What is the purpose of a keynote?

Marcia Reynold's post about her experience at the recent NSA Convention in Orlando sparked a few thoughts for me.


Marcia shared her feelings as an audience member (and expert speaker and coach to speakers) and asked keynotes to give something better than their best advice, and to ask powerful questions that gave the audience a chance to think for itself.

It's a great article, and I'd encourage you to read it.  I like that Marcia's approach is founded on a respect for the audience.

And it also got me thinking: 

What are keynote speeches for?  Is the benefit what we think it is?  Or is it actually something different?

Now I'd bet that many a conference has been sold as a good way to share information with participants.  But mere transfer of information has never been the reason that in-person conferences succeed.


A meeting might be justified on the grounds it transmitted knowledge, but in fact the real benefit was in the hallways outside the venue, and in the bar and restaurant in the evening. 

In the past an effective keynote would lead to a successful conference not only because of the information transmitted (that information may be valuable, but forgotten) but because of the power of a great speaker to get people feeling a similar way at the same time, to give them a common experience so they can connect with each other and create a bond.

Whether the keynote message got through or people changed behaviour might not have been critical,  provided it created a platform to build relationships in the hallway outside.  

In that light a keynote speech could be seen as giving people who don't know each other something in common to discuss, a foundation to build a relationship on, based on high ideals.

To achieve that end, a keynote which got people connecting to their neighbour would be more successful than one which was wholly from the platform.

These factors are why webinars don't effectively replace in-person meetings. Webinars may transmit information, but they don't create relationships between participants nearly as effectively as in person meetings can.  (There is scope for webinars to create relationships between the audience and the presenter, if done well - the support offered by Craig Garner at Magpie Media is helpful in this regard)

To come back to my question: What is a keynote for?

If connection is  important, then providing an opportunity for the audience to connect with each other will accelerate the benefits.

If behavioural change is important then asking Marcia's style of questions to open up the audience to changes they can make will reap rewards.

That doesn't mean that entertainment and inspiration are unnecessary.  It just means that a good keynote, a great keynote will be do so much more. 

More isn't always better: Lessons from Juggling

I've just spent four days at the New Zealand Juggling Festival in Levin, a great chance to catch up with friends, and practice my skills.

While I was there a young boy from Levin, who was seeing the madness that is the juggling and circus community asked me "How many can you do?"

It's a common question. Many non-jugglers assume that more is better and the goal of juggling is to juggle as many balls as possible.

In fact, there is more beauty, variety, pleasure and entertainment to be gained from juggling with three or even two clubs, balls or other props as there is from attempting the technically demanding multi-prop juggling. Even better is club passing, when you weave a pattern between two, three, four or a dozen or more other jugglers.

More clubs or balls aren't better. They are much much harder to pull off technically, only last for a short space of time, more tiring to do, and less interesting to watch, each pass must be done at high speed, so much so that most people watching will only see a blur of balls.

It's the same with speaking. Your message will have more impact, and be more memorable if you slow down, give each of your points time to shine and make one or two points well.

Better to make at most three good points, and revisit them in different ways, than to try and cram too many into a speech. It's more enjoyable for you, and easier on the audience who won't be blinded by a rush of ideas. And it allows you to play with variations which make things more entertaining for the audience.

More isn't better, in juggling or in speaking

Speaking to Rotary clubs

My first exposure to Rotary International was when I was was “knee high to the bumper” and saw the Rotary badge affixed to the grille on my grandfather Howard’s car. Later I applied to be a Rotary Youth Exchangee (only to find on the day of the interview that no exchangees could go that year from Ashburton.)

These days I'm happy to speak to Rotary clubs in and around Christchurch, and recently spoke on stereotyping and stories to Christchurch West Club. It was a memorable event, as a mouse came out of the kitchen and ran around the front of the speaking area, before heading out via the air conditioning!

I speak and coach on topics around communication, storytelling, and leadership and can speak to Rotary (or other community groups) about one of the following programs.

• The Prime of Your Life? Happiness and fulfilment at any age. Why girls can do maths, and the little known power of women over 50.

• Stories, Stereotypes and Stigmas – how the stories we tell about ourselves and others limit us, and how we can overcome negative stereotypes.

• Change your subtext: An interactive speech, demonstrating the AARO technique to make you comfortable in any situation and get the best out of yourselves and others.

• What’s your balance? How to find more energy and a better life-balance.How small steps you can take to get big energy gains.

• Top tips for presentations

• Leadership: How to stop it burning you out, how you can get to the end of the year and feel you’ve used your time well.

• Nurturing the Performing Arts in Christchurch – the new Red Theatre project.

I am also an active member of the National Speakers Association of New Zealand (Education Director for the Christchurch Chapter), and have won several speaking competitions through Toastmasters in Christchurch.

Information about Rachel Speaking to Lions Clubs

Does your Lions Club need a speaker?

I'm happy to speak to Lions, Lioness and Leo clubs in and around the Christchurch region. I've been doing it for a while now (since I was 19!) and always enjoy it. I can even come in as an emergency speaker if your planned speaker can't make it. If I'm in the area, and free, I can be ready to speak in under an hour.

My past association with Lions includes:
• Speaking at the Ashburton Lions (twice), Ashburton County Lions, and Christchurch Host Lions Clubs tea meetings.
• Speaking at a District 202J convention
• Lions Youth Exchange to Italy in 1990/91
• Young Speechmaker of the Year national finalist
• Both my parents are active Lions club members, former club-presidents and Melvin Jones Fellows, so I know this audience well, and can make sure club members enjoy the experience.

Most recently, I was a judge in the District 202E finals of the Lions Young Speechmaker of the Year, and my report on last year’s national finals was published in the Lion Magazine in December 2007 edition.

I speak and coach on topics around communication, storytelling, and leadership and could speak about one of the following areas (or a similar topic) at your club’s tea meeting or similar event.

• The Prime of Your Life? Happiness and fulfilment at any age. Why girls can do maths, and the little known power of women over 50.

• Stories, Stereotypes and Stigmas – how the stories we tell about ourselves and others limit us, and how we can overcome negative stereotypes.

• Change your subtext: An interactive speech, demonstrating the AARO technique to make you comfortable in any situation and get the best out of yourselves and others.

• What’s your balance? How to find more energy and a better life-balance.How small steps you can take to get big energy gains.

• Top tips for presentations

• Leadership: How to stop it burning you out, how you can get to the end of the year and feel you’ve used your time well.

• Nurturing the Performing Arts in Christchurch – the new Red Theatre project.

I am also an active member of the National Speakers Association of New Zealand (Education Director for the Christchurch Chapter), and have won several speaking competitions through Toastmasters in Christchurch.

If your club needs a speaker - just e-mail me, or if it's short notice ring my mobile 021 0275 9023

Random bullets: three wise men

Random bullets from 3 wise men:

• David Slack is one of the most eloquent writers around. He's a speechwriter, and the brains behind speeches.com. His post on Public Address on how to write a maiden political speech is a classic. Check it out. He starts with the question "Why are you here?" and gets better after that.
  
• My favourite writer Malcolm Gladwell has a new book out in a few days. It's called Outliers and is about people who are exceptional. I can't wait.
  
• Ian Brodie has a post "don't tell 'em what you told 'em..," on his blog, reminding me why the simple formula that works in training won't work if you're doing a keynote speech. I like his point that the purpose of a keynote could be one of 3 things: to make a speech -which is to get one point across to an audience, to entertain, or to educate and train.
  

How Not to use Powerpoint

From Comedian Don McMillan - the quality is blurry, but the message still comes across.