Chief Executive and Founder Andrew Ledgerton-Lynch OBE reflects upon podcast conversations with BLSA speakers and the emergence of a somewhat surprising theme.
One of the emerging themes from the podcast conversations with Blue Light Speaker Agency presenters is something I did not expect – selflessness. It isn’t that I expected trail blazers and leaders in the blue light services to be anything other than generous and giving, it’s when questions such as ‘what have you done with your life?’ and ‘what do you like going on about?’ are too frequently deflected onto others.
With questions such as ‘Who or what inspires you most and why?’, one would expect references to legendary thespians, sporting heroes, great philosophers, academics of great importance, Einstein, Mozart, Schubert, mothers etc. but when a spotlight is shone upon themselves, they often defer.
Take Jules King QFSM talking about International Women’s Day. She took the opportunity to expand upon the considerable influence of BLSA speakers Alex Johnson QFSM, Dany Cotton QFSM and Dawn Whitaker KFSM. Barely a self-reference in amongst the reflections on an inspirational life and career.
Similarly, John Bonney CBE QFSM reflects upon an unlikely career path, referencing being in the same room as a Nobel Prize winner who spoke to everyone present and insisted on asking only questions of each of them and not once offering an opinion of his own. Or Steve Apter QFSM pitching up to speak at the UN, omitting to mention what actually happened, in favour of regaling the listener with his ukulele playing exploits in Central Park.
It would seem a given that seasoned orators will shower the world with words of wisdom as an enthralled congregation busily takes notes to capture the moment. Not so.
The finest speakers I have seen and listened to spend more time communing with the audience, getting to know the people in attendance, showing more concern for others than they do themselves.
A speaker once told me that it’s all about connection, learning to read the signs of boredom, disinterest, frustration, embarrassment even – all red lights to an experienced speaker.
“It would seem a given that seasoned orators will shower the world with words of wisdom as an enthralled congregation busily takes notes to capture the moment. Not so”
Eliciting smiles, nods of agreement, concentrated expressions and body language indicating earnest interest come down to rich content – those wonderfully inspiring and insightful nuggets against a backdrop of earthy experience – and connectivity. If you cannot relate to the subject matter or the speaker, the train soon derails and catastrophe (tumble-weed silence or grumbles of descent) ensues.
How to establish connectivity and maintain that flow? One has to be relatable, and further, a derivative of relatability is being ‘real’. Grandstanding and sermonising may be amusing as part of a comedy skit but is unpalatable for most audiences, who prefer to connect with the presenter on a basic human level. This means they must be their authentic selves.
Referring to her earlier career as a female alone in the fire service, Jules empathised with women who feel they have to work harder, compartmentalise their personal lives and seek conformity whilst not being able to be their true ‘authentic’ self.
Authenticity is the cornerstone for any great speaker – in simple terms, keeping it real – so the audience can relate, empathise, show compassion in return and enjoy the experience. It can’t be an act. Above all else, in every podcast each speaker proves relatable, authentic and appealing, in their own individual ways.
It is, I believe, an oft-overlooked asset that all the great speakers possess: a selfless devotion to connecting with others, planting the seeds for growth and inspiring and motivating their audience to rise higher.
See PODCASTS for a flavour of BLSA’s inspirational speakers.