A Little More Human

Back in May, the swearing in ceremony of D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier, was described as “unorthodox” by Washington Post staff writer Allison Klein (May 5, 2007; B04). Lanier spoke of “her difficult past and her road to the top.” It was a good article – it sounded like an even better ceremony. But the most amazing line was towards the end. Let me pull directly from the article:

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said the speech shocked him because he was expecting Lanier to talk about police policy or something relating to her position as chief.

"I was waiting for her to swing to the PowerPoint," Graham said. "To have the police chief in the nation's capital be so personal, so human, so revealed is startling. We were amazed. I left feeling a little more human myself."

What a great comment! Lanier was human – she revealed herself as vulnerable – and the audience (or at least Mr. Graham) responded. I’m not saying this approach is appropriate all of the time or even many times, but all too often, we don’t look for this kind of opportunity any time. Let's turn off the PowerPoint and get real.

June 2006 - Coming Up Short when Standing Up to Speak

The results of a recent study found that all too often nonprofit leaders fall short when they stand up to speak. Andy Goodman, whose findings are published in Why Bad Presentations Happen to Good Causes and How to Ensure They Won't Happen to Yours, cites three main reasons for poor quality in presentations: "lack of preparation, low expectations about what it takes to be effective, and denial about how a presentation has been received."

While much of the criticism is leveled on amateurish PowerPoint presentations, which I think falls under "low expectations about what it takes to be effective," the lack of preparation and failure to recognize the art of creating remarks that resonate with audiences apply to any keynote whether PowerPoint is used or not. What's the answer?

Get help. Recognize that every speaking opportunity is a chance to promote, connect, and show leadership. And to maximize those values is worth the time and financial investment.

Here's a full review of Mr. Goodman's book from The Chronicle of Philanthropy http://philanthropy.com/premium/articles/v18/i17/17003401.htm