Conferences and speakers — yawners and winners

Conferences are great for meeting interesting people.
And hearing inspiring, motivating speakers.

But then… there are times when the conference is less than stellar
It doesn’t really live up to its promotional hype.
That was the case with a Las Vegas conference my friend and I went to recently.
The speakers were, for the most part, adequate.

But then, one afternoon we got “lucky.”
The speaker went on and on.
A real “yawner.”
As soon as it was over we bolted out of our seats.
Since we had some time before the next event, we went for a walk.

We stop at a coffee shop.
My friend goes inside to get something strong.
(Preparing for the next speaker?!)
I stay outside.

Betty Jane
As I’m checking my phone messages I hear:
“Well, well! Hello, Betty Jane!”
I’m looking up.
Striking, blue eyes.
He’s smiling. And waiting.

The opening line got my attention.
I’ve never been called that before.

Just then my friend comes out with coffee.
I look at the time — we have less than 10 minutes to get back
We need to start walking (running?)

Regretfully, I smile, turn around, and leave with my friend.
No time to find out who/why “Betty Jane.”
Need to get back to the conference.

What makes a good speaker?
This time the speaker is outstanding.
Speaks to our brains. And hearts.
A winner.

What makes a good speaker?
Start with the 3 C’s: clear, concise, confident.

Clear
Be clear about your message.
What are you trying to convey to your audience?
And why should they care?

Concise
Avoid TMI (too much information).
Because it can confuse or overwhelm the listener.
And that will detract from the effectiveness of your message.

Confident
Know your topic.
And be passionate about it.

Care about your topic.
Care about your audience.
And you’ll have the confidence to deliver your message.

*    *    *    *    *

Master these 3 C’s and you are on your way to a great start.

Wishing you success in all you do.

Mariana Fieraru

Mariana Fieraru, an Eastern European transplant, fell in love with her new home shortly after landing in New York. She "discovered" pizza! Years later she still loves pizza. And so do her two feathered-kids, Sunny and Flipper

Mariana worked on both, the east and the west coast.
Big or small, each project she worked on helped define the importance of gaining and sustaining a competitive edge in an increasingly complex business environment.

Business know-how, love of teaching and writing – all combined in 2006 to form OBI.
Its mission: to make learning fun! And easy.

Through its training, consulting, and publications OBI builds bridges of knowledge to take you from where you are to
where you want to go. Using a mix of serious, informal, analytical, and optimistic approach, OBI truly makes learning fun.

Learn More