long have I got? |
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There's a word that media interviewers say to interviewees that makes them talk at great length. The word is "briefly", as in, "So, tell us briefly, in the few seconds we have left, what your new business is about". Alas, on most occasions, the hapless interviewee will begin their well-rehearsed response with a history of how they developed their business, only to be cut off with the words "I'm sorry that's all we have time for". The interviewee leaves the studio annoyed and frustrated that they failed to deliver their message, and furious with the presenter for cutting them off.
Well here's the thing; the news bulletin waits for no-one. It will be broadcast on the hour, regardless of what else is going on. That's why you need to be able to condense (or expand) your answers to fill the time available. Over the years, I have developed a sense of timing that allows me to speak for 30, 45 or 60 seconds, to within a second or two. It has been invaluable to me in media interviews.
Before you go on air, it will pay to practice delivering your message in a limited time. Here's an exercise that I've used with media spokespeople. Take half a dozen sheets of paper, and write a different number of seconds on each. Turn them face down and shuffle them. Take one at random, turn it over, and try to deliver your message in exactly that time. Get someone else to time you - maybe a fellow spokesperson, so you can exchange roles.
When you learn to speak to a precise time, your media interviews will be much more effective. Not only that, you will be surprised how much information you can deliver in a few seconds. |
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Social Media Tip - Is it the medium or the message? |
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Marshall McLuhan was not referring to social media (since it hadn't been invented), when he said "The medium is the message". He may have been right at the time (1967), but he's been quoted so many times since, his phrase is regarded as a truism for all types of media.
These days, many people (me included at times, to be honest) are focusing on social networks like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and many others. There are races to get large numbers of friends or followers, or campaigns to get only "quality contacts", depending on your view.
But I'm increasingly feeling that there's something missing. Having gazillions of followers, or being linked to global communities of potential customers, is all well and good. However, you need to be able to offer them something they need, in a way that they appreciate.
There seems to be very little focus on the message right now. Knowing how to use the tools is no use unless you have the right message. Don't get so busy using the tools that you forget what you do.
And that's my message.
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An online or in-person speech to make? I can help.
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The information in this ezine may be freely re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line - "This information was written by Alan Stevens, and originally appeared in "The MediaCoach", his free weekly ezine, available at www.mediacoach.co.uk." |
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