Do You Speak Tweetese?
Being a great communicator was never easy. But now, with your audience likely to have a mobile device in hand and real-time access to multiple social channels, the challenges have ramped up to 2.0 as well. Here are six tips for public speaking in the social media era.
Don't Panic if They Aren't Looking at You
Just because today’s audiences seem transfixed by their mobile devices and aren’t looking at you, it doesn’t mean they aren’t all ears. Jenny Dervin, Social Media Director at JetBlue, noted, “it’s far more distracting to see people whispering to each other than it is to see someone tapping on an iPad.” (See Dervin interview)
If You Aren't Nervous, You Should Be Now
Several years ago, a seasoned speaking coach suggested that you “imagine the audience is naked,” to quell the initial butterflies. Today, speakers are probably better off reminding themselves that they, in fact, are the naked ones. If your facts are wrong, your audiences will Google, then tweet the correct data before you can spout, “survey says.”
It's Time to Learn Tweetese
Assuming your audience is absolutely riveted by your every word, chances are they’ll be tweeting about it. That’s why speakers are not just sharing their Twitter names upfront but also mixing in tweetable quotes. John C. Havens, speaker extraordinaire, suggested that, “puns, sound bites and pithy phrases are [also] ways to aid in retention.” (See Havens interview)
Your Audience is Bigger than it Seems
Even if you find the lack of eye contact with your audience unsettling, the reality is that the folks who are tweeting and amplifying your talk may help you more than those who are simply looking at you. Explained Frank Eliason, Social Media Director at Citibank, “I’d much rather have the broader reach, it is one of the better measurements of speaking at events.” (See Eliason interview)
The Reviews Are In – In Real Time
Rather than waiting to ask a friend after the fact how you did, today’s skilled presenters welcome feedback they get on Twitter – and some in real time. Citibank’s Eliason daringly likes to respond to tweets while on the stage, while JetBlue’s Dervin prefers to review them later “to see what landed.”
Forget about the Lecture
Social media pundit Jeff Jarvis believes that the lecture as a form of communication is “bullshit,” recommending that speakers seek interaction above all else. Jarvis likes to wander into the audience and ask questions that stimulate conversation. He also fervently avoids wordy PowerPoint slides, favoring singular visuals that support rather than duplicate his words. (See Jarvis interview)
As always, we welcome your input. For more on this topic, see Drew’s FastCompany.com story and be sure to read all the comments—this topic generated a lot of debate.