The MediaCoach

Hi John,

I'm in Dublin this weekend to deliver a speech to the Irish region of the Professional Speakers Association on "How to create a killer keynote". Yes, I realise a speaker speaking about speaking to a roomful of speakers is a bit niche, but that's the way I roll sometimes. I'm also gearing up for some international gigs on my business topic - reputation management over the next few months too. Of course, while in Dublin, I won't let the opportunity to sample the local adult beverage pass by, especially since I will be in the company of my best pal, master storyteller and Expert2Influencer Coach Sean Weafer. With any luck, you will hear from me again next week.

I love stunts, and the one pulled by graffiti artist Banksy at a Sothebys auction last week was brilliant. His artwork, "Love is in the Bin" self-shredded in its frame immediately after selling for £860,000. Now Banksy has released a video showing how he did it, and that it did not go according to plan, which was to shred the whole thing. Remarkably, the partial shredding seems to have increased its value. That's art.

I now have a webpage with all the details of my professional speaker coaching programme for 2019. As of now, I have four places left on the one day a month option, and three places left on the two hours a month option. If you want to increase your fees, boost your bookings, and create killer keynotes, let me know very soon!

Author, artist, and retired teacher, Sherile Reilly spoke to me about her writing, her inspiration and her amazing stories. Hear her in the Media Coach Web Radio Show. There is also a great tune from Jennifer Haase.
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The MediaMaestro award is someone you will probably have seen, but never actually seen. Puppeteer Caroll Spinney, famous for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street, is retiring at the age of 84. He has portrayed the characters - including providing their voices - since the show's start in 1969. His work won him two Grammy honours and six Emmy awards, plus a Lifetime Achievement Emmy award which he received in 2006. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. "Even as I step down from my roles, I feel I will always be Big Bird. And even Oscar, once in a while!," he said. I wish him a very happy, and occasionally grouchy, retirement.

The MediaMug award goes to the first of what I am sure will be a collection of tiny "companion phones", which are aimed at people who already have a mobile phone that. they find a bit cumbersome. I am not making this up. It uses the brand name "Palm", which they have licensed from the old Palm Pilot guys. It is described in its marketing material as "a fully connected product that is in sync with your existing smartphone, so all of your connectivity can go where your smartphone can't". Really? A little phone because your existing phone is too big to hold? Hmmm...

FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SPEECHES

1) Keep your "I"s down. Go through your speech and count all the times you use the word "I". Then count how many times you use the word "you". If the former exceeds the latter, you are talking about yourself too much. In fact, the "you" count should be much higher, since communication is all about your audience, and what they are interested in.

2) Tell your story. Use stories that have happened to you, not stories involving others. If you keep a lookout, there will be plenty of incidents you can use to make your point. It's easier to remember your stories, and they will not have been heard before. Never, ever use a story from someone else and pretend that it happened to you. Remember to tell your story, emphasise the point, and then give a practical example your audience can use.

3) Be original. People are fascinated by originality. Your ideas are unique to you, and though they may have been influenced by others, will be yours alone. That's what people want to hear - your take on the world. There are no bonus points for plagiarism.

4) Be controversial. Make yourself stand out by going against conventional wisdom, or delivering a rarely-heard point of view. If you agree with everyone else, why communicate at all? There's no need to be critical of others, but giving solid reasons why you take another view is good copy.

5) Give advice, not instruction. Pay respect to your audience by giving them suggestions about how they might change, not ordering them to do so. If you tell people they must act in a certain way, a likely reaction is that they will decide not to. Of course, you don't have to take this advice!

TROUBLE, TROUBLE, TROUBLE

As I've mentioned many times, delivering a media message is the reason for giving media interviews, If you're well trained and prepared, it should be easy to bridge from the question to the message you want to deliver in a calm and respectful manner. However, even the most skilled interviewees can get in trouble sometimes. Here are three tricky situations, and how to get yourself out of them.

1) The aggressive interviewer Don't fall for this tactic. If an interviewer becomes aggressive or angry, never respond with anger. Stay calm and answer in your normal way. The more aggressive they become, the calmer you should be. The tactic is designed to irritate you, so simply ignore it, and remain in control. Repeat your message, calmly and confidently.

2) The long preamble Sometimes a reporter may deliver a long and complex statement before asking you a question. The statement may contain untruths or opinions. Listen carefully, but do not nod your head to show you are listening, since it may look as though you are agreeing. When you answer, deal first with any inaccuracies or opinions in the question. Do not repeat them, but simply say "I'd like to correct what you said" before making a positive statement.

3) The closing quip An interviewer may try to have the last word, making a statement that misrepresents your position, or is simply untrue. They will assume that you won't respond. However, you should respond, every time. Even if there are only two or three seconds left, you still have time for a comment such as "That's simply not the case, and you know it". Never leave a critical statement unchallenged at the end of an interview.

GETTING THE X FACTOR

The X factor is here again, and you can get the X Factor from your social media activities too. Here are a few ideas.

1) eXperiment. Try things out. Look at new social networks, and software tools. Not everything will work, or will suit you, but if you don't try it you will never know.
2) eXcite. Delight your followers and friends with your comments, insights and advice. Let your enthusiasm show through, and it will become infectious.
3) eXpertise. You have a unique set of skills which you can use to help people and demonstrate how you can help others.
4) eXtraordinary. Think what you can post online that will amaze people. That's your comments, not simply links to others' content.
5) eXplain. Answer people's questions and offer to show how to do things that you understand well.
6) eXpand. Increase the size of your network by organic growth, not software robots. Social media is about personal contact.
7) eXpect. Don't expect anything in return for what you give. But do expect to enjoy and benefit from your investment in social media.

I wonder if Simon Cowell knows all that? (Probably - Ed)

Holly Willoughby is an infectious giggler. I defy you not to laugh at this bunch of clips.

Only a few places left on my professional speaker coaching programme.

The information in this ezine may be freely re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line - "This information was written by Alan Stevens, and originally appeared in "The MediaCoach", his free weekly ezine, available at www.mediacoach.co.uk."