Do You Build “Before Rapport”?
Another insightful entry by Darren La Croix, 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking.
On the note of building rapport, it has been a habit for me to get to know my audience before my speech. I will go around introducing myself and getting to know them. For example, I will ask about their job, find out what got them to attend the talk and take note of any interesting things about them. This is also a great opportunity for them to get to know me, so that when I get up on stage to speak, it won’t be a group of strangers I am speaking to. Instead, I will be relating to new-found friends. Believe me, this makes all the difference when it comes to delivering a winning speech.
Riding on this very powerful technique of making your audience the hero, I will often peppered my speech with conversations I had with those I spoke to. It never fails to help me win the audience over. Remember this universal law, people crave for attention. When you give them attention, they will give you their ears, their eyes and even their heart.
Let’s see how Darren builds rapport with his audience…
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Long before you give a presentation, do you build “before rapport?” What’s that? It’s a term I coined just as I sat down to write this. I love the concept and hope it is memorable to you. I think I’ll trademark it!
Before Rapport is what you do to connect with your audience BEFORE you actually take the stage. Have you ever considered that? I make it a habit and constantly learn how to do it better.
Here are four simple techniques for you to try:
#1) PRE-Q&A
Patricia Fripp is one of the true masters of this. I watched her “work the room” before an NSA presentation. Wow! She introduced herself to the audience and started doing Q&A and talking to the audience BEFORE the start time and before she was formally introduced.
I believe it works partially because the audience’s guard is not yet up. So the connection and willingness to give extra in a more casual atmosphere really helps!
#2) Press the Flesh
When Craig Valentine and I were in Toronto shooting our biggest Mega-system, Own the Stage, we literally stood at the door and greeted everyone who came in. We made eye contact and shook as many hands as we could. This goes a long way to creating that connection. You’re physically touching people in an “above and beyond” welcoming way. I do this myself at many of the keynotes that I give.
#3) Welcome Signs - Be Creative
Ever notice that when you attend an event there’s a little anxiety before you get into the event room? Am I in the right place? Do I have the right time? Whenever we do our Champ Camps, we want people to feel welcome and warm and know they’re in the right place. We just purchased some eight-feet long, trade show banners to help do that.
You don’t have to spend $300 for a banner, just be creative. When Ed Tate and I do the Humor Champ Camp in Toronto in September, attendees will be greeted by my “secret rapport” weapon. They’re made out of paper and welcome people in a creative way. We actually spend part of the Boot Camp talking about the effect it has as people were coming to the event.
What creative welcoming thing can you do?
#4) THE MOST POWERFUL!
The PRE-EVENT audio intro. I can’t believe more professional speakers don’t use this! You don’t have to be a professional speaker to use it and love it! My fellow World Champs and I have been using this tool for years.
What I do is send an audio e-mail message well in advance of the event. It allows me to help the meeting planners achieve their goal of higher attendance, and even more importantly, it helps me build “Before Rapport.”
Let me ask you this… If you’ve never heard of a speaker who was presenting at a conference you were attending, and you got an audio message with a personal introduction and a few insights on how that speaker will help you, would that audio message get you more interested in the conference? Would you be more likely to attend?
Here’s the big question: Would you be more likely to pay more attention when that speaker started? If you answered “Yes,” then you agreed this is a powerful way to connect before you even take the stage.
This Audio Introduction will sometimes preview the whole conference, not just me! I read over the conference promos and plug the other speakers and topics, as well. Planners go crazy over that. This differentiates me from other speakers.
Wouldn’t you like to do that too?
How do I know it works? From the comments I get from people BEFORE I speak… they tell me they’re looking forward to my presentation! Some even buy my book ahead of time because I mentioned it in the audio message!
Here are some actual examples of how I used this technique to create “Before Rapport!”
Champions’ EDGE Lesson Delivery
There you have it. Four ways to develop “Before Rapport” …I use them all. Which will you use?
Cheers,
Eric Feng
Your Public Speaking Coach
P.S: Click on the 2nd link to learn more about delivery - free lesson from Darren! (Champions’ EDGE Lesson Delivery)
P.P.S: And if you have yet to download your complimentary chapter of the FAQ Book on Public Speaking, wait no longer. I know what you are thinking, it is going to be there anyway. So I can d/l it tomorrow.. but that’s not the point. Think about it, if you have a chance to become a celebrity speaker whom everyone raves about, won’t you want them like RIGHT NOW?? And the truth is, it is possible… and that is IF you actually bother to download the chapter and read it. Don’t say we did not advise you… –> www.thefaqbook.com
