I'm going to keep a diary here of the events I prepare my speakers for, as well as the outcomes. The "behind the scenes" nature of coaching means that the results show up in another's performance. Connecting the preparation to the results achieved is instructive to anyone interested in improving their skills.
My first story to tell you about was just last week. The client is The International Rescue Committee, and the event is a two hour luncheon at The Metropolitan Club in NYC. Scott Pelley, from 60 Minutes, is going to interview an IRC worker from Liberia, and it's my job to get her ready. She's flying in from Monrovia just a few days before the event, so I can't do much in advance.
Preparing for an interview is somewhat different than prepping for a speech, but the foundation of the process is the same: tell the story. My speaker arrives and we meet at IRC headquarters, on 42nd St. Her name is Chris Harmon, and though English is her native language, her accent is heavy. That will be one of the things we review in our rehearsals.
The other is the horrific nature of her story. She's suffered so extensively as a result of the war in Liberia that we must be careful of what to leave in and what not to say. She tells me her history and I listen very closely and take notes. Her abduction, torture & imprisonment are things she's willing to talk about; the murder of her parents and husband the night rebels invaded their house is not.
Her anguish at being separated from her children, not knowing for years if they survived that night, is fresh to her. We weight how appropriate all of these details might be for this luncheon I write up her story, read it back to her, and she cries. We'll be walking a fine line on this one, but I think she'll be OK. I ask her practice questions, but don't know what details Scott Pelley will be interested in pursuing. She says she's feeling better for having told her story.
We meet early on the day of the lunch. Chris looks exotic and gorgeous in her native African dress; it's quite a contrast to the decor of the Metropolitan Club. She'd arrived in New York with three different possible outfits, and we selected this one because it makes her feel powerful and connected to Africa. She's keyed up but composed.
The guests arrive and Chris takes her seat at her luncheon table. She'll be speaking after everyone eats; I explain what the various foods are on her plate (this is her first trip to the US) but she's not hungry.
Then, the program gets underway. Scott Pelley is sensitive and aware that she doesn't want to discuss her loss of family and then something unexpected happens. Chris starts talking about the night the soldiers came. I'm standing at the back of the room, surprised that she's talking about it. She quietly offers details about the trauma, and then moves on.
I realize that even though we thought she shouldn't talk about her loss, she needs to. In a public way, she needs to tell of her private hell. The room goes very quiet, and Scott Pelley is right there with her. He asks her how it felt for her to find out that her children had in fact survived, and she says "it healed my heart."
You could feel and hear the sighs of compassion. The program had transported everyone to a place of empathy. When the lights came up, many people came up to meet Chris and congratulate her. Instead of charging out of the room, a lot of people stayed behind and talked. I found out later that an additional 40K was raised that day; beyond what people had already given.
I believe that Chris's ability to be herself played a big part in the audience's response. She had been prepared for her part in the program, and that preparation paid off in many ways. I am very proud of her and hope she is proud of herself!
