Will Keepie Uppies Make You a Better Speaker?

Did Keepie Uppies win the election for Catherine Connelly? 

No, but the video clip going viral helped. 

It garnered 2 million views and kept her name in people’s minds.

So why did she win the election? 

In my view, the reason she won was that she set out to win, starting her election campaign months before other candidates were even nominated.

She was not selected by a group, party selection committee, or powerful individual. She picked herself and backed herself, as this was a job she decided she wanted.

Some 30 years ago, a very well-known priest told me, and the audience  I was sitting in, the secret to delivering a good sermon [speech] is “you have to believe that fxxxxxx stuff”.

This is why I believe President Connolly won the election. What she talked about was what she believed to be true.

She did not tailor her message to her audience to win the election.

Her thoughts/ words were her own. Long-held beliefs delivered calmly, with quiet passion and conviction.

After the election, I spoke to lots of people who voted for Catherine, not because they agreed with her, but because they believed her.

“Speak truth to power” is one of those expressions that has become fashionable over the years. An expression I’m not sure I like. I do not believe Catherine wanted power, but she clearly had a strong belief and passion for her vision for Ireland.

Here is the advice I give to my clients, which Catherine clearly embodied:

Your first judgement as a listener, whether you realise it or not, is,  

“Do I believe this person?” 

If you say I do, you will likely listen more intently and take their advice/suggestions on board.

When you say NO, it does not matter how polished a presenter is; the answer is still NO. I do not believe you.

When I coach clients to present, here is where I place emphasis.

Let’s find your voice and your story so you can engage your audience, whether it’s one, five, fifty, or five hundred.

Helping you to be yourself, not a poor imitation of somebody else.

Image source: Office of the President of Ireland

By Executive Coach Andrew Keogh of Aristo.ie