AAC
or presenting a seminar for which I’ve been given time to prepare, I usually work from a written text to keep me on point. But I can and do stray from that text often to adapt to the audience and any situation that arises in the presentation.
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Listen to the band. If you are playing in a jazz band you must listen to the entire band because everyone is improvising, and you must listen in order to sound like a cohesive band. If you’re on a program with other speakers, listen to what they have to say and refer to it in your talk. If you’re on a panel, try to build on what the others are saying to turn the pre- sentation into a conversation.
• Play with intent. Whatever you say, say it like you mean it. If you speak with conviction, your audience will pay attention. If you sound like you doubt your- self, the audience will doubt you.
• Don’t step on the soloist. When you’re on stage and not speaking, pay attention to the people who are and give them the space to shine. If you’re pay- ing attention, the audience and your fellow speakers will too. I’ll never forget the time in the fall of 1988 when I was on the stage as one of the speakers at a conference. I had not slept well the night before and had driven several hours to arrive at this afternoon
SEEMS TO ME ...
meeting. While sitting on stage and listening to a speaker before me — one who had not done a very good job of preparing — I kept falling asleep and almost falling out of my chair. Everyone was watch- ing me instead of listening to the speaker. I was step- ping on the soloist. I was young then and apparently not very wise. I should have excused myself from the stage and let the soloist shine (the best he could).
• Have fun and swing! Speaking in public should be fun for you and for your audience. If you’re relaxed and enjoying yourself, your audience will relax and enjoy themselves, and everyone can swing together.
Tere’s nothing quite like the sound of elegant tickling of the
ivories and the accompanying upright bass and drums in a jazz band capturing the warmth of a familiar song, a room filled with close friends and an atmosphere of laughter, conversation and good cheer. Tat same atmosphere can be created with a good, well-prepared speech.
County and district officials are the voice of county govern- ment. It is your job to tell the county government story. Te single most important skill you must have to lead is the ability to tell your story — the county story. As author Fred Miller said, “Te worst speech you’ll ever give, will be far better than the one you never give.”
COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2018
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