the magic of communication
This is how you do it
If I were asked to describe the work that I do in just a few words it would say I’m a storyteller. Always have been. As an eight-year-old girl I would already head straight to my type writer (indeed, from the prehistoric computer days) at home after school to drown myself in my own imaginary world.
Of course I love flying over to New York and drinking gin-tonics in the Boom Boom Room at a private Duran Duran concert, but I’m happiest behind my laptop writing. Preferably anything that’ll either make you laugh or some wise lessons people can learn a thing or two from.
To quote Mark Twain: It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech
As a part of my job, you can occasionally find me presenting on a stage. This accounts for the same principle; you share something that you hope will be amusing for your audience to listen to. To quote Mark Twain: It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.
You never know if people are going to like what you have to share and I have the tendency to speed up the tempo when I’m talking. Thinking that I please people if i finish sooner.
Don’t, is what I learned yesterday from Dutch author Bas Mouton who recently released a book here in the Netherlands about the magic of communication. “Just assume that people enjoy listening to you. And if you start to dwell, it’s not going to make it any better. Indulge me with your words.”
Bas Mouton is a pro in the world of presentation. He trains politicians, high potentials, CEO’s and managers. If I would be interested in a session with Bas? I couldn’t be happier since I love public speaking but I have a list of things I would love to be able to do better. How great would it be to have a dash of Barack or Sheryl Sandberg when you’re telling a story?
Bas isn’t a coach who tells you what to do with your hands or how to adapt your voice. He makes you aware of what you are saying and how to touch the audience.
He gave me some homework to do first. If there were one thing I could change in the Netherlands, what would it be… I decided to stick with something close to my heart and demanded affordable day care which would make it easier for women to keep their jobs and a fine for all women who have university degrees, but instead of working in their field of expertise, spend their days walking around in sweatpants doing laundry.
Bas couldn’t agree more with my train of thought. And so our work began. Him in the audience, me on the stage. For three full hours he drilled me. Very fun and constructive by the way. Bas isn’t a coach who tells you what to do with your hands on stage or how to adapt your voice. He has the important task of making you aware of what you are saying and how to touch the audience. And he definitely taught me a whole lot.
a presentation isn’t good until your audience walks away having learnt something.
It has to inspire them. If all you’re doing is sharing personal stories, it’ll bore them. I mean, it can be fun, but what will they get out of it?
grant people a line
Some people feel very antsy when they’re standing in front of a crowd presenting and just stare straight ahead at a blank space. This won’t touch them. Look at your audience, make eye contact. “Grant them a line of what you’re saying,” says Bas. Make eye contact with the guy in the front row on your right, and then the lady on the left in the back of the room. And so forth.
the power of the pregnant pause
Let your words sink in. They call this a pregnant pause. Your audience knows something big is about to come and you’ll have them hanging on your lips…
visualize things
If you tell people you just quit your job which provided great bonuses and a fancy car, it’ll never clearly indicate what your job was. But in my case, if I tell people I try to sit front row at the Chanel fashion shows twice a year, get flown to Venice in business class where a bottle of ice cold champagne is waiting for me and that about three designer bags are gifted to me each year, your story will be much more particular and it’ll give your audience a better visual.
don’t look away
Stay with your audience, stay in the moment.
So as I was saying, Bas gives courses and I would highly recommend these rather than visiting a psychologist. Why don’t you and your ambitious girl friends attend one of his trainings? It’s way more inspiring than one of those lame tarot readings.
Speech Republic (Bas’ company) has a menu filled with different types of trainings. Do you (or your company) have a few extra dollars you can spend, then opt for the 1-on-1 sessions that I had. The most conventional course is the four day group training, but you could also go for a 1 day session.
And there is a book too but unfortunately it has yet to be translated into English but it is alla bout the magic of communication. Bas will even help you write a great love letter.
Bas has allowed me to come back for another session cause he wants to raise me from an 8 to a 9,5. So all I want to say is, Sheryl Sandberg, I’m on my way!
