The Truth About Public Speaking (and the Media) Blog

Slow Down

I recently conducted a practice interview with a media training client in which I played the reporter. As usual, I was taking some notes during the conversation. But that proved a most difficult task in this case.

Why? The interviewee's rate of speech was so fast. She seems to be a bit of a fast talker in real life, but her speed really accelerated during the interview. That can be chalked up to nerves, a perfectly understandable phenomenon.

Still, the goal in any interview is to make it as easy as possible for the reporter to record your pearls of wisdom. Accurate quotes may depend on it as does your ability to clearly broadcast your message. If you notice a reporter scribbling like mad and giving you little eye contact, that may be a sign to insert the occasional pause. And if you think you have steamrolled past your message in too fast a fashion, it is perfectly legit to go back and repeat it later.

Memorial Day Reprise

With the long holiday weekend approaching, allow me to refresh some advice offered last year at this time. Enjoy your holiday and be safe on the roads. Remember, polite driving is contagious.
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Memorial Day weekend traffic is no fun. But here's a game you can play if you are bound and determined to get some work in on your drive to the beach, mountains, or favorite vacation spot.

Tune the radio in to news and talk stations as you go. Don't be afraid to fiddle around with the dial every now and then to see if you can pick up stations in different locales. Keep a keen ear out for the guests and interviewees who successfully garnered air time. What is it that made them attractive to the news person or producer?

Did they offer provocative or startling points of view? Were they able to summarize their key points in 10 seconds or so? Were their voices pleasing to hear? Did they take advantage of another event (e.g., the start of summer holiday weekend) as an opportunity to tell their stories?

You just might lighten your tedious drive by listening to the radio with a purpose.

Tune the radio in to news and talk stations as you go. Don't be afraid to fiddle around with the dial every now and then to see if you can pick up stations in different locales. Keep a keen ear out for the guests and interviewees who successfully garnered air time. What is it that made them attractive to the news person or producer?

Did they offer provocative or startling points of view? Were they able to summarize their key points in 10 seconds or so? Were their voices pleasing to hear? Did they take advantage of another event (e.g., the start of summer holiday weekend) as an opportunity to tell their stories?

You just might lighten your tedious drive by listening to the radio with a purpose.

The Envelope, Please

Are you wowed by businesses that breathlessly tout how many awards they have won? Or do such claims induce yawning? Count me firmly in the second camp.

Most industry awards are meaningless. It's largely a matter of insiders stroking other insiders. Moreover, such ceremonies serve as thin cover to raise funds for the organization that bestows them.

One public affairs practitioner and a global public relations agency leap right to mind as among the worst violators. But the fact is lots of companies in many industries spend lots of time applying for awards. Some firms even charge an employee with sniffing out possibilities. So much for creative spirit. If part of your business model involves securing as many seals of approval as possible, fine. But don't expect everyone to be bowled over by your baubles.

Here's why: A company that is busy trolling for its next award is a company that does not have its eye primarily on helping its customers or clients. I prefer spending my budget dollars with firms that want to do good work for my benefit, not with those obsessed with how they can leverage my work for their benefit.

A.M. Drive Radio, Part II

A few more thoughts on how to tailor your approach when planning a radio media tour (RMT). By way of brief explanation, in most cases these tours consist of three- to four-minute interviews in rapid succession with stations across the country. You can conduct them from the comfort of your own office or home, or they can take place in a studio combined with a satellite media tour (SMT) coupling TV and radio interviews.

When dealing with radio, you want to be sure to vet not only the hosts but the stations themselves. Here's why. PR agencies and radio production houses that book these interviews can be very savvy -- or they can be very clueless.

For example, nearly everyone running a national media campaign wants the holy grail -- an interview on a New York city station. But be forewarned: The New York media market, as defined by ratings giant Arbitron, includes a broader geographic area than simply the five boroughs of the Big Apple. I have seen some agencies lay claim to securing an interview in New York when, in reality, they booked their client on a tiny 500-watt daytimer broadcasting to a mere handful of listeners in Poughkeepsie. Needless to say, this is not the equivalent of a New York powerhouse that reaches many thousands.

Agencies are not the only ones who can mislead you like this. Internal communications shops can also be at fault at times. Regardless who is trying to pull the wool over your eyes, it means one of two things: 1) They are ignorant and fail to grasp the difference (neither good nor professional) or 2) they just want to claim they booked you in the New York market (not good, not professional, and not ethical). While that may be factually true, it is misleading. If your target audience consists of those few people in Poughkeepsie, fine. But if you think you are paying for major market exposure, ask for your money back.

A.M. Drive Radio

Many media campaigns include interviews on radio talk shows. And many of those programs occur during the "morning drive" hours from 5-9 a.m.

Sadly, over the years talk programming on morning drive has gone right into the toilet. Shock jocks offering rude and crude insights abound. This suggests that you need to be careful to which interviews you agree. If you are the interviewee, ask some questions of your internal communications staff or your external PR agency. Before they approach a station they should be well aware of the hosts' proclivities and what type of audience they reach.

If you are met with a slack-jawed look when seeking such answers, that is a bad sign. Part of any serious communications pro's job in this situation involves possessing the ability to finely target your prime audience.

Most major cities are home to one or two commercial news/talk stations as well as a public radio station with local news during morning drive. Those outlets will generally prove worthwhile. Unless you want to be dragged into controversy or juvenile jokes about bodily functions, however, take a pass on the shock jocks.

What about Toastmasters?

Here is a question I often hear when people learn that I teach public speaking workshops: "Someone told me to join Toastmasters to sharpen my speaking skills. Should I do it?" As with most things in life, there are no simple answers.

Offering generic advice that someone join Toastmasters is worthless. There are thousands of clubs worldwide, each with a different focus. Some welcome all comers. Others are reserved for accomplished speakers. Still others might limit membership to a single workplace, occupation, or geographical area. All of this means it can be a real challenge to find a club that provides a good personal fit.

My own viewpoint on the value of Toastmasters is mixed. If all you are seeking is a practice venue, the right club can do you some good. But there are some silly rules and a general rah-rah approach best left to so-called "motivational" speakers (don't get me headed down that road; that merits a separate posting). My biggest quibble is with Toastmasters' rigid and unyielding insistence that all ums, uhs, and ers be eliminated totally. Sorry, but most of us use the occasional place holder in everyday conversation. If your aim is to take a conversational approach, a bit of a pause or place holder can, in truth, be beneficial.

That said, I totally agree that such phrases can prove distracting if they become a noticeable habit. But the occasional speech disruption can, I believe, burnish a speaker's personality.

Bottom line: If someone tells you to join Toastmasters, ask them which club. If you are debating whether it is a good move for you, kick the tires first. Check out a few clubs and see if any feel right. If so, deal with the rigid rules as best you can. If not, all you've lost is one evening; in exchange you have gained the knowledge that your lifelong learning regarding public speaking is best served by following another path.

PDAs in the "Off" Position, Please

Timely article on page A1 of today's Wall Street Journal headlined, "Trying to Minimize A Lot of the Buzz About BlackBerrys; Users Are Finding They Are Source of Interference; Move Away From Speakers" (subscription required).

You no doubt have noticed the annoying buzz that creeps into many audio systems during presentations. This is caused by radio interference from devices like BlackBerrys and Treos. The article discusses several possible solutions -- wrapping gear in aluminum foil, putting the device under a table, etc. -- all of which are for the most part ineffective.

What is the solution? Turn 'em off. That's right, off, as in shut down its ability to transmit and receive. It is no longer enough to ask audience members to turn off the ringers on their cell phones. These days, smart organizations ask that listeners power down their mobile devices.

I can hear the moaning and whining already. Get over it. Here are some rules to live by:

• If you are expecting an e-mail that is so vital you cannot go without checking your inbox, you should not be in a meeting.
• If you think it's no big deal that your device is causing interference that bothers others, mom never taught you proper manners.
• Constantly ogling your PDA does not make you look cool or important; it makes you look like a doofus.
• If checking your e-mail has turned into an obsession, seek professional help.
• If you live under the illusion that the world will collapse if people cannot get in touch with you 24/7, sorry, you're just not that important.

For better or worse, in today's world of public speaking it is not enough to turn off that cell phone ringer. You have to power it down, too.

Order the Wait Staff to Disappear

Talk about a bizarre speaking situation. I attended a luncheon meeting yesterday in a Washington, D.C. restaurant that featured the least conducive atmosphere I have ever witnessed when it comes to public speaking.

As we finished the main course, the speaker began his presentation. Shortly thereafter, the wait staff pounced -- four waiters clanking dishes, rattling silverware, asking who wanted coffee, and generally causing mayhem in the midst of some very interesting ideas.

The speaker, to his credit, exhibited the utmost in tact and diplomacy. Plus, he was quite good, setting forth an interesting message and telling stories skillfully. It is really too bad the meeting organizers left him hanging.

Had I been the organizer, I would not have wasted a second chasing down the wait staff at the first sign of  disruption and ordered them to avoid further interruptions. Of course, much of this can be addressed beforehand by instructing the restaurant manager not to serve or clear anything while the presenter is speaking. It is easy enough to place dessert on the tables just before everyone is seated and to provide coffee service during the meal before the remarks begin.

If I were the speaker, I would have followed these steps: 1) Listed as part of my agreement the fact that wait staff is not to clear tables, pour coffee, or serve dessert while I am speaking (this is written into my standard lecture agreement); 2) when it became clear this was a significant distraction that could not be ignored, take steps to quell the disturbance by asking the meeting organizers to talk to the wait staff.

From a body language perspective, the speaker also should have subtly directed all the traffic to pass behind him rather than between him and the audience. As the waiters invaded the room, he took a step back allowing them to pass in front of him. The right move would have been to step forward, forcing them to walk in back of him. Of course, the clattering of dishes and silverware still would have made for a raucous speaking environment.

I hope the sponsoring organization sends a sincere letter of apology to the speaker. They really placed him in a no-win situation. And I hope the speaker thinks long and hard before accepting an offer from that same outfit in the future.

Live With It

The first amendment to the constitution guarantees, among other things, a free press. Did President Bush cast doubt on its value? You decide how to read this one.

While responding to questions following an address earlier this week, he fielded an inquiry that basically asked how the media could be persuaded to report more good news from Iraq. His reply: "If you're trying to goad me into attacking the media, you're crazy . . . And freedom of the press is a valuable freedom here, and it's just something that we've all got to live with and value it for what it is, and just continue to speak the truth as best as we can without trying to -- without trying to gloss over the inherent dangers." (full text from the White House web site).

Maybe it's just my background as a former reporter, but it seems that even a veiled attack on the first amendment should ring alarm bells.

 

Sooo . . .

Lately I have noticed an annoying habit many people seem to be picking up when responding to questions. It may come in the context of a media interview or during Q&A following a public speaking engagement. I even hear it from clients when they are interviewed as part of a media training workshop.

The nasty habit consists of beginning each reply with one word: "So." It comes out sounding silly like this when queried by a reporter:
    Q: What new benefit does your product bring to market?
    A; So, our new widget will aid millions more consumers.

Or during a presentation it might sound like this:
    Q: You mentioned you are a fan of the XYZ technique. Tell me more.
    A: So, the XYZ system really puts some zing into your approach because . . .

So seems to be the new um -- a weasel word that means nothing whatsoever. To put it bluntly, it makes the speaker sound stupid.

I have no idea how this trend started, but I would like to squash it right away. I suspect the So brigade uses the word in an attempt to stall for time and collect their thoughts. But better you take a pause. Actually, it is far better for you to internalize your message to the degree that you are able to launch right into it (or bridge to it when confronted with a difficult question; but that's an advanced topic for another day).

Don't be a so-so speaker. If you find yourself weaseling around by starting your responses with "So," think twice.