John Cleese – English Actor, Comedian and Writer

If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas. And if I can persuade you to laugh at the particular point I make, by laughing at it, you acknowledge its truth.

John Cleese

Alexander Gregg (1819 - 1893) American Clergyman

“There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject; then to get your subject into yourself; and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience.”

Alexander Gregg

Seth Godin is the author of several books about “marketing, the spread of ideas and managing both customers and employees with respect”. They are bestsellers.His blog is one of my favourites and I highly recommend it.His Squidoo Lens is also worth a look.

In this blog post from 25 April 2012, Seth lays down a simple rule that every public speaker should take to heart: Don’t expect applause.

But wait a minute, isn’t the applause at the end part of the thrill of public speaking? Isn’t it a key part of the experience?

I enjoy applause as much as any speaker. The louder, the better, I say! But here’s the point: If you approach your speech or presentation expecting applause and focused on the rewards (applause, recognition, money, an invitation back, etc.) you are doing your audience and yourself a disservice.

Focus on delivering the best speech or presentation you can; focus on making the experience worthwhile for the audience; focus on your message and why they should care.

The applause is beyond your control. Leave that decision to the audience.

Don’t Expect Applause

by Seth Godin

Accept applause, sure, please do.

Dale Carnegie (1888 - 1955) American Writer and Lecturer

“Speakers who talk about what life has taught them never fail to keep the attention of their listeners.”

Dale Carnegie

My last post about delivering a speech or presentation via an interpreter has generated a lot of discussion. One of the tips that I mentioned in that post was the importance of using humour carefully when addressing an audience of non-native speakers.A few people have asked whether I had an example of a situation when humour worked well when speaking to a predominantly foreign audience.

Several years ago, I had the privilege of leading a 15-person United Nations delegation to Iran on an environmental fact-finding mission. The mission was very high level and a matter of importance for the Iranian Government. We met with several Iranian officials in Tehran on the first day and then split into three groups, each of which visited a different area of the country.

That first meeting was attended by 60 to 70 people and had all the trappings of a formal international meeting that one often sees on television. While many of our hosts spoke English, many did not and so we had simultaneousFarsi-Englishinterpretation.

The meeting was opened by a representative of the Iranian government who made some introductory remarks. He then invited me to speak. Now, given the occasion, I had worked on my remarks for some time to make sure that everything went well.

As I have written in the past, I strongly believe that native English speakers who give presentations in another country shouldbe able to say at least a couple of words in the local language as a sign of respect. So, I had worked with an Iranian colleague in Geneva on an introduction in Farsi (which I read) about how pleased we were to be in Iran and how we looked forward to a productive mission. I then switched to English.

The Iranians in the audience very much appreciated the effort. Seeing that I had made a good initial impression, I decided to capitalize on the moment by trying a little humour. When I had been practicing speaking in Farsi in Geneva, I asked my colleague whether my pronunciation was OK. He said that it was fine but that my accent made me sound like I was from Afghanistan (where Farsi is widely spoken in the north).

So, when I switched to English, I began by telling my audience that I hoped that they had been able to understand me and then recounted the comment of my Iranian colleague in Geneva. Well, to my delight (and relief), the audience burst out into laughter. It was a great way to break the ice at the start of an important meeting.

Why did the humour work? I think there are a few reasons:

• It was simple and did not involve the use of any jargon, expressions or colloquialisms.

• It was (very) mildly self-deprecating in that it highlighted my struggle with the Farsi language.

• It was universal, in that most people have had the experience of speaking in their own language to someone with a distinct accent.

• It was also particular to the audience, given that Iran and Afghanistan are bordering countries.

• It was clean. There was nothing disrespectful about saying that my accent sounded Afghani. It’s just the way that it sounded, apparently.

• My Iranian colleague had suggested that I could mention his comment about my accent. Vetting humour with someone from the same culture as the audience is always a good idea.

Photo courtesy of Bram / “brum d” on Flickr

Lost in Translation is a terrific film that received critical acclaim when it was released in 2003. Starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanson, it’s the story of an aging actor and a young college graduate who meet in Tokyo and develop a touching friendship. Both poignant and funny, the film explores the issues of loneliness and finding one’s place in the world. Definitely worth seeing if you haven’t already.

One of my favourite scenes takes place at the beginning of the film. The career of Murray’s character has been in decline. However, he is offered $2 million to travel to Japan and film a commercial for Suntory Whiskey.

The scene takes place during one of the commercial. The director speaks Japanese and Murray’s character speaks English. So they have to communicate through an interpreter. As for how much gets through … well, take a look.

This scene always makes me smile. It also calls to mind the many times that I have worked with interpreters over the years. My work in the United Nation and international organization system has seen me give numerous presentations, in Geneva, Switzerland and the Middle East, while working with interpreters.

Although I recommendthat you learn at least a few basic words of the local language if you have the opportunity to speak in a foreign country, I also realize that, for many people, giving a speech or presentation in another language is not an option. In such cases, you might have to work with an interpreter.

Public speaking with an interpreter is a special type of public speaking. Interpretation adds a new dimension to the experience. There are some fundamental rules when it comes to working with interpreters. If you are going to make the most of the experience (for you and the audience), it is essential that you understand those rules.