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Coach's Notes

Leave on a High Note

2/11/2019

3 Comments

 
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I have something to admit....I've written plays.

And no, it wasn't just youthful experimentation, I've written a lot of plays, 57 in fact. Part of writing plays is going to theaters and participating in play reading nights when actors sit on stage, or at the front of the room, and read through someone's new script. Sometimes they were great and sometimes....well, they weren't.

But, the thing that really bugged me is when someone would write this killer speech for a character that should have ended the scene, or act, or the whole show and then had kept on writing. They had created a "mic drop" moment and then had their character stay on the stage, and it ruined all the good work they had done.

If you're a business person creating a presentation, or a Sales professional up in front of a room of prospects, and you have told a brilliant story, or made a closing point and still have a couple slides left in your deck, let me give you some advice:

DON"T SHOW THE SLIDES.

If you've proven your point, you have finished, even if you might have more information, let it have the day off. Watch for the mic drop moments. In fact, search them out. Study the faces in the room because it might change from meeting to meeting. If you've hit the big note in your song there is no reason to sing more. It will just diminish the impact of your moment.
3 Comments
Dave Wallace link
2/12/2019 08:41:47 am

You are so right, Robert. Those “mic drop” moments are rare. Don’t negate them by prattling on. Brevity is king.

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samuel link
9/30/2021 09:01:17 am

The content that I normally see is nothing like what you have written. This is very well-thought out and well-planned. You are a unique thinker and bring up great individualized points. Please continue your work.

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John Carston link
3/22/2022 06:02:41 pm

I appreciate that you explained the importance of understanding potential skills that you can work on for a great career. My best friend mentioned to me last night that his friend is looking for a speaker for his upcoming business event and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do. Thanks to this informative article and I'll be sure to tell him that it will be much better if he consults a well-known entrepreneurial speaker in town.

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    Robert Mattson

    Robert is a speaker coach, actor, director, author, speaker, executive and overall marketing guy. He writes about all aspects of presenting and connecting with audiences.

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