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When I started my career, one of the advice that I got was to make
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my primary rule for communication to never bore my audience.
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Today, almost 15 years later, I’d argue that not boring your audience is a very
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unambitious goal if only because not being boring is actually relatively
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easy . I mean, just make a speech during a rollercoaster ride and it won't be boring.
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Only that it’s not the point.
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Because the point of giving a speech, the point of communicating in the
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first place is to change minds.
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To have your message stick rather than the rollercoaster ride.
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To have your audience fall in love with your idea rather than cheering
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for what a great show it's been.
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When we hear a speech that's super exciting, it's tempting to think that
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it was because of some talent of the communicator to make it exciting.
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Or because they put on such a great show.
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What's easily overlooked though, is that it's actually the other way around.
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Stories that touch us deeply are never boring.
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While on the other hand, stories that aren't boring can still
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leave us largely unaffected.
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Or a story that challenges my thinking can't be boring while on the other
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hand, stories that aren't boring can still be largely irrelevant.
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Great communicators start with relevance.
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That's what creates resonance.
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And when something resonates, it's by definition not boring.
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So, not being boring is a consequence of rather than a prerequisite
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for telling a meaningful story.
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And sure telling it on a rollercoaster will only make it more exciting
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if that's your thing, that is.
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But I leave that decision up to you.
