Better Business Coaching

For those of you old enough (but still young at heart enough) to remember – a question…

Who was the better impressionist, Peter Goodwright or John Culshaw? If you’re unsure about who Mr Goodwright is, let me give you a perspective.

Goodwright: 1970s, quick-fire impressions, no scenery, awful make-up, terrible wigs.

Culshaw: 2000s, long sketches, real locations, complex prosthetics and hand crafted toupees.

I know Mr Culshaw is very talented and his shows are perfectly put together, yet I would rather watch Peter Goodwright et al in re-runs of “Who Do You Do?” any day. My logic is very simple.

Modern TV impressionists can almost perfectly recreate their subjects. The scenes and settings are usually the real locations. So what is the point? Why go to all the bother of making an impressionist’s sketch about politicians when the real thing can be just as funny!

The aim of impersonation is not to perfectly recreate a character, but to extract the essence and use that to one’s own advantage. As an impressionist you should allow your own personality and humour shine through the thin veneer of your temporary character.

That’s why I prefer the older style – it was more about the impressionist and his talent than that of a make-up artist.

In business we need to be ourselves – especially when we are presenting.

At a recent networking meeting, where I and two other professional coaches had spoken, I was challenged by one of the other attendees.

“I love it when you guys speak with such conviction, passion and drama. But I don’t really think I can be like that myself, that’s just no my style – so what do I do?” My response was simple. “Be yourself!”

When I coach people in public speaking and presentations skills, I always start off with the same critical point. I cannot teach anyone to speak in public – nobody can! It is a skill that must be learned by the individual themselves. That takes time and practice.

Anyone joining a public speaking class or course needs to check on the number of attendees, as well as the amount of practice time they will get. Without sufficient time to listen to a coach, practice what you absorb and receive good feedback, you will not develop as a speaker.

The second point I make on my courses is, that the attendees should most specifically NOT try to speak like me. I’m a good public speaker,  (I can say that without fear of appearing arrogant) but please don’t try and impersonate me.

By all means observe and apply some of the skills and tactics I use, just don’t forget who YOU are.

And no matter what skill you hope to learn, I think this kind of philosophy should be borne in mind. No coach, no matter what their discipline, wants to see a series of clones of themselves.

Coaches tend to be a little extreme. There’s a reason – we want to stretch you further than you really need to go. Imagine an elastic band – keep stretching it and letting it ping pack into shape. What happens? In time the band gets a little bigger, more flexible and all together more rounded.

So be yourself, just like the old school impressionists. Follow the lead of your coaches but find your true self – one that your audience will find authentic, can believe in and can trust.

Marc Lemezma helps businesses succeed by getting their message OUT THERE!