You’re blogging. You’re tweeting. You’re facebooking. You’re creating videos and articles and ezines.
All of that is great but let’s not forget that social media is – first and foremost – social! It’s personal. And that person is YOU.
The ultimate test of a thought-leader is the answer to one simple question: When you open your mouth, do people listen? Online, offline, in person, via email, via Skype, on Slideshare, on YouTube. The media doesn’t matter. The messenger (aka YOU) matters a whole lot more.
If Benjamin Franklin had social media, would he use it? You bet. Would it work for him? Absolutely. How can we be sure? Because when old Ben opened his mouth back in the 1770’s and 1780’s – people listened. The same could be said for Plato, Socrates, Shakespeare, Einstein, King, Jobs and Obama.
Long before social media – people rose to prominence using the influence of the spoken word. Articulation of powerful ideas – useful ideas – crazy ideas – revolutionary ideas – is what made people remarkable.
Whether you stood up to speak to an audience of Roman senators, a rowdy bunch of war protesters, a roomful of hostile reporters, or a boardroom filled with naysayers – the people who made a difference did so because of the power of public speaking to spread their ideas and change the course of events.
Public speaking – the original social media – is based on the same principles as today’s electronic social media. The key factors to your success are:
1. Have something worth saying
2. Say it in a powerful, simple and intriguing way
3. Deliver your messages with consistency, clarity and passion
4. Change the game – don’t blend in – very simply: stand out when you speak up
Let’s explore each of these in a bit more depth:
1. Have something worth saying. Craft your message by speaking to both the heart and the head. People are emotional creatures – tap into emotion to back up your facts, opinions, and recommendations. As business author Harvey Mackay likes to point out, “There are no business relationships – all relationships are personal relationships.”
2. Say it in a powerful, simple and intriguing way. Don’t mince words. Short sentences rule. People’s attention spans are shrinking daily. Keep it short, snappy and memorable. For example, when I speak on marketing I use the power of alliteration by sharing my philosophy that marketing needs to be easy, effortless and enjoyable. I call it the “3 E’s” and people remember it. Include hooks, tag lines, and memory devices when you speak and you will increase your influence and impact.
3. Deliver your messages with consistency, clarity and passion. Americans hate wafflers. Every political season, the worst you can call your opponent in a hotly-contested election is a “waffler.” It’s considered even worse than lying! Don’t be wishy-washy. Have a clear, strong point of view and hammer it home over and over – boldly, passionately and fearlessly.
4. Change the game – don’t blend in – very simply: stand out when you speak up. Boring doesn’t sell. Boring ideas die. Boring people lose. In short – you want to be the opposite of boring. You want to stand out from the crowd. As Steve Jobs encouraged us, “Think Different.” Where can you zig where everyone else zags? Where can you break the mold – or create a new mold that you (and you alone) are perfectly designed to fit in?
Follow these four principles and you will have mastered the original social media – no computer required!
Please share your comments, reactions, and questions in the COMMENTS area below.
As the founder of Do It! Marketing, David Newman works with professionals who want to establish their position as a
thought-leaders and win more business, more easily and more often.http://www.doitmarketing.com
Hmmm. The principles you state are completely accurate, they’re vital for being able to put across a strong message.
I’m not sure I agree with the idea that public speaking is “the original social media”. Public speaking is primarily broadcast; someone speaks, everyone else listens. For the audience it is essentially a passive experience. That’s not what social media is; indeed the individuals and companies who are failing at online social media are those who are making that mistake; broadcasting instead of communicating.
Social media’s power comes from communication. It’s an interactive experience. The original social media is in-person networking – a two way conversation – rather than public speaking.
Robin,
I agree – partly.
In my view, there are three components to what we typically clump together as “social media”…
1. Social Networking = Relationships (“Hello!”)
Ex: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
2. Social Media = Resources (“Here!”)
Ex: Blogs, audio, video, slides, photos, music
3. Social Bookmarking = Reciprocity (“Hey!”)
Ex: Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon
So from a purely social MEDIA angle (shareable ideas and content that brings value to others), public speaking is one of the oldest methods around – going back to storytelling around the fires in pre-historic times!
But you’re right – the engagement and conversational components of social NETWORKING and BOOKMARKING enhance the mix enormously.
Thanks for reading and for posting your comment.
— David
p.s. I hope you’ll join us for SmallBizChat on Wed. 2/22!!
I think this is a great article Melinda…
And for those who think that public speaking is simply broadcast… it is not. At least GOOD speaking is not.
Putting aside the obvious elements of taking and answering questions as part of a speech, there are (or should be) three linked fundamental concepts at play. they are listening to your audience BEFORE, DURING & AFTER your speech (and of course responding to the feedback).
Great speaking is a reciprocal process.
Public speaking doesn’t have to be passive. In fact, some of the best presenters are those who are able to pull their audiences in by making their sessions as interactive as possible. That can be done by asking a question of the audience in the first few minutes of your talk, having people interact with each other, etc.
The best read I’ve ever come across for public speaking is The Exceptional Presenter http://www.presentationacademy.com/. Tons of incredibly helpful pointers including what to do with your hands, where to place your notes on a podium so you can maintain eye contact with your audience, and why laser pointers are the devil.
Marc,
I agree and thank you for the compliment.
My fundamental belief that great speaking – like a great social media presence – is 100% all about the conversation and not a 1-way data dump.
Thanks for reading and for your thoughtful comment.
— David
Shawn,
Totally with you, my brother. Yes, yes and amen. The days of the talking head speaker are over and done.
I’ve led sessions with 300 people in the room and the greatest compliment (which I use to this day as a speaking testimonial on my website) is “David was so natural and conversational, his program felt like talking with him 1-on-1”
Bingo. Payday. Success. Not for me – but for the impact of the program on those audience members whom I was paid to impact. Talking WITH them, not talking AT them.
Thanks for reading and for your comment.
— David
Hi David.
How do you think social media will impact on the next generations’ ability to speak in public? Has public speaking not morphed into an ability to use your thumbs clever on your mobile phone, rather than your voice in front of a live audience..?
Interested in your thoughts.
Andries
There are alot of things that are spoken but never unheard we all have alot of the same thoughts and insights on life and things in general. Wish things were way different Im glad to know and see that there is someone and people that are trying to change the communities and peples minds and keep them solid and positive.. As I Am Entertainment.. Willing to help people change into a better them for without change nothing is possible but through God we can do all things.. www.asiamentertainment.com
Thanks for the great article David and thanks for sharing it Melinda!
I agree with your thoughts. It reminds me of the great orators of the past. You get on a soapbox (literally) and start “pushing out your message.” If people wanted to hear what you had to say and thought you knew what you were talking about, they would start to gather. Now you have an audience of people who “want to hear your message.”
It’s SOCIAL!
This is really helpful because I am getting more speaking offers. I will definitely take these tips into consideration.
Excellent article, David. I don’t consider public speaking to be a one-way broadcast. The best speakers are engaging and interactive, so I do agree with the points you make in your article. I now embrace social media in my talks. Instead of resisting smartphones, I request that people take them out and tweet if they hear something of value. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. It’s a digital world!
I also use social media in my talks, it’s good to keep people interested and remain up-to-date. One example is Present.Me which is a website which allows you to attach a video of yourself presenting to your PowerPoint. Now when I have to deliver talks but can’t be there in person I can simply share my presentation with them. Diane is right – it is a digital world!
Hi David, this is what I call an Illuminating article.
I use social media each and every day, but I’ve probably missed a great part without trying to talk to my followers.
The four points you touched are the fundamentals of public speaking, and from now I will never make old errors. Aso if I’m Italian and English language is a mental barrier for me, I will try to do my best opening my mind to public speaking.
A great thanks to you, for your time and efforts.
See you soon,
Alessandro Zamboni
Everyone is frigthened when it comes to public speaking but with practice, speaking in front of an audience would become natural. ;
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Melinda, I’ve just now found this post, and love the inspiring energy of it.
Our lives, our media, and our marketing have gotten so complicated that it’s easy to forget the bottom line: Whatever the “channel,” we are people reaching out to other people, hoping to bring them value, and hoping that we’ll be respected and heard.
Thanks for the reminder!