VQ | Speaker Bureau 59
Profile – Paul McGee
www.vistage.co.uk/speakers/paul-mcgee
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How to Speak so People Really Listen
ver had to give a talk or speech or make a presentation? If so, you’re probably aware of the following challenge. We can all talk. The problem? Getting people to listen. If engaging others is something you find a challenge, it may be because you’re committing one or more of the following sins.
Paul McGee is a much sought-after motivational speaker, and key advocate of the SUMO approach to life and business (Shut Up, Move On / Stop, Understand, Move On). Paul has worked with some of the world’s largest and most successful organisations. He has published several bestselling books, and released both CDs and DVD, on the subjects of success and leadership, engagement, change and resilience, communication and building strong relationships.
#1 Failure to make your message sticky or memorable The challenge you face when communicating with others is not that the attention span of your audience is short – it’s that their attention is constantly being bombarded by messages and distractions. That’s why you need to work hard to make your message stick. Using the right story makes your message both memorable and meaningful. Ultimately your goal is to learn how to cover your content in Velcro rather than coat it in Teflon... So make sure you include sticky stories. #2 Drowning people in detail It’s a common mistake – the belief that the more content I give you the more value you will receive. Drowning people in detail results in you overloading your audience’s brains. You literally bury the treasure within your message in an ocean of content, and your key point is lost at sea. It’s not that we shouldn’t include detail – it’s that we shouldn’t overwhelm people with it. Use the SLIM approach: Say Less, Impact More. #3 A failure to consider or understand your audience’s needs Many communicators make the following mistake – they obsess about what they’re going to say, but give little thought to who they’re saying it to. Not knowing about your audience’s needs, concerns, or challenges is like throwing a fire extinguisher to a drowning man and hoping it will help. Put quite simply, if you don’t tailor your message you’ll fail with your message.
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#4 F ocusing on features rather than selling benefits Whilst you’re talking, your audience are probably thinking at a subconscious level: Why should I care? Why is this important? And how does this affect me?
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The reality is, sometimes we fail to spell out the answer to these questions and therefore fail to make an impact. Because we often don’t see ourselves as selling a message, we fall into the trap of focusing on the features rather than the benefits of what we’re saying. #5 Winging it The enemy of excellence is not mediocrity, but being ‘fairly good’. Because when you’re fairly good you don’t feel the need to improve. If you want to excel and better yourself and improve the impact you make on others, then remember this: ‘If you care, you prepare.’ #6 Showing slides that suck the life out of your audience Why do some people think using small fonts and crammed content on each slide is compulsory? It’s a presentation, not an eye test. So, be big and bold in your use of font size, and think headlines, not scripts. And remember, images increase impact – provided they’re relevant. And here’s a point worth reflecting on: some of the greatest talks ever given never used slides. Martin Luther King had a dream, not a PowerPoint presentation. Having technology doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use it. #7 Taking people on a pointless ramble Some people are so comfortable speaking in front of others that they’ve failed to notice others slipping into a coma. The reality is a message that lacks clarity and a clear destination is likely to cure insomnia, not cause it. Imagine your audience is holding up a huge banner that says: ‘So what’s your point?’ Make sure you’ve answered that question in your own mind before you open your mouth. Never forget that communicating with others is both a privilege and a responsibility.
09/02/2017 15:56