Selling Books

Your Guide to Writing, Publishing and Marketing Books and Ebooks

  • Blog
  • Free Newsletter
You are here: Home / Public Speaking / Advice to Speakers: Shut Up!

Advice to Speakers: Shut Up!

September 24, 2012 by Dan Janal

Futurist Jeff Jarvis nearly caused a riot at the National Speakers Association conference when he told speakers that audiences wanted to hear speakers less and audiences more.

He advocates that speakers give a bit of content from the platform and then take advantage of the collective wisdom in the audience. In fact, his keynote speech incorporated that element of give and take.

If you think about it, it sounds like what you’d expect a college professor to say. And Jarvis does teach media course at CUNY. Teachers teach a point and then ask students for opinions, reactions to hypothetical situations and to debate points from the readings. Learning becomes a shared experience.

I’ve used this format in my speeches and training. When I taught a class in public relations at Berkeley, all the students in my class held full-time PR jobs with the city, large non-profits, arts and prestigious technology companies. There was a wealth of information in that room and we all learned from each other.

The evaluations from that class were nearly uniformly glowing. One person hated that system as she wrote in her evaluation, “I paid good money to hear Professor Janal teach but everyone else in the class couldn’t keep their mouths shut.” She didn’t get it.

And neither did many speakers who commented on Jarvis’ insights.

They thought they were the main show. In some cases, it is hard to disagree. Many speakers have something to say and they are getting good money to say it. And some people in an audience love hearing the sound of their own voices even if they have nothing to say. We’ve all seen extremes on both sides.

So here’s where Jarvis brings true insights.

Audiences have changed the model, even if some speakers haven’t seen it.

Audiences are asking questions in person and, with their mobile devices, posting info on social media sites. They are also checking facts as soon as the speaker utters their messages. If they are wrong, they are dismissed.

To argue that Jarvis is wrong is superfluous. It’s like arguing that a tsunami is not coming when you see the storm patterns brewing.

Audiences have changed and speakers need to change with them.

In fact, Jarvis wasn’t the only speaker to urge presenters to change their style. Several experienced speakers who offered mentoring sessions to other speakers, noted that the Broadway theatrical style of speaking is not connecting with audiences any longer.

Otherwise, they will be victims of the tsunami.

What do you think? Should speakers talk less and facilitate more?

Dan Janal, author of Reporters Are Looking for YOU! helps small businesses get publicity so they can sell more products. My clients get terrific results from my coaching, consulting, done-for-you services and do-it-yourself tools. For info, go to www.prleadsplus.com or call me at 952-380-1554.

Related Posts :

Becoming a TED/TEDx Talk Presenter: Tips for ...
Write and They Will Listen!
Doctors Should Write a Book To Get Speaking E...
6 Ways To Create a Talk Title That PULLS Clie...

Filed Under: Public Speaking Tagged With: public speaker, Q & A, speaking, speech

Sell More Books!

FREE! Sign up Cathy Stucker's Selling Books newsletter. You will get useful tips and techniques for writing, publishing and selling books, plus member-only exclusives such as free webinars.

BONUS! Get instant access to Cathy's audio program on how to Build an Effective Author Platform!

I respect your privacy & will NEVER sell, rent or share your email address. More than a policy, it's my Privacy Pledge.

Recent Articles

  • FAQs About Children’s Book Illustrations
  • 5 Posts Every Author Should Write on their Website
  • Reducing Everyday Distractions So You Can Get More Writing Done
  • E.S.Danon – Moon in Bastet
  • Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue – Complicated Heart
  • OLUWAmuyiwa Omole – Re.Think CULTURE
  • Dale S. Rogers – Lighthouse on Tortola
  • What’s in a Name?
  • Sebastian Schug – A Guide to Exploring Abandoned Churches
  • Camille Cabrera – Catalina’s Tide

Pages

Contact
Contribute Articles
Contributing Authors
Free Newsletter to Help You Sell More Books
Get Interviewed
Publishing Resources
Subscribe/RSS
Privacy/Disclosure Policies

Categories

Agents Amazon.com Article Marketing Author Interviews Author Platform Blogging Book Business Book Design Book Marketing Book Proposals Book Publicity Book Publishing Book Reviews Book Signings Bookstore Book Titles Book Tours Cathy's Blog Children's Books Content Marketing Copyright Copy Writing Ebooks Editing Fiction Writing Freelance Writing Get Published Ghostwriters Internet Marketing Marketing Fiction Motivation Networking Non-Fiction Writing Oprah Winfrey POD Publishing Public Speaking Research Resources for Writers Running Your Publishing Company Self Publishing Social Media Special Sales Video Marketing Writers Block Writing

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2006 - 2021 Cathy Stucker · All Rights Reserved

Log in to your account