Adding colour to your message

I was at a business event yesterday and a gentleman from the venue spoke about what they had to offer (meeting rooms, serviced offices, etc). He was perfectly articulate and had some things of interest to say, but the talk was rather flat. There were at least 3 things he could do to add some spice:

Voice Modulation

His voice was rather flat, with few highs and lows, rather like Andy Murray's. It just gives the impression that you're not particularly excited about what you have to say. Listen to radio presenters - they tend to have nice voices with good dynamics (movement) and expression in their delivery. They sound interested!

Tell a Story

We all have stories to tell, and if you've got instances of clients with unusual problems that you've helped resolve, that works better than a slide showing written testimonials. People like stories, but be careful not to just poach a story off another speaker. It's always better if it's somehow linked to you, making it a more authentic message.

Adding Colour to Facts

I love the way travel writer Bill Bryson writes. His books are brimming with factual information (his research is phenomenal) but it's all delivered in a colourful and amusing way, with metaphors, analogies and personal anecdotes. For example, in A Short History of Nearly Everything, he writes, "Astronomers today believe there are perhaps 140 billion galaxies in the visible universe...If galaxies were frozen peas, it would be enough to fill a large auditorium - the old Boston Garden, say, or the Royal Albert Hall." And on the danger to the earth from passing asteroids..."The arresting analogy that is always made is that the number of people in the world who are actively searching for asteroids is fewer than the staff of a typical McDonald's restaurant."

Wonderful stuff, and if our chap from the office rental company took this on board, maybe he'd portray the size of the firm in a similar way? "We have 176 million square feet of available office space in the North West. That's the equivalent of 348 Old Trafford football grounds."

Don't check my maths - I'm guessing!

If you've got a message to give, put some thought into making it colourful. People will enjoy it and remember it - and that's the point isn't it?

Having something to say

Once in a while you hear a tannoy announcement that makes you smile, not the normal, droning, couldn’t-care-less variety but something original delivered with genuine feeling. John Palmer works for East Midlands Trains and regularly sprinkles thoughtful ditties among the usual news of arrivals and delays. Commuters in the Leicester Station are treated to the odd philosophical musing or history lesson. “Why is there only one Monopolies Commission?” asks John. According to his bosses the customers love it and it enriches what could otherwise be a forgettable experience.

I also liked the on-board train announcement that went something like: “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry to inform you that both our engines have cut out and we’re unlikely to get them re-started for another hour. However, the good news is you’re not at 30,000 feet!”

I like this Purple Cow approach, something different, something with a heart. Try to find ways to engage with your clients in a way that makes it personal rather than soulless. Check out the Johnny the Bagger story on YouTube.