Breaking Rule #2: “Be boring”

Is this how we want to leave our audience? Propped up and stifling a yawn? It’s true, there’s no stated rule that says talks must be boring (unlike the oft touted rule that talks need to “be redundant”). But in many cases my clients feel an unspoken expectation to be boring. They believe that lectures should be full of jargon. They believe that keynotes should be long, “high-level” (unspecific), and demand nothing from the audience because we all know that keynotes come after lunch and people need to digest.

In recent weeks I have heard:

• “Is it OK to be interesting? I’ve attended this conference for many years and every past president has given an hour-long, academic presentation with hundreds of slides. I fear that is what is expected from me, as well. Do I dare risk doing something different? I would love for the talk to be exciting, but am afraid that will ruffle some feathers.”

  • KB: Yes, it’s best to be riveting.

• “Am I allowed to engage the audience in a keynote? I heard I just have to talk for an hour. Is it really OK to give them things to do?”

  • KB: Yes, we can do whatever is best in the service of the audience, to give them a wonderful experience.

• “My purpose is just to sound smart. Right? I mean, this is a really high-level group and I want to impress them.”

  • KB: Our purpose is never to sound smart. Our purpose (I call it an “Intention”) is always FOR the audience, not for our own renown.

I speak for the the audience when I beg us all to be bold and break this rule! Take courage in the example of truly wonderful speakers.

Notice:

• When we feel the pressure to deliver a talk in “the way it’s always been done.”

• When we want to fit in.

• When we abandon our own taste and preferences.

This week we become aware of the invisible constraints of the status quo, toss them off, and give a phenomenal talk.