One of the best ways to stay connected and deepen your connection with your audience is to let them beat you to the punch. What does this mean? Let’s use some examples to clarify this delivery strategy.
Example #1
Listen to this quick audio and think about what happens after I say, “I joined Toastmasters in March of 1998.”
[audio:https://craigvalentine.com/wp-content/uploads/1998.mp3|titles=1998]I could have simply kept going on with my speech by saying, “I joined Toastmasters in March of 1998, got my CTM in March of 1999…” However, I know something very important about my audience. They already know I am the 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking. This means they are figuring out in their minds, “Whoa, it only took him one year to win it?” My job as a speaker is to slow down and let them figure this out so they can beat me to the punch. In other words, instead of me saying it, I let them think it first. Their thoughts beat my words to the punch. Then and only then do I finish what I’m going to say, but guess what? My audience is already there! That’s why they laughed and became vocal immediately after I said, “I joined Toastmasters in March of 1998.”
Example #2
Let’s listen to another short example from a different story and experience what happens after I say the words, “Okay daddy.”
[audio:https://craigvalentine.com/wp-content/uploads/Okay-Daddy1.mp3|titles=Okay Daddy1]I could have simply kept going on with my speech by saying, “‘Okay daddy.’ I got home the next day and where was he?” However, I decided to slow down and let my audience beat me to the punch. I paused, gave them a look that expressed a sarcastic, “Yeah, right” and let my audience think, “Oh, I’m sure Ace climbed up there again.” Then and only then do I confirm what my audience thought by letting them know he climbed up there again.
Partnering Deepens the Connection
If you really listen closely to the audio, you’ll find something very interesting. I NEVER even actually had to say he climbed back up there. I let my audience say it! In a way, they filled in that part of the story without me having to actually say it. Then I simply picked up my story at the point where I asked, “Ace what are you doing up there?”
This is what I love about speaking. I learned from Bill Gove that speaking should be a dialogue and not a monologue. People buy into what they help create. Letting your audience beat you to the punch at strategic times during your speech makes them feel like they’re creating part of your speech, which deepens their involvement.
Example #3
Let’s listen to one more quick example of me letting my audience beat me to the punch. Experience what happens after I say the words, “Get lucky?”
[audio:https://craigvalentine.com/wp-content/uploads/Get-lucky.mp3|titles=Get lucky]I could have simply kept going on with my speech by saying, “Do you want to get lucky? Then stay ready.” However, I decided to slow down and let my audience beat me to the punch. I looked one audience member in the eyes when I said, “Do you want to get lucky?” In this case, this person happened to be dressed in a costume (complete with a wig and a Marilyn Monroe-type outfit) for an event later that night. I let my audience beat me to the punch before I confirmed their thoughts by saying, “I’m looking at the wrong person…” This audience member got a real kick out of it and so did the audience. Make no mistake about it, my audience beat me to the punch with their thoughts and then I confirmed it with my words.
How can you apply this “Let them beat you to the punch” strategy?
First
You’ll have to come to an understanding of where in your speech you can use this strategy. You don’t choose the place; your audience does. Over time you’ll see where they are already starting to beat you to the punch because you’ll be able to hear them wanting to chime in and be vocal. But here’s the problem. You’ll never know where these places in your speeches are unless you record all of your speeches. You can’t monitor yourself on the spot, but you can certainly monitor yourself afterwards IF you’ve recorded your speech. That’s why I always say
What gets recorded gets rewarded
Whenever you begin to see where your audience is anticipating your next words, those are some of the times you want to let them beat you to the punch.
Next
The one thing you heard me do in every audio clip was to pause and let it happen. You must give space to let your audience think and beat you to the punch. At times it takes an extra cue from you and you can accomplish this with a facial expression like I described with my son’s story. The audience will take that cue and chime in.
Final thoughts:
Is it critical that you use this strategy? No. Will it deepen your connection when you do? Absolutely. When you partner like this with your audience throughout your entire presentation, you’ll find yourself connected at the core with them, time will fly by, and everyone will have a blast. So let them beat you to…
Great post Craig. I haven’t read about this technique anywhere but it’s so true. I often look back and wonder why something worked. What you explained in this post will help put a lot of things into perspective.
Martin
Brilliant!
It’s refreshing to read new concepts (at least new to me).
Thank you Craig.
You’re welcome Alexandre!
Craig, I love the insight of letting your audience beat you to the punch. I especially appreciate your consistent focus on endearing yourself to your audience — and encouraging other speakers to do likewise. As YOU know, it’s better to make the audience the hero rather than ourselves.
Letting the audience beat you to the punch affirms their intelligence and wit, and as you said, brings them along with you. Well done!
P.S. I love your concept of going not for standing ovations but for standing invitations. 🙂
Thanks Gina for adding more value to the post. I appreciate that.
Craig, as a pro speaker myself I too was a staunch student and admirer of Bill Gove. He taught me so many things about speaking. However I find your inspiring energy and excellent information has provided me with additional skills and ideas. i have learned a great deal from you in just a few emails and look forward to spreading the good work you are doing through my speeches cheers John
Thank you John. Bill has had such an impact and, even though he is no longer with us, his lessons are. I wish you the best as you continue to touch lives.
Thank you Peter. You are a stand up guy!
I use your video about telling a story and making a point every semester with my college students to help them prepare to give presentations. I wish you could come speak to them about effective presentations.
Thank you Richie. That’s great to know! Please with them my very best.
I have to say that of all the books of this sort that I’ve read, and the coaches, videos that I’ve seen who are all generally interesting – you are the only one who is an absolute JOY to watch or listen to. Thank you for so sharing it all!!
Thank you Kathryn. That’s means a lot! I will continue sharing. Thanks again.
Good Article Craig. I would place myself at 50% in these categories. Having reached CC status in TM, I can do most of these things okay. Now I want to get really good at them. What I need to work on the most is be succinct and making my talks more “you” oriented.
I was watching your Dynamic Delivery Devices last night and the idea about you-oriented speeches clicked. I was Toastmaster earlier this week and I tried incorporating some of your tools. One was to involve the audience by asking a question. I asked “How many of you are fans of Classical music?” I see know that I should have phrased that, “Are you a fan of Classical music?” I have another speaking opportunity at work on Monday, so I am eager to work this into my talk.
Craig, I discovered you and your website about two months ago. What you are doing is great. You are the first source I have found that explains tools for speaking, and you make it very easy to understand. Watching you in action, I have come to appreciate how we can design our speeches, rather than just write our speeches. Writing is important. After writing, we can design how we are going to deliver them to the audience. Very cool.
I am looking forward to seeing and meeting you later this spring when you are in the Seattle area at the TM conference.
Thank you Mark. Sorry about the confusion. I have no idea why your comments ended up under this particular post. Anyway, thank you for the kind words. I’ll certainly see you soon.
As for the question, you can also say, “Raise your hand if you’re a fan of classical music.” I like this approach because it gets the audience moving (which is important) and it allows them to be seen. Our audience wants to be heard and seen too and just a simple public declaration such as raising their hand helps them accomplish that. Thanks for the comments Mark.
Hi Craig:
I don’t know what happened, but the comment I left yesterday, was supposed to be for your 12 competencies article. Some how it ended up under this article. Odd.