The Media Coach 24th April 2023

Speaking Tip of the week - What's the big idea?

Think about books you've read, films you've seen, or TV programs you've watched. How would you describe them to someone who hadn't read or seen them? The chances are, you'd just tell them about the theme, the main characters and the message. You wouldn't be able to quote from the script (unless you'd read the book or seen the film dozens of times).

It's the same with speeches. No-one will be able to remember exactly what you said. If they recall anything, it will be a story, a message or an overall feeling. Alas, some speakers fail to grasp this principle, and try to overwhelm their audiences with information, either in spoken form or (much, much worse) on a series of data-packed slides. The only abiding memory of such presentations is usually "They told me a lot of stuff, but I can't remember any of it".

You need to have a big idea. That's the theme of your speech. It doesn't have to be a remarkable innovation; it can simply be a reminder to act in a certain way. As long as people remember it, find it useful and recall that you said it to them it's a big idea.

Everything in your speech should support the idea, so that it really hits home. Tell your audience what the big idea is too, don't make them work it out

Does every speech you deliver have a big idea? It should.?????

Media Tip of the week - Keep clear

In order to get your message across in a media interview, you must speak as clearly as possible. Many interviewees, particularly when they are nervous, tend to speak more quickly, making them harder to understand. You need to make a real effort to speak more slowly - in fact, it is almost impossible to speak too slowly in an interview.

Clarity and diction are important too. Some people worry about their accents when they are due to be interviewed. These days, this is not a problem, since all types of accent are now common on both radio and TV. However, you do need to be aware of any local dialect words that may confuse a wider audience. A late friend of mine, Kenny Harris, used to tell of the unusual way that certain Scottish folk sometimes respond. "If you ask a Glaswegian a question, and he says 'Aye, right', he means 'No'" said Kenny. "They're probably the only people who can put two positives together to make a negative". All over the world, there are words and phrases that can puzzle your audience. As ever, the best advice is to keep it simple.

Using pauses is one of the most effective ways to improve communication. Not only does it help you to gather your thoughts, but it also helps your audience to digest and understand what you have said. It can be very difficult to get used to using pauses, since we all have set speaking patterns. It is well worth the effort, though. You can practice pausing by counting silently to five at the end of each phrase or sentence. The first time you try, it will seem like a lifetime, but persist until you are used to it. You will find it much easier to do if you talk to someone else, as they will be able to give you the feedback that it sounds just fine.

One of the best ways to improve your clarity is to change the pitch of your voice. We have all heard speakers who deliver in a monotone, causing most of their audience to doze off. You should aim at raising and lowering the pitch of your voice occasionally to maintain interest. Overall, try to lower your voice more than raising it, since this is easier on the ear of your listeners.

When you are using a microphone, the technician will adjust the output so that it sounds as clear as possible. Take your cue from your interviewer, and keep the same distance from the mike that they do. Some interviewees make the mistake of either leaning forward (which causes "popping" sounds), or leaning back (so that the technician has to adjust the sound quickly). Instead, sit in a relaxed way, leaning slightly forward, and talk in your normal voice.?????

Social Media Tip of the week - Mind the gap

When it's time to take a break, many people are now faced with an extra dilemma, along with "How many pairs of shoes?".

They worry about their social media activity having a gap of several weeks in it. Here are a few options. None is right or wrong - it's your call.

1) Do nothing. Just relax on the sun lounger, slap on the suntan lotion, and don't give it another thought. Alas, some people find this hard to do.

2) Set up automated messages. You can automate the posting of social media messages while you are away, so it appears you are online every day. The advantage is that you can then forget it. However, you're not really in the conversation, and the real concern is that you may appear unconcerned when the social media conversation is all about a disaster.

3) Go online while you're away. Not exactly a relaxing option, but if you must do this, try to limit your time to a few minutes in the morning and evening. If you stay online all day, you might as well stay at home - it's cheaper.

4) Give the job to someone else. If someone else understands your business as well as you do, this could work well, as long as you brief them carefully.

Personally, I tend to favour option one????