How I Got The Girl…
I’m married! Happily married. I’ve been so for 17 years. This is not the story of how I met my wife. Instead, it’s a public speaking story.
I ran a workshop recently with some youth. I was sharing with them the importance of speaking and learning how to do so with confidence.
When I was asked to do this workshop, I said, “No problem.”
I was a high school teacher for 7 years so I didn’t have any fear about speaking to this age group. Except, the last time I did this workshop for a youth group, it didn’t out how I wanted. I did an activity I thought would be fun. But, I gave them too much time and so they started to lose focus and get silly. It wasn’t as powerful as I wanted. Admittedly, I didn’t do a whole lot to connect with them either. My energy level was my focus. But, youth really need your authenticity and your connection.
So, this time, I showed up with a different commitment. I was committed to having them do more, learn more, connect more and laugh more.
The Girl Appears
When I began, there was a girl in the front of the room. She looked serious and TOTALLY unimpressed. Truthfully, I was thrown for a moment. I wondered what I could do. But, I had 20 other teens and adults in the room and so I moved on pretty quickly.
We started the workshop. I smiled, I danced, I told a few stories about my worst speaking failures. They laughed. They loosened up and then I informed them that they would have to speak. Some looked a bit concerned. But, we set up an environment where everyone clapped really loudly and cheered everyone on. It was something I’d learned in improv class.
As we commenced each section and each activity, I looked at my “unimpressed friend”. She was participating but she still looked unimpressed.
The Girl Speaks
Then it was her turn to speak. We were doing an activity where each of them had 30 seconds to sell us a random object they’d chosen from a box. She chose a red ketchup bottle with no label. It was one of the old school, Johnny Rockets, 1950’s restaurant ketchup bottles. She picked it up and with a playful look of curiosity explained how you could use this dual purpose ketchup for food as well as for bathing. The class began to chuckle as she spun her tale. The chuckles grew into open-mouthed laughter. She soaked in the joy and smiled as her 30 seconds ended. Every pore of her body inhaled the applause as she returned to her seat.
We went through a few more activities and then the workshop ended. The workshop hosts then did something I have never experienced. They asked the teens to give me feedback right then and there about the workshop. I’ve had evaluations and even the host share how they felt. But, I’ve never had a room of teens give me immediate feedback on my workshop.
They went around the room sharing their thoughts and the enjoyment. But, it was all a blur until they came to my “unimpressed friend.”
She began.
“Honestly, when I knew I had to come to this workshop, I expected to come to a boring workshop and have my head down in my phone the entire time. But, this was awesome. I was engaged the entire time and I was literally wondering what we were going to do next. Thank you.”
Then she gave me the slow clap.
I got the girl.
Well, she wasn’t exactly just a girl. She was an intelligent young woman who taught me to simply be myself.
Did you like this post? Click the CLAPS at least 5 times. This helps more of your friends to see the post! You may clap as many times as you want.
About The Author
My name is Robert Kennedy III. I’m a professional speaker and author. I speak and write mainly about leadership and communication. Connect with me onTwitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or on my website, RobertKennedy3.com
