Building and Protecting your Reputation |
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I've been in Dublin this week, filming some promotional videos for a huge event next year, The Global Speakers Summit.
It takes place from the 29th of September to October 2nd at Croke Park, the home of Irish sport. It will be a celebratory return to face-to face speaking for the global professional speaking community.
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Last call for The Exceptional Speaker Academy. Only $99 per month for over 2 hours of live interaction and content from 3 award-winning speakers - Lesley Everett, Sean Weafer and me.
This is too good to miss if you're serious about improving your speaking skills. We promise you'll get world-class advice from some of the best in the professional and international speaking business.
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One of the UK's greatest writers of hit songs is Russ Ballard. He wrote classics such as "God Gave Rock And Roll to you","You win again", "Since you been gone" and many more in a 40 year plus career.
His interview was one of the most popular I've ever played, so you can hear our chat again in theMedia Coach Radio Show |
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There's also his version of a hit he wrote for Rainbow, "Since you've been gone". |
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The MediaMaestro this week is a moment from Strictly Come Dancing featuring Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice, as a moment danced in silence celebrated the Deaf community.
Rose is deaf, and midway through their routine, the music stopped, with Rose and Giovanni continuing to dance beautifully in silence and darkness.
Anton Du Beke also became emotional, saying their dance was the "greatest thing" he’d ever seen throughout all his years on Strictly.
Judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas were on their feet, with a tearful Motsi telling Rose: "I honestly feel like saying thank you, because this was such a beautiful moment to include us in your world, and for us to actually understand how important and how aware we all could be of each other generally everywhere, and this was so special."
What an extraordinary moment. |
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The MediaMug is Boris Bennett. He's making a name for himself in chip-collecting circles. I bet you didn't even know that there were chip-collecting circles.
He is on a mission to collect one chip from every single one of the 925 Wetherspoons across the UK. He carries a folder of chips around with him – each in a clear pouch and perfectly labelled with the restaurant they were purchased from.
Boris, from Bury, says he’s thrilled with the response and would ‘love to shake the hand’ of Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin one day He said: "I decided to do it because it gives me an excuse to travel the UK to all the pubs.I’m trying to just get to as many as possible, if I get too tired I might pass the baton on to a fellow chip enthusiast"
A spokesperson for Wetherspoon said: "Wetherspoon has numerous fans who love to visit all of the pubs and record their visits. Others take photos of the carpet, but this gentleman is one of a kind. We wish him well in his venture and hope he manages to achieve his aim" |
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Speaking Tip - A speaking hat-trick |
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There's a splendid hat shop in Bruges, where I bought myself a splendid hat. A classic Panama, in fact. Though it seems a little strange for a Brit to buy an Ecuadorian-made Panama hat in Bruges, it does give me the opportunity for a tortured link to the phrase "hat-trick".
A hat-trick, of course, is three similar events occurring close together. It may be three goals by the same footballer in a match, three wickets in consecutive deliveries by a bowler, or three Oscars for the same film. Three is an important number for speakers too. In classical rhetoric, a set of three words or phrases is known as a tricolon. An example from the Gettysburgh Address is "...government of the people, for the people, by the people...". Regardless of why this works, it definitely does work, and helps to emphasise a message, making it truly memorable.
Another important three is the three-part story technique. Many speakers use only the first two parts of the technique, some only the first. Here are all three:
- Tell a story.
- Emphasise the point of the story, and explain the principle it demonstrates.
- Give the audience an example of the principle in their world.
It's the third part of the technique that really makes the message hit home and stay in their memories.
The third "three" is a complete speech structure, based on three stories, bracketed by a strong opening and closing. Speeches can be overloaded with too much information and too many stories, leaving the audience confused. On the other hand, a speech based on a single a story can become too detailed. Using three appropriate stories, each of which makes a strong and related point seems to be about right. So there you have it. A hat-trick of hat-tricks. A meta hat-trick if you will. Perhaps we'll leave it there! |
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Media Tip - Do your research |
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No international sporting team ever takes to the field without a huge amount of briefing about their opponents. They know the key players, the likely moves and the best ways to nullify them. It's the same with interviews. Even though the person who interviews you on radio or TV may not know much about you, it will pay dividends if you find out as much as you can about them, and the way the interview will be conducted. Don't bombard the station with questions, but have a check-list of information that you would like, and ask questions via email or a single phone call. Here are some of the things it would be helpful to know in advance.
- Learn all you can about the reporter or interviewer. What is their style? Are they experienced or knowledgeable about your field of expertise?
- Find out as much as you can about the program, in terms of audience, style, whether people will call in, and if there is a live audience.
- Why were you selected as an expert guest? If there's a specific reason, you are bound to be asked about it.
- How long will the interview last? What time will you be on air?
- Will there be other quests? If so, find out as much as you can about them and their opinions.
- Is the interview live or pre-recorded?
- Will there be audience participation, or phone-in questions?
- Are you allowed to mention your book, course or company?
OK, that sounds like a long list, because it is. If you only get answers to half of those questions, you are pretty well prepared. Remember to ask for more information when you arrive, or before you are put on hold if it's a telephone interview. And you know the drill by now - get your core message in early. |
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Social Media Tip - Keep it real |
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On the Internet, as they used to say, no-one knows you're a dog. I mean no disrespect to any canine readers, incidentally. The thing is, some people take on an online persona which is different from the real person they are. It may be accidental or deliberate, but either way, it's confusing for the rest of us. I'm not talking about the appalling practices of scam artists here. There are many upstanding citizens who feel the need to speak and behave in a different character online and offline.
What's the problem? If they can keep up the subterfuge, no harm will come of it, will it? I say it certainly can if you are using social media for business. Doing business is all about trust, and if you aren't sure who you are really speaking with, how can you trust them?
That's why I recommend using your real name online (along with your brand name if you wish). Business people should also use a recent photograph on their social media profiles and website, rather than a cartoon or company logo. As my dear old grandmother used to remark "Say what you mean, and mean what you say".
The main problems with online discussions seem to stem from misunderstandings or mis-communications. Being who you are, all the time, will make online business so much easier.
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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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