Episode #57: Hero Or Zero

It is a big crowd, yet the conversation suddenly dies and a hushed silence now sweeps through the room. All eyes are fixed forward, as the MC tears at the envelope and announces the award winner. Receiving the prize, obediently posing for the photographer, our winner turns and begins to move gingerly towards the mike. In front of everyone, personal and organisational brands now begin to disintegrate.

What does come out of their mouths are pathetic Ums and Ahs. There are particularly strained and embarrassing silences as they obviously struggle, thinking about what they want to say. Their speech is incoherent, nervous, unconvincing and clearly killing them. In one minute they have gone from hero to zero in front of their industry peers.

We are talking about a one minute acceptance speech here. An opportunity to promote your organization, promote yourself, thank the troops, etc. Why are so many people so poorly prepared to represent their organization in a public setting, where there is no excuse and every likelihood that you will have to get up and speak?

The most telling point was the majority of speakers had obviously done zero preparation. Actually, a short one or two minute speech is probably the most difficult talk we will ever give. It is so brief, we have to really plan it well.

There are only a few points we can make when forced to be so brief, so we have to select the most powerful messages and dump the rest - there is no time for dross.

It is a good practice to hit the first word we speak hard, to eliminate any hesitancy. With that good energy level established , we should maintain our voice power, to project confidence to everyone in the room that we deserve to be up here, getting this award.

When speaking to the audience, our eyes should be singling out specific individuals at each table to speak to directly, as if we were having a friendly chat over the backyard fence. We are only speaking to them for about six seconds though.

We also won’t waste our chance in the limelight by applying a vice-like grip on the lectern. In fact don’t even touch it. Instead we are going to free up our hands for gestures.

If there is even the remotest chance you will have to get up and speak, be prepared, be “A Game” ready, be organised and be great. Don’t snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on the awards dais. Make it a triumph instead.