What Jon Hamm Can Teach Us About Owning the Conversation

Why is Jon Hamm (Don Draper in Mad Men) such a captivating speaker and presenter?

Here’s my analysis of the first 14 seconds of his performance (view the 22 – 38 second section of the clip) in The Carousel – and why it’s gold.

The Opening Hook

Sometimes presentations don’t go as planned. In this case, the client asked Hamm a question. Hamm answered it and then segued seamlessly into his opening:

“Well, technology is a glittery lure, but there is a rare occasion when the public can be engaged on a level beyond flash, if they have a sentimental bond with the product.”

If he hadn’t been asked the question, he could have just opened directly:

“Consider this… technology, like your cutting-edge technology, is a glittering lure. But there is a rare occasion when the public can be engaged on a level beyond flash, if they have a sentimental bond with the product.”

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Why you CHOKE & what to DO about it

Let’s agree – athletes choke.

Business people choke too. Perhaps not in the same way that athletes do. For example, a professional tennis player’s choke, could be double faulting in a crucial game.

Business people choke, for example, by projecting timidity or alarm through their face, body language carriage and movement, vocal tone and/or speaking cadence and fluency.

One choking behaviour of business people – that is similar to the choking of athletes is –  rush.

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RUSHING is junior – ‘OWNING’ time … is senior

Last week I conducted a Delivering memorable messages programme for board members of the Sarina Community Bank. The board members impressed me as a cohesive group of executives who are committed to enhancing the lives of people in the Sarina community.

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