The interview that is currently airing between Walter Edgar and Knox White is inspiring from a community building perspective. The major lesson remains, nothing happens overnight but nothing happens if people do not join together to make things happen. That is a lesson we learn over and over again in Hartsville but it is also lesson we have to keep teaching ourselves. Hartsville is good but right now - not great. Hartsville can be great -- if we want to be great. We are a small city. We will not be for everyone but we can be much more enticing and attracting that we are right. We have to keep working. (Hartsville was just mentioned in a sentence with a number of other progressive cities -- it is the company we want to be in. We have to keep ourselves in this company.
This week I was speaking with a high school student from Long Island. His father had been in Greenville many times on business. The prospective Coker student and Coker lacrosse player, described the downtown as "cute." Not a bad description coming from a teenager. His father also mentioned that Hartsville did remind him of Greenville, even if on a smaller basis. We have the basics but we need to work much harder, doing much more to become a totally attractive place to live and visit. We have lots of people working on this. We have lots of ideas percolating. We need to find ways to continue working together from all our areas (divided any way you might want to think about it) if we are going to survive the set of challenges that are now facing us.
Knox White just said the first time he saw someone taking pictures of downtown Greenville was in 1999.Today cameras and tourists swarm downtown Greenville every weekend and often during the week.
Walter Edgar's Journal will air again on Sunday evening and I hope others will listen. Mayor White had a short paragraph about the need for inclusion and the difference inclusion makes. He said when you do not include you run into lots of problems. I think his quote was, "You pay for it dearly."
Monday, we welcome a new city manager, Natalie Zigler. She will be walking into some amazing challenges as she moves into her office on the first day. I hope those of us who have been living and growing in Hartsville continue to rally and help her and our current City Council become those people we look back on in five, ten or fifteen years with a pride for the positive changes they were able to help us develop as a community.
List some challenges --
We have some beauty spots -- Coker College for example but one look at our entire city and you know we need real emphasis on beautification.
We have high-achieving schools -- but try to prove any of our schools are high achieving to a first-time visitor who (with the exception of the Middle School) sees buildings that have been and look like they have been around for five or seven or ten decades. You want to know what difference a nice looking school makes -- talk to the people who work and learn at the middle school or to the people who teach and learn at GSSM or to the Coker College students who inhabit the new library and information center.
We have some unique retail experiences -- but if we are going to be a mecca for shoppers, we need a lot more unique retail experiences.
We have a cosmopolitan atmosphere -- that we often keep hidden from outsiders. In the arts -- you won't find many communities of our size with our offerings -- but many who live in Hartsville are not aware of a portion of what is offered.
One person for whom I used to work had a saying that I have used in many group discussions having to do with community building. His admonition was "When you stop getting better, you stop being good." We have lots of room to get better.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Audiences need to know why they should listen
Speakers put themselves through the anguish of preparing a speech because of the importance of the message they need to share. In today's world it is a truly arrogant speaker who believes that just because they have a message to share they are going to have an audience. Speakers must let audiences know "WIIFM" very early in the presentation or their audience will be long gone, even if still in their seats.
Last night I was a conversation that began with the other person remarking, "Why do so many presenters start in the middle?" It really was more a criticism than a question. The presenter started with what was important to the presenter and not what might have been important to the audience. There was not statement of why the change just starting in that the change was happening. If speakers help audiences know why the message may have importance, audiences will help speakers by paying attention.
While I always preach the major rule of communication is to KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE there is no question that in our society the reason for this knowledge is so you can tell them "What is in it for them" to listen to your message.
ALSO TRUE IN MARKETING --
I began to think this needed to be said when reading a blog post by Paul Gillan this morning having to do with business to business marketing. Gillan points out that in today's business climate what suppliers used to keep as proprietary they have to now share because customers need to know. Here is one part of his comment: "Make Marketing a Service to Customers - I didn't write down who said this, but the comment stuck with me long after the conference was over. The traditional role of marketing has been to create an image or deliver a message. Service had little to do with it. But in the new world of tuned-out customers, the only way to get make an impression is to be helpful, entertaining or memorable. This is one reason we’re seeing a race by B2B marketers in particular to give away tactics and information that were once their source of competitive advantage. It’s the only way to get prospects to pay attention. Marketers need to ask themselves a new question: "How can I help?”
So, if your are a speaker or a marketer you need to remember the audience or the customer starts with the question -- Why should I buy from you?
Last night I was a conversation that began with the other person remarking, "Why do so many presenters start in the middle?" It really was more a criticism than a question. The presenter started with what was important to the presenter and not what might have been important to the audience. There was not statement of why the change just starting in that the change was happening. If speakers help audiences know why the message may have importance, audiences will help speakers by paying attention.
While I always preach the major rule of communication is to KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE there is no question that in our society the reason for this knowledge is so you can tell them "What is in it for them" to listen to your message.
ALSO TRUE IN MARKETING --
I began to think this needed to be said when reading a blog post by Paul Gillan this morning having to do with business to business marketing. Gillan points out that in today's business climate what suppliers used to keep as proprietary they have to now share because customers need to know. Here is one part of his comment: "Make Marketing a Service to Customers - I didn't write down who said this, but the comment stuck with me long after the conference was over. The traditional role of marketing has been to create an image or deliver a message. Service had little to do with it. But in the new world of tuned-out customers, the only way to get make an impression is to be helpful, entertaining or memorable. This is one reason we’re seeing a race by B2B marketers in particular to give away tactics and information that were once their source of competitive advantage. It’s the only way to get prospects to pay attention. Marketers need to ask themselves a new question: "How can I help?”
So, if your are a speaker or a marketer you need to remember the audience or the customer starts with the question -- Why should I buy from you?
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Novelty Resonates
When we talk about public speaking we often talk about being creative with your messaging. We also underline how novel information will engage listeners and the goal of speaking is to engage the listener. While the link that is part of this message is not a speech, I think it goes a long way in demonstrating how novelty in messaging will GRAB attention:
"THOMSON AIRWAYS" DO WATCH.....THIS IS GREAT!!!!!
Thomson Airways, Ltd. holds a UK Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating License permitting it to carry passengers,
cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.
They have a fleet of 63 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, and in this video, you will see their cute cabin crew in action.
http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/forums/thomson-airways-safety-video-superb-27746.aspx#33820
"THOMSON AIRWAYS" DO WATCH.....THIS IS GREAT!!!!!
Thomson Airways, Ltd. holds a UK Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating License permitting it to carry passengers,
cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.
They have a fleet of 63 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, and in this video, you will see their cute cabin crew in action.
http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/forums/thomson-airways-safety-video-superb-27746.aspx#33820
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Speaker Introduction Formula Works
Many years ago I got one of Louis Nizer's books on speaking in public. Nizer was a major New York City lawyer who was at homeon the lectern and in the courtroom. One of his books was on techniques of cross examination and it was really interesting from a variety of perspectives. He had another book about introducing speakers. He was Emcee at many events and had opportunities to introduce the most powerful people in the city and the nation.
In the same time period I was active in TOASTMASTERS and working hard to improve my own public speaking skills. I would pay a great deal of attention to the TOASTMASTER MAGAZINE and lots of other books and articles on public speaking.
One of those articles had to do with Speaker Introductions. I extracted from that article and today I teach a formula for effective speaker introductions that I call T-I-S-E. We pronounce that Tease, which is what a magazine cover does, a promo for a television program, trailers for movies, do to grab attention. I think a good introduction teases the audience and builds audience expectations for the speaker.
The T-I-S-E formula can mix some of the elements to continue building interest but none of the elements should be forgotten.
Topic = T. An introducer needs to give the audience a good idea of what the speaker is going to be discussing in the presentation. How does the introducer find out what the speaker is going to be discussing? The easy answer is ASK.
Interest = I
This is the tricky element for many people. The idea of interest is sometimes difficult to understand. The introducer has to know the audience so he can tell them why they are going to find the topic of interest. The introducer has to focused on telling the audience what will be in it for them to pay attention to the talk. When we discuss interest we are talking about why the audience should be interested.
Speaker = S
One of the major mistakes made by introducers is that instead of creating an introduction they read the bio sent by the speaker or the speaker's office. The introducer should understand the key things the speaker is doing that make the speaker the person who should be talking about this subject. Most of the time, only a very small part of the speaker's bio relates to the subject at hand. For instance, I one time taught elementary school but if I am talking to an audience about public speaking that is probably not all that relevant.
Enthusiasm = E
The major job of an introducer is to build a bridge between the audience and the speaker and the speaker and the audience. The major building block for this bridge is enthusiasm and the introducer can set that tone. That means doing a great job of instilling an enthusiasm in the audience for the speaker and an enthusiasm in the speaker for the audience.
Most of the time I teach that introductions should be short -- 30 to 45 seconds. The book Louis Nizer wrote was about a different time; a time when introduers could take up to three minutes to set the stage for a speaker. In today's impatient society I think the introducer should leave the speaker as many minutes as possble.
In the same time period I was active in TOASTMASTERS and working hard to improve my own public speaking skills. I would pay a great deal of attention to the TOASTMASTER MAGAZINE and lots of other books and articles on public speaking.
One of those articles had to do with Speaker Introductions. I extracted from that article and today I teach a formula for effective speaker introductions that I call T-I-S-E. We pronounce that Tease, which is what a magazine cover does, a promo for a television program, trailers for movies, do to grab attention. I think a good introduction teases the audience and builds audience expectations for the speaker.
The T-I-S-E formula can mix some of the elements to continue building interest but none of the elements should be forgotten.
Topic = T. An introducer needs to give the audience a good idea of what the speaker is going to be discussing in the presentation. How does the introducer find out what the speaker is going to be discussing? The easy answer is ASK.
Interest = I
This is the tricky element for many people. The idea of interest is sometimes difficult to understand. The introducer has to know the audience so he can tell them why they are going to find the topic of interest. The introducer has to focused on telling the audience what will be in it for them to pay attention to the talk. When we discuss interest we are talking about why the audience should be interested.
Speaker = S
One of the major mistakes made by introducers is that instead of creating an introduction they read the bio sent by the speaker or the speaker's office. The introducer should understand the key things the speaker is doing that make the speaker the person who should be talking about this subject. Most of the time, only a very small part of the speaker's bio relates to the subject at hand. For instance, I one time taught elementary school but if I am talking to an audience about public speaking that is probably not all that relevant.
Enthusiasm = E
The major job of an introducer is to build a bridge between the audience and the speaker and the speaker and the audience. The major building block for this bridge is enthusiasm and the introducer can set that tone. That means doing a great job of instilling an enthusiasm in the audience for the speaker and an enthusiasm in the speaker for the audience.
Most of the time I teach that introductions should be short -- 30 to 45 seconds. The book Louis Nizer wrote was about a different time; a time when introduers could take up to three minutes to set the stage for a speaker. In today's impatient society I think the introducer should leave the speaker as many minutes as possble.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Relational Presence is an interesting goal for public speakers
Lee Glickstein is a public speaking trainer and author we have discussed previously in this blog and I really enjoy his concept of "Speaking Circles." He is a master in this art and his books and articles are worth spending time with for those who want to communicate messages.
As part of his email marketing campaign, I received a newsletter from Speaking Circles today and I thought the opening article worth sharing. There is no question in my mind that speakers have to GRAB attention in the opening moments of a presentation. Lee Glickstein is a bit less violent than I might be in his description but his ideas about "Opening and Structuring a Masterful Talk" are well crafted.
Here is what he says to open this line of discussion in his newsletter:
Open and Structure a Masterful Talk
by Lee Glickstein, founder, Speaking Circles International
"Once your priority in front of any group is to be with your listeners in Relational Presence, specific content gets much easier to plan. Here's an article about how to open and structure a masterful talk. Below I expand on the all-important first 30 seconds, the ideal opportunity to establish a sustainable relationship with your audience.
After being introduced, the first mistake most speakers make is to start to talk the moment the applause ends. The second mistake is to open with a joke, a provocative statement, or a social nicety.
Establishing a sustainable relationship calls for at least one full breath (no less than 10 seconds) of silence after the applause ends, to honor the moment, the occasion, and your listeners. (Not the technique of a "pregnant pause," but an authentically transparent receptivity that allows everyone in the room to arrive, including you.)
Then, an opening line most likely to bring the room to rapt attention is a sentence that sets up a one-minute story of an "aha!" turning point moment from your life. That sentence wants to be delivered conversationally, clearly, not dramatized, with precisely enough information to allow your listeners to visualize a scene (as in a movie) where the action is just about to start.
Then another full breath (yes, another 10 seconds) that signals everyone (including yourself) to make the pilgrimage to that moment. This 3-part "hello" (breath, sentence, breath) determines your first impression. When you master this 30-second dance, your capacity for what is called "public speaking" will fall into place beyond your wildest dreams.
Do read the article linked above for the rest of the opening sequence and structure of an effective talk. Here is an example of the real world power of such an opening. Twenty-five years ago I was at a networking meeting where the featured 10-minute speaker, a CPA, opened like this:
"[Full breath] When I was a child, most nights I would hear my parents arguing loudly well into the night. [Full breath] I would calm myself by counting sheep, imagining numbers on their sides. The numbers would go into the thousands, so I grew up with a sense of relaxation around large numbers. Eventually I became an accountant, and I love to relax my clients around their numbers."
I was not the only one in the room attracted to work with this man who was far from dynamic, but transparently real. He became my accountant for 15 years, then my financial adviser when he shifted careers.
So what's your story?"
I recommend your reading the entire article that can probably be found at Speaking Circles. The links I copied did not work for this blog today.
As part of his email marketing campaign, I received a newsletter from Speaking Circles today and I thought the opening article worth sharing. There is no question in my mind that speakers have to GRAB attention in the opening moments of a presentation. Lee Glickstein is a bit less violent than I might be in his description but his ideas about "Opening and Structuring a Masterful Talk" are well crafted.
Here is what he says to open this line of discussion in his newsletter:
Open and Structure a Masterful Talk
by Lee Glickstein, founder, Speaking Circles International
"Once your priority in front of any group is to be with your listeners in Relational Presence, specific content gets much easier to plan. Here's an article about how to open and structure a masterful talk. Below I expand on the all-important first 30 seconds, the ideal opportunity to establish a sustainable relationship with your audience.
After being introduced, the first mistake most speakers make is to start to talk the moment the applause ends. The second mistake is to open with a joke, a provocative statement, or a social nicety.
Establishing a sustainable relationship calls for at least one full breath (no less than 10 seconds) of silence after the applause ends, to honor the moment, the occasion, and your listeners. (Not the technique of a "pregnant pause," but an authentically transparent receptivity that allows everyone in the room to arrive, including you.)
Then, an opening line most likely to bring the room to rapt attention is a sentence that sets up a one-minute story of an "aha!" turning point moment from your life. That sentence wants to be delivered conversationally, clearly, not dramatized, with precisely enough information to allow your listeners to visualize a scene (as in a movie) where the action is just about to start.
Then another full breath (yes, another 10 seconds) that signals everyone (including yourself) to make the pilgrimage to that moment. This 3-part "hello" (breath, sentence, breath) determines your first impression. When you master this 30-second dance, your capacity for what is called "public speaking" will fall into place beyond your wildest dreams.
Do read the article linked above for the rest of the opening sequence and structure of an effective talk. Here is an example of the real world power of such an opening. Twenty-five years ago I was at a networking meeting where the featured 10-minute speaker, a CPA, opened like this:
"[Full breath] When I was a child, most nights I would hear my parents arguing loudly well into the night. [Full breath] I would calm myself by counting sheep, imagining numbers on their sides. The numbers would go into the thousands, so I grew up with a sense of relaxation around large numbers. Eventually I became an accountant, and I love to relax my clients around their numbers."
I was not the only one in the room attracted to work with this man who was far from dynamic, but transparently real. He became my accountant for 15 years, then my financial adviser when he shifted careers.
So what's your story?"
I recommend your reading the entire article that can probably be found at Speaking Circles. The links I copied did not work for this blog today.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Public Speaking books provide good information
I try to read two to five books a year on the concepts of public speaking. These books let me know if I am continuing on track in the classes that I teach at Coker College on this crucial skill. One of the books I have just completed is 101 Tips for more effective speaking and controlling fear.
I listened to this book on loan from the library and it was interesting because the author provided a lot of the same tips I had been providing to my Coker night class during the summer session. One of the strengths of this book is its easy reading -- the list is 101 ideas and she explains with quick examples, as you would if you were doing a strong informative speech. The subject of public speaking gets a lot of coverage because this activity remains something that instills fright and confusion almost as soon as someone says, "Dick, why don't you give us a few words..."
I listened to this book on loan from the library and it was interesting because the author provided a lot of the same tips I had been providing to my Coker night class during the summer session. One of the strengths of this book is its easy reading -- the list is 101 ideas and she explains with quick examples, as you would if you were doing a strong informative speech. The subject of public speaking gets a lot of coverage because this activity remains something that instills fright and confusion almost as soon as someone says, "Dick, why don't you give us a few words..."
Friday, December 12, 2008
Public Speaking and your personal bottom line
This is a portion of an email that went to the Night Speech class following the last class on Thursday night. This is just sort of a reminder of some of the many things discussed during the class over the past eight weeks, and 15 two and half hour classes:
-- Self evaluations remain important so everyone who spoke on Thursday night with a persuasive speech is due to give me a self evaluation either by email or dropped off in the office.
-- While the exam you have is the last "exam" in this course, you will find that in public speaking you are getting regular assessments, even if they are not called exams. You will be evaluated on your presentations and your presentations will reflect on your overall performance so you owe it to yourself to know what your audience needs from your message and prepare thoroughly to provide them the critical information. That is how you will continue to enhance your personal bottom line.
-- In your classes at Coker that are not called "Public Speaking" you will find that public speaking still counts. When you have a class presentation your instructor will expect you to be prepared. Your professor will expect your presentation to be well organized. Your audience will engage with you if you make a good connection by looking at them, by using vocal variety to show your own interest in your subject matter. You will feel accomplished after a good presentation. And, it is a good bet that a good presentation will enhance your grade.
If you have found that you might not totally hate public speaking but that you do want to continue improving keep looking for opportunities. Every time you say yes to an opportunity you are getting much needed practice. Remember, even Tiger Woods continues to practice on the golf course. To keep up your speaking skills you need continual practice or you will get rusty. Toastmasters, after you have finished your Coker degree work, is a great organization for keeping sharp in public speaking.
Those of you who are still nervous when you speak -- Good. Remember, it is positive nervousness that helps us prepare for our best presentations.
7 -- Those of you who say there is nothing positive about my nervousness need to keep in mind that a presentation is not about YOU. The presentation is about the MESSAGE you are sharing with the AUDIENCE.
-- Self evaluations remain important so everyone who spoke on Thursday night with a persuasive speech is due to give me a self evaluation either by email or dropped off in the office.
-- While the exam you have is the last "exam" in this course, you will find that in public speaking you are getting regular assessments, even if they are not called exams. You will be evaluated on your presentations and your presentations will reflect on your overall performance so you owe it to yourself to know what your audience needs from your message and prepare thoroughly to provide them the critical information. That is how you will continue to enhance your personal bottom line.
-- In your classes at Coker that are not called "Public Speaking" you will find that public speaking still counts. When you have a class presentation your instructor will expect you to be prepared. Your professor will expect your presentation to be well organized. Your audience will engage with you if you make a good connection by looking at them, by using vocal variety to show your own interest in your subject matter. You will feel accomplished after a good presentation. And, it is a good bet that a good presentation will enhance your grade.
If you have found that you might not totally hate public speaking but that you do want to continue improving keep looking for opportunities. Every time you say yes to an opportunity you are getting much needed practice. Remember, even Tiger Woods continues to practice on the golf course. To keep up your speaking skills you need continual practice or you will get rusty. Toastmasters, after you have finished your Coker degree work, is a great organization for keeping sharp in public speaking.
Those of you who are still nervous when you speak -- Good. Remember, it is positive nervousness that helps us prepare for our best presentations.
7 -- Those of you who say there is nothing positive about my nervousness need to keep in mind that a presentation is not about YOU. The presentation is about the MESSAGE you are sharing with the AUDIENCE.
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