Speaking? Three Things Your Audience Wants

Audiences--whether 6 or 600--really want three things from you. These apply to meetings, wedding toasts, or keynote speeches:

1. Connection. They want to feel connected with you. They've already endured too many distant, aloof presentations in their lifetimes. Give them you, not a veiled voice in the corner reciting PowerPoint bullets. In fact, to be the "real deal" and "authentic", be even more of you. Wear your enthusiasm for your topic on your sleeve, look into the eyes of participants, and have a bold, honest conversation with them.

2. We all love a bit of entertainment. No one expects you--or even wants you--to be Jimmy Kimmel or Jay Leno. You can do a quick activity that energizes people and gets them thinking more about the topic. It also gives you a break and a chance to relax. Keep it light. Stay serious about your topic but not about yourself. A funny personal story, especially if the joke was on you, can will loosen people up and increase the connection. ("Wow, I thought only I ever had that happen to me.!) I watched my wife listen to a very well-known speaker/writer from Harvard. My wife has a dual Ph.D. She thought his presentation was so serious and ponderous that he came across as  self-important. He lost her, even though his information was accurate.

Note: Did you know that speakers who also sell product actually sell measurably more product when there is humor in their talk?

3. Create meaning. How does what you are saying fit into their business or organizational life?  Make the connection for them (don't assume they'll automatically do it themselves). Explain specifically how you or your idea will personally increase their satisfaction or reduce their pain. When you can you synthesize the meaning of your topic to that point, you've really got something worth saying.

Be bold, be convesational, connect and say it.

 

Comments

[Tim Croteau]

Very well put, Steve. I'd argue that these 3 key points can and SHOULD be extended to any interactions with an audience, live or not. Connection, meaning and entertainment apply to bloggers, Tweeters, Facebook status-crafters, forum debaters...anyone with a message or thought they want to share with others.

The link and force around those three values is humanity. We don't relate to words; we relate to people. Adding those human touches is the spark that turns a pile of words into valuable content.

[Brandon Jones]

Steve,
This is a very good post. One of the biggest keys to success in almost any aspect of life is connecting with your audience. The points that you mentioned are valuable keys to connecting with your audience. Thanks, Brandon

[Steve Roesler]

Tim

Indeed, we're talking communication and connection here. I wonder how many folks extend this kind of approach into the realms you've suggested?

Good advice.

[Steve Roesler]

Thanks, Brandon, good to see you here again!

[Paul Nicholas]

This is great stuff, Steve, and straight to the point - Thank you!
Audiences first want feel something when they engage with a speaker - then, when they feel good and positive they want meaning. Engage their emotions, then satisfy their intellect.

[Steve Roesler]

Paul,

Wouldn't it be powerful if we could build a critical mass of people who knew how to really connect?

[Sunny Lam]

Steve,

The three points you give of Connecting, Entertaining and Meaning (CEM) remind me of Connie Dieken's Connect, Convey and Convince.

All of the steps are important to every kind of communication including interviews in a job search.

Having the knowledge is necessary and so is the appeal to the heart.

It would be powerful if everyone knew how to "Connect" and it can be difficult.

It takes good mentors to pull it off - the earlier one has them in life the better.

Sunny

[Steve Roesler]

Hello, Sunny

I'm not familiar with Connie but I'm sure our readers will appreciate the resource and it does sound quite similar in approach.

Let's keep people focused on connecting, eh?

[Paul Nicholas]

Steve, thank you for your reference to "a critical mass of people who knew how to really connect". The concept is both inspirational and aspirational, and it has sent my imagination spiralling into creative possibilities. What a task, and what a target - and it will be the journey, not the arrival, that really matters.

[Steve Roesler]

Paul

I hope that your spiralling journey is a meaningful one. Thanks for weighing in.

[Paul Nicholas]

Steve,
I've spiralled back again after visiting many other sites - and my God there's some garbage out there! Thanks for your sense and inspiration!

[Steve Roesler]

Paul, it's good to see you in spiral mode:-) How is everything going with the biz over there?

[Paul Nicholas]

Hi Steve,
The biz over here is going in the right direction - but it's a lot like pushing big stones uphill! I'm grateful for the inspiration of guys like you. Gave a seminar today on the neuroscience of changing minds - great seminar, but half empty - or was that half full? I guess it takes time to change a world!