BFTP: Is it possible to motivate a cynic?
Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 08:46AM
I hate liver. It’s one of the very few foods I would not eat even were I starving. But every once in a while I take a bite of it just to see if anything has changed. So far, I still hate liver.
I feel the same way about “motivational” speakers as I do about liver. I can’t stand them. But now and then I go see one just to see if my tastes have changed. Judging by the fellow who was brought in by our Chamber of Commerce yesterday, even fried and served with onions, I still don’t like ‘em. Why? And what can learn from ‘em anyway?
1. Being too smooth. This guy had every hair in place, a neat little suit, and chubby, oily little face just as smooth as his talk. He’s given basically the same talk, the same way at least 100 times. His enthusiasm was, well, well-rehearsed. He delivered his talk just like Toastmasters taught him to. And he seemed about as sincere as polyester. Lesson: Better to be unscripted with a few surprises. Talk to people. Talk with people. Don’t talk at people.
2. Lacking originality. In the course of 180+ minutes, I did not hear one new joke or story or piece of advice. Not one. He attributed some stories as happening to him that I know I’d read somewhere else before. And I seriously doubt he wrote them originally. One little deception and he lost all credibility for me. Lesson: If you don’t have something original to say, stay quiet. You message doesn’t have to be profound, but it has to be your own. Every joke comes around in e-mail at least once a year. If you’ve read it, so have 90% of the folks in the group you’re speaking to. Write your own material, figure out a way to personalize the old chestnuts, or at least, attribute the source. It’s OK to embellish a story (IMHO), but the core story better be true and it better have happened to you.
3. Coming off as a pompous ass. It got real old, real quick hearing how darned good the guy was to his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his friends, the world at large, etc. Made me pretty much want to upchuck. Anybody that holier-than-thou, I figure has to have some real deep-down dark secret. I am guessing he was wearing women's lingerie under that suit. Lesson: Don’t be the hero of your own stories. Screw-ups are more interesting than successes. Sinners are more fun than saints.
4. Offering trite platitudes. Yeah, yeah. I know that “attitude” is everything. I know people like compliments. I know you should be creative. I know you need to listen. Tell me something I don’t already know. Lesson: Offer some different advice. Larry Winget , the only “motivational” speaker I’ve found I actually enjoy, simply says:
Shut up.
Stop whining.
Get a life.
Now there is advice one doesn’t hear everyday – but most of us need.
Most of the others in the audience yesterday with me were business people . When the speaker asked, “How do you show people you value them?” the stock answers popped up – compliment, celebrate, recognize, etc. I didn’t hear one person mention, “Pay a living wage.” or “Provide health care benefits.” Now in my mind, those would be motivators.
But then, I’m a cynic.
Reader Comments (3)
At the beginning of the school year, our school system paid for some famous principal who had "turned schools around" to come give us a motivational speech. I felt just the same way about it that you feel. I Hate (with a capital H) motivational speakers. My reason, like you said, is that all the advice is old! And, its just advice. Yes, we know kids need to succeed, we know we need parental involvement, we know we need to form relationships with students. We know we need to, but tell me HOW! Give me something concrete to work with. If we teachers, librarians, etc have to sit and listen to you talk for over an hour, at least teach me a new lesson plan or a technique or about a great resource. Don't tell me what I need to do, I have a job description thank you, give me tools to do it better! Thankfully, this motivational speaker was only one part of a larger conference put together by the county from which I got many great ideas shared by collegues. Still, I have a deep dislike for motivational speakers. I'm glad I found another cynic!
Can we get t-shirts? Cynics R Us. One year I worked in a district that brought in "motivational" folks from Disneyland. A week. A WEEK. A WEEK of listening to them. Then we spent months, catching students doing things right and passing out little papers that said so. Of course, every child needed to get one. Insincere praise at a staff meeting is worse than saying nothing. If you want me to be inspired, send me to a Doug Johnson conference. I will come away with ideas, jokes to share, and thinking I can leap small children with a running start.
Hi Annie,
I do differentiate between "motivational" speakers and other keynotes. I think I have David Weinberg to thank? for my delving into blogging after hearing his keynote at the NECC conference about 5 years ago. Now and then you hear something that radically changes one's world view. At least I hope so - I've been the perpetrator of more than a few keynotes in my day!
Thanks for the comment,
Doug
Hi Gwen,
Good to hear from you and thank you for your kind comments.
I guess I like a little big picture (why) as well as the practical stuff (how). When they get out of balance, there are problems!
After about 30 years in education, I finally decided the best role of a teacher is to present problems and challenges in such a compelling fashion that the learners will be "inspired" to use their own brains to come up with personal solutions. When I give a talk, the audience has X- times MY feeble brain power!
Doug