Episode #228: Presenting On Clubhouse

Clubhouse is a new app that enables audio discussions with people who share a similar interest, coming together from around the world. The conversations are not retained and the content disappears each day. There is no distribution of the content either, because of that removal function. Unlike say a written blog which can sit on your website continually adding value to your brand. Also, there is no repurposing capability, because there is only one format and that is not transportable. Your written blog can become a podcast or the script for a video. Nevertheless, you are live, unfiltered and global all at the same time. We are putting our personal and professional brands out there for all to calibrate, evaluate and conclude about. Because it is new, we may be blind to the position we have inadvertently put ourselves in.

What is biggest problem with Clubhouse? It is what people are saying and how they are saying it. Because it is an open mic situation, some people reveal they are babblers. Maybe the isolation factor of so many people working at home is driving this need to just talk, talk, talk. For the listener though, the impression is this person is not smart, clear, concise or considered. Would you want to connect further with them or do business with them? Probably not.

Being highly articulate and thinking on your feet while live is a bigger ask than giving a prepared talk. There is no opportunity to rehearse the content and the delivery. Being a live platform, Clubhouse precludes that facility. When you write something, you may be very credible and authoritative, but in a live environment you don’t have anywhere to hide. If you can’t get to the point or your point is a bit pointless or mundane, then judgments kick in and your personal brand can take a hit.

There is also no visual aspect to support what you are talking about. In formal presentations you can show things on stage or refer to slides on screen, to help drive the key information you want to get across. Now we are down to just voice, so how expert are you at painting word pictures. Most speakers are scanty in accessing the word picture opportunity when presenting.

Clubhouse also needs storytelling skills. These have to be concise, because otherwise you become too long winded and hog the limelight. Nobody is going to appreciate that and your reputation suffers accordingly. High interest gripping stories packed with vivid word pictures, filled to the gunnels with value would be the way to go. Using the variety in your voice options, including modulation, pauses, and word highlighting, add to the ease of following what you are saying.

How many people with all of these skills have you heard on Clubhouse so far? Hiding amongst or blending in with equally hopeless speakers on Clubhouse isn’t the answer. What should we be doing? Make sure your Clubhouse profile is done well. Get a good photo of yourself so the people can see what you look like. Make it a professional look in business battle dress if you're a professional. Or something groovy if you're a pony-tail, black Armani, t-shirt creative.

You have a lot of space to write about yourself. So when people check you out, you want to come across as an expert or authority in your field. We want to connect with experts and winners, not wannabes. Make sure the first three lines are really powerful, concise triumphs of marketing, because that is what appears in the feed when your name comes up on screen.

Be very cautious about which rooms you participate in. Find your topic of interest, and then see if there are regular gatherings of other folk with a similar proclivity. Listen to the quality of the contributions first and decide if this one is a keeper or not. You might have to spend some time sorting through the dross, but there is no shortcut available as yet. If you can find a group of like-minded people who have something worth listening to, then keep attending.

Eventually the host will invite you to elevate to speaker status. Part of that decision is based on your profile and your regular interest in the content. When you get asked to speak, start strong with a confident voice, be polite and thank the host and the other participants for this chance to talk. Being complimentary of comments from some of the other prior speakers is also a good idea. This shows community, humility, and consideration.

Having mapped out in front of you the key bullet points you want to cover, also set a timer in front of you for three minutes. This makes your contribution punchy, valuable and concise. It will be evaluated highly because of the “please, no fluff “ rule. If you find yourself suddenly waffling, then stop speaking and give someone else a chance to contribute. You usually get more than one chance to speak, but don't overdo it. No one wants to listen to some thrusting blowhard, who loves the sound of their own voice. Go into Clubhouse with a plan just as you would with any presentation.

The difference with this medium is you can crash and burn globally, rather than just in front of a limited room of 50 people face to face. It is still your personal and professional brand out there at risk though. So take steps to eliminate or reduce that risk factor.