I went to the Anniversary Games on Friday and saw Usain Bolt run the 100 metres. It was a great evening’s entertainment, with perfect weather and an amazing atmosphere. The man himself arrived at the beginning on a jet-like contraption (see the link above) and didn’t disappoint.
This is my medium for giving communication skills tips, and usually I refer to great speakers or stand-up comics. But athletes like Bolt, Ennis-Hill, Hoy and Redgrave – and many others before them – have such charisma that they captivate us without speaking. We love them because:
- They’ve evidently shown complete dedication to their chosen sport(s).
- They’re competing, not just against each other, but against world records, some of which have stood for many years (such as Mo Farah breaking Steve Cram’s 1500 metre record, which had stood for 28 years).
- They have physical prowess.
So:
- Show true dedication (see my post ‘Heroics’) and you will genuinely engage your audience.
- If there are other speakers, you will undoubtedly be compared to them. Make sure you elevate your game above any who have gone before you (or if you’re really crafty, research those who are coming after you and make sure you steal their thunder).
- Make sure that you’re familiar with the venue’s set-up. Play to the strengths of your physical form; there may be issues if you’re shorter or taller than average.
Sometimes, you can achieve real presence beyond the words you use.
(And hey, why not finish off with a ‘Lightning Bolt’? Actually, there’s probably a pretty good reason for that.)