The things that speak to you most are not necessarily the things that speak to others.
Unless they are like you.
Which suggests that you are the best person to reach out to others similar to yourself.
Writing for the Eye is not the Same as Writing for the Ear
You have almost certainly listened to someone reciting a speech and found it flat, uninspiring, even disingenuous.
This often happens in the public sphere, especially when politics are involved.
What's to be said is often vetted, edited, and rehashed multiple times by multiple people. This is understandable. A slip of the tongue can cause severe backlash.
There are, of course, brilliant speechwriters who work with the same speaker for long periods of time and produce remarkable speeches for them. These people, sadly, are few and far between.
Many written speeches don't translate well when spoken, because they were written for the eye, and not for the ear.
I'm not saying that speakers should stop hiring speechwriters, just that, if they do, they should be the ones in charge of the final "version", so that they sound like themselves.
And make our listening lives a little bit livelier.
I am Not a Toastmaster
I am not a Toastmaster.
I had considered joining a Toastmasters Club many, many years ago. I just couldn’t find one that fit my odd work schedule or be close enough to home that I would actually not mind travelling to.
It turns out that it didn’t matter.
I learned the hard way, through the cleansing fires of non-friendly, sometimes even hostile, audiences. In my opinion, that’s the fastest, surest way to learn.
Let me qualify that. Toastmasters clubs can be very helpful for someone who wishes to overcome his/her fear of public speaking. I have a fair number of friends who are Toastmasters, and I have seen them grow in confidence as they take the stage.
In the friendlier spaces of their respective clubs, there is greater safety, as well as the presence of potential mentors who can help. These are valuable. No doubt about that.
That said, the usefulness of these things stops once the speaker is past a certain point. Things start to go a little awry. I have listened to hundreds of speakers, both in-person and through the Internet, and I have come to notice certain traits that quite a number of them, who happen to be Toastmasters, have:
1) They have unnaturally exaggerated facial expressions and body language, all the while over-enunciating and placing too much emphasis on their words, often in a slightly off-beat manner that’s very difficult to listen to without getting distracted.
Nobody talks like that in real life. If they did, people around them would either raise incredulous eyebrows, politely excuse themselves, or run.
2) The content of their speeches is lacklustre.
I have heard from a few sources that Toastmasters are judged more on delivery than they are on content.
If that is true, I can only surmise that, in order to win contests and/or titles, they have no choice but to sacrifice substance for form. I certainly cannot speak for others, but that is a sacrifice I am unwilling to make.
Yes, there is a place for pretty speeches, but if the audience learns nothing from the encounter, what’s the point?
3) There seems to be an emphasis on telling personal stories that borders on idolatry.
Personal stories can be powerful and moving. IF they are used appropriately and for the right reasons.
I have lost count of the number of times I had to sit through an unnecessarily long, over-dramatised, poorly-executed narration of an inconsequential incident in the life of a speaker I happened to be sitting in front of.
For some reason, telling a personal story has become a ‘must’ and ‘the only way to start a speech / presentation’. It is not.
The audience doesn’t care about the speaker’s life more than they care about their own.
With that in mind, wouldn’t it make more sense to relate to the audience first, and then tell a personal story that they can relate to, in order to cement that bond?
No, I don’t hate the Toastmasters, nor do I think that they should dissolve. I simply believe that it’s time for them to update themselves.
Story-telling has no shortcuts. It is an art and a science, and needs to be respected, taught, and practised as such.
Advice on Becoming a Public Speaker from Dr. Andrew Goh
A little over a week ago, I had an opportunity to speak to Dr. Andrew Goh.
I told him,
"Dr. Andrew, you may not remember me. A few years ago, I asked you for advice on becoming a public speaker. Today, I am well on my way. Thank you for your advice."
I then gave him two copies of The Introvert Teacher, one addressed to him and the other to pass on to anyone he wants.
This was the advice he gave to me. The elaboration is my own:
1) Volunteer to Speak and Practise
At the start, the only way to get known and gain recognition is to speak whenever you have an opportunity.
Also, you are going to need the practice and volunteering yourself will help you to figure out your niche topic, which brings us to...
2) Have a Specific Topic
It's all too easy to take on any and all projects that come your way.
However, being a generalist can be confusing, especially for those who are looking for speakers on a particular subject. It also makes you less memorable to those who have already heard you if you tell them that you can do 'any topic you need'.
People look to experts. Establish yourself as one.
3) Once Established, Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Speaking Fees
At some point, you are going to have to be paid if you intend to embark on speaking as a career.
This can and does happen organically but the surest way is to ask.
Start by getting the organisers to cover your travel expenses, even if it's just a taxi ride.
From there, as you gain confidence, ask for more. Be reasonable. You probably shouldn't ask for 10 thousand dollars per hour if you only started speaking 2 months ago (unless you're already some sort of celebrity) but, hey! If you get it, that'd be quite an achievement.
Still, be firm in your requests. If you give in too easily, you are only shortchanging yourself.
Thank you, Dr. Andrew, for being a teacher I look up to and for taking the time to advise me.
