Things that make you go “hmmmmm”

Arsenio Hall

Aresnio Hall was best known for his segments on “Things that make you go hmmmmmm”.

When I surf the web and read blogs and articles on giving speeches and presentations, I often feel as if I’m having an Arsenio Hall moment. Here are some statements that make me go “hmmmmm”.

A speech is a conversation

Hmmmmm …

I can agree that, at times, speeches should be conversational, but a conversation? If your conversations are like your speeches, remind me not to sit down and have coffee with you.

A speech is a story

Hmmmmm …

I like stories. When my sons were little, I used to read them stories before bedtime. I never really thought about reading them a speech to put them to bed, but it certainly does work in meeting rooms around the world.

Of course, speeches contain elements of stories, but to say a speech is story …

hmmmmm

A speech is a performance

Hmmmmm …

I’ve been witness to many entertaining speeches, but I’ve also sat through some speeches that had no entertainment value whatsoever. I’ve seen some speakers who have great facial expressions and use their space like a theatrical stage. I’ve also seen speakers stand behind a lectern and hold on for dear life.

I would agree that some speeches have performance elements, but it’s a stretch to say that a speech is a performance.

If a speech is not a conversation, a story or a performance, what is a speech? Hmmmmm …

A speech is a speech … period. It may contain elements of a conversation, stories and a performance, but it is still a speech.

Hmmmmm …