For
a number of years I’ve participated in writing groups where I’ve been the
program chair or served as a panel moderator. I know what it’s like to be
constantly seeking out interesting presenters or thinking up unique yet
relevant questions. It can be difficult to present a fresh perspective or make connections
among diverse individuals in order to facilitate a fascinating conversation.
I
particularly enjoy hearing craft discussions, but I know marketing, social
media management, and the road to publication are topics of great interest for many
writers. For our local Sisters in Crime chapter meetings, we try to balance
authors with procedural experts like judges, community police, and forensic
anthropologists. We’ve had excellent business of writing presentations from
authors Raegan Teller, who explained how she successfully navigated the road to
independent publication, and James M. Jackson, whose analyses of the markets
and Amazon publishing strategies were in depth and revealing.
What
makes a person a captivating speaker?
Recently,
I attended a professional meeting organized by the National Conference of State
Legislatures where Dolly Parton was the keynote speaker. Around 4,000 people
gathered in a ballroom, not to hear her perform, but to listen to the story of
how she began and developed an Imagination Library Foundation that, to
encourage the joy of reading, each month distributes a million books to children
from birth to age five.
The
mayor, who introduced her, made a small error in referring to the Governor who
would be interviewing her. After all, this was living legend, Dolly Parton.
Nervousness might be expected. Dolly made a point of sympathizing with him,
saying she likely could have made the same mistake. Her words kept the
situation light and moving forward.
I
would have been perfectly content to listen to her for hours. Later, I thought
about what she had done that made the whole experience special and apparently
effortless.
First, Dolly is incredibly genuine. Her assurance in presenting herself seems to be an innate quality she exhibits all the time. But, it has to be difficult to simply relax and be yourself in front of thousands of people. Dolly has that remarkable gift, and it flows over the audience, making everyone feel at home and comfortable in her presence.
Second,
she had an interesting story to tell, and told it in a way with which others
could identify. She grew up with a very intelligent father, who always provided
for his family, but never learned to read. He was her inspiration to cultivate
reading among children. She started her program in her home county thinking it
could potentially spread to a few neighboring areas, and was delighted when it
extended to other states and countries. She said that her father had more pride
in children calling her “the book lady” than in her singing.
Third,
in telling her story, she was very respectful of her family situation,
stressing that her father was an excellent businessman and her mother was a
great encourager of her music. She demonstrated her own humility and pride by
emphasizing the advantages she received from the caring individuals and role
models who guided her earliest steps.
Fourth,
she took the time to laugh at herself, one of her most endearing qualities.
When you laugh at yourself, the world laughs with you, not at you.
Fifth,
she gave more than was expected. We were there to hear her speak, but she also
reached for an electric guitar so she could play and sing two songs. (“Coat of Many Colors” and a song she had written for the Imagination Library program) The
audience was delighted.
While
Dolly Parton’s skills have been honed over a lifetime, they are certainly
adaptable and excellent characteristics to look for in locating good speakers.
Being genuine and humble, telling your story in an interesting and identifiable
manner, showing respect for those who have helped you, being able to laugh at
yourself, and giving more than an audience might expect are good guidelines for
success in any presentation.
Have
you ever been fascinated by a speaker? What qualities did that person have?
