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On Speaking and Speakers

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February 6, 2013

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Last week I was at IBM Connect.  I certainly didn’t get to see all the sessions that I wanted to attend (many times there were two session at once that I wanted to see), but I did watch some great talks.  I saw some that weren’t so great, too, but this post isn’t about those.

Disclaimer:  Yes, I personally know both of the people I am about to talk about.  No, it doesn’t make me biased.  Tweets and audience feedback mirrored my thoughts and feelings.  Also, if you know I saw you speak and I am not mentioning you, it doesn’t mean you weren’t great.  These were just two stand-out speakers.

I saw Russ Maher speak about managed beans in XPages and Chris Miller talk about an admin toolkit.  Both speakers could have been presenting on the phone book and they would have been great.  Russ broke down a topic that frankly, I was afraid of.  He made it easy to understand.  He made me feel like I could go home and whip up a managed bean no problem.  He did it all while knowing a ton, but without being condescending.  Chris made admin stuff interesting.  ‘Nuff said.

I was talking with my friend (and track manager) Susan Bulloch (not name dropping to name drop, but to point out that she knows a thing or two about speaking and speakers) and I said to her that Chris’ presentation was really great.  I said, “I got a bit depressed as I realized I will NEVER be that good”.  She replied, “No, you won’t”.  And not that she meant that I suck or anything, but that he is really good and most people won’t ever be that good.

Now I could have gotten depressed and decided to never speak again.  Or I could just be happy that I got watch and learn from two really great speakers.  The inclination for some might be to try and copy Chris or Russ in order to be a great speaker.  The interesting thing to note is that their styles are completely different.  I can’t really begin to describe them, but take my word for it if you’ve never seen them, they are very different.  And here’s the secret.  You (and I) won’t ever be a GREAT speaker by using someone else’s style.  The only way to be a great speaker is to be yourself.

If you aren’t funny, trying to be funny will just be painful.  For you and your attendees.  If you are a slow-talker and you try to be zippy fast, you will frustrate yourself.  If you’re off the cuff, then be off the cuff.  If you’re style is more rehearsed, then for the love of all that is good, rehearse.  What works for one speaker may not work for you, and that is okay.

It is an amazing learning experience to see great speakers (it is also a great learning experience to see terrible speakers, but that’s another topic).  It’s great to watch great speakers and pick up a thing or two here and there.  You can still be a good speaker (and hey maybe even a great one), the trick is finding and using what works for *you*.

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  • Susan Bulloch

    Great post Kathy.  And I’ve seen you present – you have a great style also. 

  • Carl Tyler

    The big thing Chris has going for him, and what many speakers lack, is enthusiasm.  If you are enthusiastic about your subject matter, you will often be seen as a great presenter.  Enthusiasm is contagious, audiences get it, when it’s genuine.

  • Stephen Bailey

    I also saw Chris’ presentation and was really impressed. He works very hard to be everywhere, and he clearly has a lot of experience.

    What really came across in Chris’ session (and in Matt Newman’s too) was that he knew what us admins went through every day, and he added humour to that. We could all empathise with that, and that’s how it worked.

    I also heard English being spoken at the most alarming speed by several speakers. I was really glad (and I tweeted) that I was relieved that I was a native speaker of the language. Some of the delegates for whom English was not their first or even second language will surely have struggled.

  • Russ Maher

    Well if this doesn’t make a guy’s day, nothing will.  Thanks for the kind words.

    You’re totally correct when you say there were a lot of great speakers but to be even mentioned in the same category of anything as Chris is quite a rush.

    You advice on speaking is so spot on!

    Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!

  • Rob Wunderlich

    Kathy – the real trick is to know your subject cold. And, then, you simply get up and talk about it. Like you would talk to anybody about anything you’re interested in.

    I agree particularly about your point not to try to copy the way someone else does a presentation. The trick is to figure out what’s the comfortable style for yourself.

    And, as for Chris’ style, lets just say there’s not enough caffeine in the world ….

  • matnewman

    Chris and Russ are two of the great speakers on the ‘circuit’. They know their stuff inside out and are able to break it down into easy to mange and digest chunks that enable the audience to understand the material without having an in-depth knowledge themselves. I’m sure many of us aspire to the amazing dead-pan delivery of a Chris Miller, or a natural humour of a Bill Buchan, but your post hit the nail on the head: Be yourself, Know your stuff.

    There’s possibly one more ingredient in the ‘great speaker’ arsenal: Have Fun and Enjoy yourself.

    There’s nothing better than attending a session where the speaker *wants* to be there and share their knowledge.

    Great post Kathy, thanks!

  • JG

    I saw Chris Miller too. At times I wondered, is this a technical guy with a great sense of humor or is this a stand-up comedian with technical knowledge. Bit of both, I guess. Great speaker presenting some nifty stuff!
    Russell went a bit too fast for me at times, but his presentation was great (let’s just say I was a bit slow, jetlag and all).
    To those speakers who may have gotten somewhat less positive evaluations I’d like to say: do not let those evaluation keep you away from speaking at Connect again! You guys (and gals) most certainly know your stuff, and presenting is something that you just have to learn and grow into. Experience makes the master! And I agree with Kathy’s advice: be yourself, don’t try to be funnier, cleverer, or more charismatic than you really are. If you know your subject, people WILL listen to you.

  • http://twitter.com/RussellMaher Russell Maher

    Guilty as charged.  I do speak a little too fast at times. :-)