As a connoisseur of inspirational communicators, it’s always exciting when you’re in the presence of one.
They grab your attention, they hold your attention – and they get across their message every time.
And if they’re doing a presentation with slides they make sure what they show on the screen does exactly the same thing.
I’m sure you’ve had the misfortune to witness at least one bad slide presentation.
Some of my professional speaking colleagues and I are attempting to eliminate them from the universe, but I have to report that we are yet to fully succeed.
Bad presentations can make you lose the will to live – with over-detailed, under-whelming slides that fail to either make or illuminate a point.
So it’s always refreshing when a great communicator does the opposite.
Inspirational communicators stick in your mind – for all sorts of reasons.
The one I experienced most recently is known for his ability to bring economic trends to life – and also for his red braces.
Yes, he does wear other things as well.
Justin Urquhart Stewart
But it’s the red braces you remember.
His name is Justin Urquhart Stewart.
He talks about investment and the economy – and makes it fascinating every time.
Yes, really!
Justin’s company – Seven Investment Management – looks after seven-billion pounds on behalf of it’s clients.
If you have a few spare billion then it might be worth looking them up.
I hear Justin most when I’m having a bath and he bursts onto the early-morning BBC Five Live business programme “Wake Up To Money”.
I have also heard Justin give a face-to-face presentation three times – most recently at the spring convention of the Professional Speaking Association last weekend.
Justin always has a captivating view – and a colourful way of conveying it.
COMMUNICATE INSPIRATIONALLY – WITH HIGH IMPACT SLIDES
One of his views is that while all the countries of the European Union are theoretically equal, when it comes to their economic clout there are significant differences.
This is how he illustrates the not-so-level European playing field.
Euro Level Playing Field
Astute observers will note that the German pigeon is on the top rung and the Greek pigeon is on the bottom.
And like all switched-on economic commentators, Justin is keen to talk about the tense current relationship between Germany and Greece.
As the wrangling between these two European partners continues – over how much of its massive debt the Greeks should pay back to German lenders – their relationship can sometimes seem to resemble that between a sadist and a masochist.
But which one is which?
Justin’s slide has this answer:
SOURCE: TWITTER – @MARK_WILLEM_
But Justin also has a more serious message.
It’s about the importance of confidence to the economy.
When it comes to the British economy, Justin thinks it’s often unfairly talked down.
He says that is important to remember that despite all the negative moaning about it being an economy in long-term decline, Britain remains the world’s fifth biggest economy – and the tenth biggest exporter.
DEPLOY IMAGES PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER
Justin says this should underpin confidence – as illustrated by this memorable image.
Key Word for economy: CONFIDENCE
Now you may not be a lion-eating zebra.
But it is possible for you and/or your team to communicate with more confidence, more excitement and more success.
Being an inspirational communicator is a learnable skill.
Justin, alas with no help from me, has learned how to do it – and does it brilliantly.
Your team can become more inspirational in their communications at your conference or away day:
https://www.michaeldoddcommunications.com/speaking-at-your-event/
And communications skills can be transformed individually:
https://www.michaeldoddcommunications.com/become-that-inspirational-business-leader-in-a-day/
AN INSPIRATIONAL AUSSIE COMMUNICATOR
And just occasionally, very occasionally, an inspirational communicator turns out to be Australian.
Richie Benaud, the voice of cricket in the northern and southern hemispheres, was one of them…before his recent death from skin cancer.
His calming but authoritative style of commentary set the standard for saying what needed to be said – with nothing surplus to requirements.
When so many commentators say too much, Richie Benaud was a master at allowing the viewer to see for themselves what was on the screen and helping out only when necessary.
Most knew Richie Benaud from watching television, but I had the privilege of interviewing him for radio for a BBC Five Live documentary I made on Australians living in the UK.As an interviewee he was charming, helpful and – to use his favourite word – “marvellous”.
As someone, like me, born in (mostly) sunny Sydney, I particularly remember him telling me how shockingly cold he found it when he first started playing test cricket in England.
I recall him describing how in Bradford for one match it was so cold, the Australian team lit a fire in the dressing room to keep warm.
I’ll conclude with three memorable Benaud quotes, the first of which is his commentary on his own commentary style:
“My mantra is: put your brain into gear and if you can add to what’s on the screen then do it; otherwise shut up.”
And indeed he did.
As a multi-Ashes winning Australian captain before becoming a commentator, Richie Benaud was sympathetic to cricketers when things weren’t going right for them.
And if he felt it necessary to criticise them, he had a nice way of putting it.
Lanky Australian fast-medium bowler, but not-so-accomplished batsman, Bruce Reid, was awarded this description:
“Reid is not the worst batsman there is at an international level; but those who are worse would not need to hire the Myer Music Bowl to hold a convention.”
(I should point out that the Myer Music Bowl is not a strange kind of bowling delivery like the googly – it’s a big entertainment venue in the heart of Melbourne.)
As he said farewell after commentating on his last test match in England in 2005 Richie Benaud signed off with:
“Thank you for having me. It’s been absolutely marvellous. I’ve loved every moment of it.”
So did we Richie.
May you commentate in peace.
Keep smiling,
Michael