I’m typing this post on a flight between Brisbane and Auckland. A long-time client of ours has contracted me to speak at several of their regional events this year, including to their Australia and New Zealand groups. I’ve been very excited and a bit nervous to speak in front of these audiences. Public speaking is like dining – the smallest gesture or style that may be appreciated or unnoticed in one culture may be offensive in another. I’ve spoken all throughout North America, England, and the Middle East, but I’ve never delivered a public presentation below the equator. I always prepare to walk the fine line of being authentic to my natural style and customized for my audience, so I was ready, but this was still an unknown for me.
Well, my session yesterday in Brisbane went well. The initial feedback was very positive. I was lucky enough to share a taxi to the airport this morning with one of my client’s leaders, who gave me some candid and helpful feedback. Although his words seemed to be local advice, they reinforced the importance of a habit that every public speaker should have – professional or not. He said…
“You were a slow speaker, and that made all the difference.” At first, I wasn’t sure if he was complimenting me or making fun of me. It was one of those statements delivered in clear English, but my lack of regional understanding left me wondering if I should be smiling or punching him in the face. After he realized my confusion, he continued “Americans have an unfair stigma attached to them here. A lot of them speak very fast and don’t think about the audience. You spoke at a normal conversational pace, and you paused several times. We appreciate that down here.”
I was flattered, but also silently reflected on my years of training in Winter Park Toastmasters. During my 14 years of membership, I heard evaluations like “slow down”, “take a breath every now and then”, and my favorite “three pieces of advice for you: ‘pause, pause, and pause’”. You see, being a slow speaker isn’t something that works exclusively for Australians. Speaking slowly, taking breaths, and pausing … ahhh, the magical pause … is a critical behavior for any speaker in any scenario – not just down here. Letting your audience wallow in the silence can be very uncomfortable for a speaker, but once you master it, your engagement and influence will go through the roof.
So that’s it… whether I’m speaking in New York, Kona, or Dubai, I always prepare my pauses and my pace. Whether you’re speaking at a wedding, an internal meeting, or inspiring hundreds of people at a conference, always remember to be a slow speaker.
