by Chris Bennett
Do you remember the last time you heard a very funny joke?
What did you do?
You probably laughed yourself silly.
Now imagine if you heard that same joke every week at a business network meeting you attend.
How would you react?
Well, if you’re like me you would probably go brain dead.
Over the years of attending various business network meetings, I’ve noticed a similar reaction from audiences listening to a speaker who repeats exactly the same patter (name, business and positioning statement) week in and week out. They go brain dead.
And I must confess in my early days of going to business networks I inflicted the same damage on my audience.
Why?
Because the “experts” said this is how you present to a business audience.
Then one day it hit me (and my head still hurts).
I realised that my patter was becoming like that joke you have heard a million times. Tiresome.
So I decide to create different ways of communicating the same message to the same audience.
Here is what I used based on my experience as professional presenter:
Props
The props include; juggling balls, fans, chattering teeth, puppets (bees of course), smiley balls, sparkly hats and even wire coat hangers. With each prop I made sure I had a reason for it to be used. Also I varied the prop each time and would connect it to an aspect of my business I was trying to advertise.
Humour
If you can make people smile or laugh, then you have a very powerful way of communicating your message. I used my experience as an amateur stand-up comedian to create humorous lines that were relevant to my message. But you don’t have to be a stand-up comic. Just find what makes you laugh and share it with others.
Stories
Telling stories that are linked to your business is another powerful way of connecting with an audience. Especially if they can relate to the story you are telling.
So don’t become a tired joke.
Be fresh.
Be different.
Be daring.
