I rather embarrassed myself this week.
I was taking a lecture for my Compelling Communication Skills course…
Everything had gone really well, I was feeling good…
Until it came to the moment for questions.
One of the group asked about the importance of a backdrop when presenting online.
I was about to answer, when he added…
- For example, what’s the significance of all that cleaning equipment behind you?
Ah. Oops. Eek!
Now, I could have answered (indeed, I did briefly and face-savingly consider)…
I’m glad you spotted that. Because it was my way of demonstrating an important point.
A background should be fairly neutral, and nothing in any way to distract from your words of wisdom.
Instead, I remembered the old adage about honesty being the best policy. So I said:
To be frank, my cleaner was due this morning, but he couldn’t make it because he was ill. And I forgot to put away his stuff.
There was a moment of silence…
And then everyone, but everyone on the lecture burst out laughing.
I even got plenty of applause and smiles in the chat box.
From that moment, a session which was already good became great.
There was a new energy, a real feeling of us all bonding, and lots of terrific interactions.
And why?
All because of my candid moment of humility.
It reminded me how powerful showing your fallibility can be in establishing a connection with an audience.
One of the stories I often tell is about the catalyst for me becoming a lecturer.
It goes back to school days, and what a horrible kid I was.
Being disruptive, violent, offensive, getting thrown out of school…
Until two wonderful teachers intervened to set me right.
That pivotal moment always stayed with me.
It showed me the power that great teachers can have…
And so, I think, influenced me into education.
For another example of the power of humility, I’m sometimes asked if I get nervous when presenting.
Then I may tell the story of the first lecture I gave at the University of Cambridge.
Was I nervous?
No, not at all.
I was absolutely, completely, entirely BLOODY TERRIFIED.
I was surrounded by brilliant people at a world-famous institution with an 800 year history.
What on earth could I possibly bring to this party?
That story always makes a mark on an audience, as does my teachers’ tale.
And why?
Because they both show humanity, fallibility, and humility.
Some people think that, in order to impress, you have to be completely commanding, totally confident, and always in control.
Whereas the opposite is true.
Just be happy with being human, and don’t be afraid to show it.
There’s little like humility for really making a connection.
