In preparing for the recent Toastmasters International Championship of Public Speaking, I had a problem. Through feedback from friends and fellow members, and the evidence on the videotape, I was forced to confront an issue that has bedeviled me since I began as a speaker, and even before.
I am German-Irish, and I have the face that comes with such a lineage. I have a large, square head and heavy eyebrows, and I tend to frown when I am thinking or concentrating, taking on a rather serious, and some would say angry, look at times. One of my students calls it “Scary Face”.
When I looked at the video of my speaking performances, I could see that they were right. I wouldn’t call my face scary, but it was definitely not the friendly, likable demeanor that helps to build rapport with an audience. In a speech contest, in business and I suspect in life in general, friendliness and likeability are vitally important to connecting with an audience of strangers.
So I started working on smiling more, relaxing my mouth and eyes, showing more emotion and expression on my face, keeping my shoulders relaxed, leaning forward a bit towards the audience and trying in half a dozen other ways to present a softer, friendlier image when I speak. But it was just too much.
I found it next to impossible to keep all that in mind, and still remember my speech, my stage movements and my voice accents. The resulting performance seemed as artificial and unnatural as you would imagine, and if anything, made it more difficult to connect with the audience.
But then, the night before the big contest, I saw an advertisement for George Clooney’s new movie, The American. It looked interesting and it got me thinking about George’s performance in Ocean’s Eleven. I wished that I could present such an effortless charm, when I spoke the next day. That would solve all my problems.
And then I had an epiphany. Why not? That was exactly the image I wanted to present. All I had to do was be George Clooney.
So the next day, as I was waiting in the wings for the Contest Chairman to announce my name, I closed my eyes and imagined George Clooney giving my speech. I imagined how he would walk on to the stage, with a loose, relaxed stride, a sexy smile and a twinkle in his eye. I imagined him pausing for a moment, with an amused smirk on his face, and then delivering my opening line and the entire audience hanging on his every word.
And when I heard my name announced, I stepped inside his body and walked out there as George Clooney.
It’s difficult to assess my own performance, especially as I haven’t seen the video yet, but my wife, Yasuko, who is a very astute observer of such things, wrote one word on the sample judge’s scorecard in the section for “Physical appearance and body language” . She wrote, “Yatta”, which in her native Japanese means, “He did it!!!”
George Clooney might not be the best model for a speaker giving a eulogy, but he is my new muse. I’m not deluded enough to think I look like him, but that doesn’t mean I can’t speak like him.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
When delivering speech, I also try to make much smiles than usual. But through your message above, I could get a great hint to make me relax. I will be attendig Area English Humorous Speech Contest next week. In the case of my speech I would become Jim Carrey…Well I know he is a man but I don’t know any female comedian.
I like the phrase “I step inside his body.” and the very last paragraph I’m not deluded enough to think I look like him, but that doesn’t mean I can’t speak like him.
It’s nice to hear that, Sonoko. Jim Carrey is a good model for anyone trying to be funny, even if you don’t look like him. Actually, I do think I look a little like George Clooney, but it wouldn’t be polite to say so.