Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
Yes, welcome to the biz communication show, I’m your host Bill Lampton the biz communication guy, bringing you tips and strategies that will boost your business. You want to be a superlative communicator, we all do. And that’s what the biz communication show is all about. Today, our guest is a communicator who has helped many 1000s. He’s a member of the speaker Hall of Fame. He’s received the highest award that the National Speakers Association gives. And that’s just once a year. It’s called the Cabot and he’s a certified speaking professional. He was asked by Skype to direct their blogging to all 23 million monthly users. And this is most impressive. He has been in 44 countries working coaching and speaking, he joins us today to talk about the importance of time honored communication principles, and how to artfully use communication tools. So join me in welcoming Terry Brock from Orlando, Florida. Hello, Terry.
Terry Brock
Hey, Bill, it is great to be with you today.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
Delighted to have you join us on the biz communication show, Terry, knowing you as I’ve had the privilege of doing over a couple of days, a couple of decades. I I know about your your very early, blossoming, phenomenal start. And in the media and professional communication. In your home state of Michigan, you as a kid got into radio tell us about that. Well, it
Terry Brock
was a real honor to do that. And they asked me to just come on and see what it’s like I was interested in radio, and I had been listening to that station. And its member stations, there were three of them, the family life Broadcasting Network, and I believe they’re still in Michigan today. And I had the opportunity to go work there to learn and oh, it was such a gift. And I’m so grateful to the people that were there, then that helped me. I made some colossal mistakes at times. And I learned from them and got better and went on with an undergrad degree in radio, and TV and newspaper. So I think it was really good. I learned a lot and getting on the air at age 17. I’ve been staying on for several years, I was working my way through undergrad school doing that. But it was always fun to get on there and read the news. And this a lot of the principles still hold for me today as we work now in podcasting, and with YouTube channels and communication tools like that.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
Were you ever a DJ on radio?
Terry Brock
Oh, yeah, I would read the news, and then a DJ. And the way we did that is we took these things called LPs, which used to be kind of old thing, but now they’re very popular today. He right now as we’re recording this, they’re popular, and we queue them up, and then say, And now ladies and gentlemen, join us as we listen to the bill, Gaither trio, or something like that I put it in there was a big group that was back then. And we’d play these songs for people. I enjoyed that. And then people would call in requesting songs. And that was fun. You got a chance to know some of the people because there would be one guy who had always call in asking for the same song. And we had the radio station new Oh, he’s asking for that song. Again. It was great song. But it was just kind of fun to get to know the audience that way.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
I had a similar experience, not not that young. But in my career I lived in for two years in Kansas and I had done a little bit of radio work at the University of Georgia when I was on the faculty there. So I thought weekend’s in Kansas. How can I spend the time so I went to the only radio station in town. I remember going on about a Wednesday or so I talked to the station manager. And he’s he said, Okay, we can we can use you. Can you be here at 530 Saturday morning. So I wound up Terry, I ran a a DJ shift on Saturdays from noon until midnight, with both the am and the FM stations. And I know you had one of the great experiences that I did is well, and you found out you’re talking about playing records. It was a great time management lesson because we found out how much you could do in three and a half minutes while that record was playing Did
Terry Brock
you cram a lot in there rushed it out and rushing back. A different world didn’t but we learned those principles when I think if you can always learn principles in the lessons that are good for life, from whatever you do. That’s a very good thing to do. I would encourage those who are young and I would say young of 12 that 1314 15 get out and do something, get out some kind of work, where you’re going to interface with people, you will learn a lot and give opportunities to people like that. If you’ve got a 1314 15 year old in your neighborhood or in your sphere of influence, and you can positively help that person, that would be a great thing to do give them the chance to get in there. They’re going to make mistakes. And that’s okay. You keep it limited. So we’re not putting them in charge of the nuclear weapons. But we’re putting them in charge of something that is reasonably good. If they make a mistake, we can quickly correct it. Right. Matter of fact, remember one of the mistakes I made bill, this was a real doozy for me. I was reading the news. And there was a town just outside of Detroit, where something was happening. And we were there in Michigan. And I sound and I said at the sound in the place of Amtrak, and they did that and I ended up as soon as my broadcast was over, I hung up and say now back to more music here on family life radio, and we put it on there. The phone rang, and it was my wonderful station manager. Owl cook wonderful guy that he was and is. And Elsa Terry, do you realize what you did? What he said, what’s the name of that town outside Detroit? Oh, Hamtramck, he says, or hammock? And he says, Jerry, do you know how many people know that it’s pronounced ham truck that I said no, I did not know that. He said you shouldn’t call me to ask. And I realized, okay, I need to find out. I thought and I guessed, I made an assumption. But he helped me to understand you make sure you pronounce things clearly. And even today, Bill, this helps with the interviews that I do. You and I do a lot of interviews. Yes, I found it very helpful. I’d say this to anyone that’s doing interviews today with podcasting with YouTube, or any form of video, whatever. Always ask the guest when you’re getting to see them for the first time who they are. How do you pronounce your last name or your name. So it’s a matter of real carefully real slowly and carefully. Because it might be one way that I think they do it a different way. But if they do it very slowly and real slow for me here, I want to make sure I get it right. And then I’ll write it down phonetically. That helps, I don’t always get it right. Because even then sometimes I’ll make mistakes, but at least it helps the guest to know we care for them. And we want to give them our very best.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
I heard a quip some time back which I’ve I’ve used a good bit in my speech coaching. And that is, you have to make sure that you don’t put the emphasis on the wrong syllable.
Terry Brock
Exactly. That’s right. You want to make sure you get that correct. And particularly when you’re dealing with people who might not be natively born speaking English as their native language in America.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
Well, and then sometimes the spelling might be what we might be accustomed to. But a good example. I was a college administrator for a good while and I lived in one part of Georgia where the nearest County was h o u s, t o n.
Terry Brock
O yes, that would have spelt pronounce a little differently in Georgia than in Texas. Yes. So
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
I said I was giving a talk one day and I said, I’m sure that we’ll get a lot of gifts from Houston County well as Houston and in Georgia and so that the nuances when you’re you’re dealing with communication, if if, for example, you make a mistake of that sort, it can throw people off from the rest of the conversation. And that’s why you’re exactly right. That preparation is so vital and getting back to your radio career. And by the way, there’s there’s one guy who did okay and radio who started a little younger than you did guy named Paul Harvey. He started at 14 I think he had a pretty good career, don’t you think?
Terry Brock
He did rather well, yesterday, but that is the rest of the story.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
That is, but what I want to ask you any buddy who hears Terry Brock on radio on the Internet, phone call, speech, presiding over a group whatever, from the very first time that I heard you and every time I hear you, as you know, I’m a speech coach and I am like many people I’m captivated and I’m mesmerized by your voice and so you started in radio at a very early age my my curiosity and I think the curiosity of our listeners and viewers would be this. How did you develop your your speaking voice and your presentation skills? Certainly you had natural gifts, but were there ways that you you sought to develop those gifts?
Terry Brock
I just worked really hard at it to get it right. Right. And I tried tried, right? No, I just met somebody. No, I just thought it would be good idea to to speak clearly and to work on that I did have a class in undergrad school. I remember voice diction and phonetics. That was a class that was optional within the communication major that I had. And so I took that and they talked about how to speak and to clearly enunciate and speak very clearly and eloquently as best we could. And I’m still working on that part, I got a long way to go. But I find that by practicing it and getting good feedback is important. You want to practice what you’re doing, but I’m going to rely on what my friend Harvey Mackay says, when he says people will say, practice makes perfect. That’s not true. Perfect practice makes perfect. So yes, good feedback from others. And here’s one of the things you need to do. This is painful, man. In fact, it is so painful. It actually is has been declared illegal by the Geneva war convention. And that is to listen to yourself on recording, listen to your audio, listen to your video. I know it’s painful. It is that painful. But when you do that, you do much better. You can go back and you listen, and you hear what you’re saying how you’re doing it. Real professionals will do that buddy mind, Karl Mecklenburg is a member of the National Speakers Association. And he’s up in Denver, where he played with a little team called the Broncos and was in four Super Bowls, lost three of them, but he did win one. I mean, he was telling me what they do in practice, they have not one or two, sometimes three cameras, or maybe four going over what you did, and you have to watch that, even though they’re not focusing on the voice, the principle is the same. You want to go back over it and make sure that you’re doing what you need to do. And when not if but when you go, Oh, I did that. I can’t believe I did that. That’s good. You pause. You look at that and say, Okay, how do we correct it? And let’s make every reasonable effort so that we don’t do that again.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
Yes, and another thing I heard about practice is that practice doesn’t make perfect practice makes permanent. And so if you’re, if you’re practicing the wrong way, you’re just in greening those mistakes. When I played golf for so many years, Terry, I was, I guess I would call, you would call me a really dedicated practice tee guy, I would spend hours on the practice tee. But did I improve necessarily, not if I happen to be doing the same mistakes over and over. And it was when I got with a golf professional who could look at me objectively, and then by golly, as you say, when video came into play, oh, my goodness, Terry, the first time I saw my golf swing on, on video on a replay from a lesson, as the coach was standing there with me. I was thinking, Wait a minute, I thought I looked at like those pros on television, who’s this guy here. But we were very fortunate, of course, that that video is not something that’s difficult to have access to access to. I mean, if you were to look at 20 years ago, and advise somebody watch yourself on video that said, I’m Wait, I can’t afford all those to pay to have somebody. Now we’ve got our we got our iPhone or iPad, whatever. It’s we’re remarkably fortunate on that. And I’ll, I’ll just want to confirm what you have gone over there. Be objective when you watch yourself. And one of the things that happened with me one time and I’ve I’ve explained it on this program before, but I had done a presentation. And this was back in the days when our presentations by the sponsor would be recorded on videotape. And I did for one hour programs. I agreed to the recording if they’d let me have copies to take home, which they did. And I spent four hours not all at one time, I think I would have gotten sick doing that. I spent four hours critiquing my mannerisms, my gestures, my enunciation. And I did it very objectively. And I learned a great deal from that. So yes, you had great gifts to start with. But Terry, you have to develop those gifts and not only develop them initially. You keep doing that. And one of the things that you and I have had the privilege of doing is watching many experts in action, right.
Terry Brock
Yeah, it’s good to do that. And I think that’s important to continue to see those extremes, be willing to part with your coins and your capital so that you can be there with them. You want to be in those places. That’s why it’s important to be involved in professional organizations to be involved in groups where you’re taking courses and you’re learning continually learn and school is never out for the professional as they say I think it was Kendrick Robert He said that one of the founders of National Speakers Association, and we want to continue to learn to grow in particularly in our world that is changing very rapidly. Learning how to learn, and how to learn rapidly is a very important skill.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
And you do that. So well take more questions be back in a minute. Do you wish
Unknown Speaker
you felt confident about giving speeches? Do you want to deal with difficult people constructively? And what about becoming more persuasive and sales, then keep listening now to Dr. Bill Lampton, he spent 20 years in management, so he knows the communication skills you need for success? I urge you to call the biz communication guide today for a no call, but very valuable 30 minute discussion about your communication challenges. Call now. 678-316-4300. Again, that’s 678-316-4300.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
Terry, we were talking about video. And that brings me to ask you for for feedback about technology. Let’s say that I’m an entrepreneur, and that I come to you and I know many entrepreneurs come to you for coaching. And an entrepreneur comes to you and says, Well, Terry, I really want to succeed and my business communication. But you know, Terry, I’m just not geared toward technology. So why should I flew with podcasting and video production? And all these other things which you and others are teaching? Why is that so important? For me, Terry, I, I don’t have that knack. I don’t have that address. Can I get by without that? What would you say? How would you advise them?
Terry Brock
I would say first of all, I understand because sometimes technology can be a little bit overwhelming. It can be intimidating, because it’s something that is literally a different language. And it’s a different way of doing things. But I would say you’re already interfacing with technology, you use a car, probably, that’s technology, you use a stove, probably, you have a light switch, that’s technology, you use a toilet, that’s technology, all of these things are important technologies. And what we need to do is to realize they are there to help us. And sometimes they can be a little bit confusing, but we can learn. And the good news is, is as you learn, you come alive even more, you’re stimulating your mind to learn new and new is very important to keep our brains alive. Particularly as we get older, we find that by using the technology and stretching our brains, we can do better. And a good way to do that is you can sit down and today we go to the University of YouTube. There’s wonderful videos out there on a host of different topics. Just a few moments ago, before we came on here I was in getting some lunch in our kitchen. And I had my computer there watching some videos on AI Artificial Intelligence, I’m watching some of the latest cutting edge ideas, taking notes on that, and then I practice it. And this is how we learn. But I think also getting a coach can be very helpful. Working with someone who’s helping you that can help you to learn what is important from their point of view, that’s a good thing. You see it from different points of view, you hear it, and you need someone who can be there for you, and that suits your style. So I would say the technology fear is understandable. We understand that people are going to no wonder about it. But don’t let that hold you back in today’s world. You need to know it if you’re gonna get ahead in business. Now, if you’ve got more money than you know what to do with it, you want to sit on the beach, sipping pina coladas all day, well, okay. But also, I’m no medical person, but they tell us that’s not good for you either. So getting a use of technology, finding what’s available, how it can help you, I’d say it’s going to help you in the world of business particularly, but also just in living a more enriched and full life.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
One of your examples is one that I want to underscore where you say you drive a car, don’t you? Contemporary new cars. Now the dashboard is not like that simple dashboard that we had when we first started owning cars. There are all kinds of visual aids there such as, for example, if you want to backup the car, you have a great map and if you’re using Wave Waze or something like that for directions, you just follow that on that screen. And it’s not something the day that you get the car issue, you know how to do but you you learn it, I have to admit and it’s okay to admit it, Terry, that I was in management for 20 years. And during that 20 years and management I was very afraid of technology. I because my college presidents where I was, I was the vice president, they would say you, you need to go to this training class and I would go to a training class, but I never really applied it. And how did I get by? Okay? I had somebody to delegate it to guess what, when I became an entrepreneur, there was nobody to delegate it to. And how did I learn it? I did exactly what you’re saying. I found the right coaches, you, Terry Bryant, worked with me. Many, many times, Mike Stewart also has worked with me, I went to some training sessions. And it’s not as though you learn it. And you got it. Because as you say, there’s so many new things that come along. And those new things are very valuable. And they’re sure it’s a challenge to learn it. But then we ride a bike successfully the first time we tried that, I doubted
Terry Brock
that we’ve got to keep working at it and get in state with it. Because that’s, that’s how we get better. And it’s how we really live a life that is enriched.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
Terry, you have, as I mentioned, in the introduction, you have been recognized by your professional speaking peers, as the kingpin of the profession, you’ve you’ve won the very highest awards and certifications that you could could win. So all of us who are listening know that we need to make presentations, you don’t have to be a professional speaker, to have to make presentations, you might have to make a presentation in a sales effort, you may have to make a presentation, and training new employees, you may have to make a presentation, making a report to your board. There’s so many ways that business leaders are going to need to know how to make presentations. So not talking now about professional speakers. But let’s talk about executives, managers, supervisors, who would come to Terry Brock and say, Gosh, Terry, I need to know how to present my ideas clearly compellingly and persuasively. What what steps would you take them through Terry?
Terry Brock
Well, I think there’s a lot we can learn. I don’t I would take exception. I don’t think I’m a kingpin in that. But I’ve, I’ve learned a few things along the way. And some of the things I’ve learned is, what you want to do is you want to find out what is available, how you can become a better presenter, there’s many good books out there, there are many good videos on YouTube, that you can watch, there’s going to be some that are not as good, there’s going to be some that are. So for a limited budget, that’s a great way to do it. And if you have a large budget, that’s still something very good. But I’d recommend take a look at getting a coach, someone who can help you that can show you what to do how to do it is something that you do very well bill I work with as well, showing people how to do it a lot of executives and what I’ve done that are in at&t, when I worked with them, as editor in chief for their largest blog was helping on that we had ticular executives we’d work with, they were doing very well in their business, and their business skills, wonderful people. But there’s a little bit of nervousness that comes when they realize okay, the cameras rolling. Well, getting coaching on that can really help getting someone to help you. And matter of fact, what we do, even though yes, I’m in the speaker Hall of Fame, many, many times we get together with other members of speaker Hall of Fame, and we look at each other. It’s one thing for someone to give a speech, and people come up and they’ll say, Oh, you did a good job, good, good, good speech. That’s nice, and it makes us feel good. But even better, is when someone can say I like what you did on that. And you know that story you were telling about the porcupine to the walrus or that story that was really good and I would emphasize that one line you had there about but don’t touch that thing or you know, whatever it is work with me on this. So whatever it is, they do that and they also say you know that other part they’re about porcupine doing that that that didn’t really come across well might figure that you could just cut that part out. You need someone that can help you on that you want to sit down and you want to look at the video record that and you can go back over it manufacture a really good tool right now that I recommend strongly is called usually that’s why oh DLI and it’s usually dot A i
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
What does you lay a couple of what is using that accomplish for us tearing
Terry Brock
it gives you the feedback that you need with a transcript with your audio your video and it shows your you know like you, you know are all those filler words are You know, those kinds of lights,
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
let’s put like in there too.
Terry Brock
I asked them specifically to do that. And they did. sites every time you use the word like, which is good, but also shows you where you are on the screen, am I too far over here or over here? Too far down, it comes back and shows you that it shows you if you’re talking too fast, and it’s an AI robot that’s doing it. So you don’t have the human emotion of oh, he’s just criticizing me. And it’s a great tool that many speech coaches are using. Not that it’s taking the place of a speech coach, no, we have an analogy we like to use is, it’s like going to get your lab work done before you go see the doctor. Then the doctor studies, your lab work studies, all those stuff to make sure that all systems are operating within normal parameters. And the doctor might say, Huh, you’re welcome. I’m lagers. That’s a technical medical term. Okay. Yeah, we’re gonna loggers over here, not doing as good as your thing about boggers over here, okay, you know, and do that. So usually is a great little tool for you. And by the way, the cost is pretty reasonable, free. And it gives you the ability to really get better as an individual who’s speaking professionally, because your career often will rise or fall based on how will you communicate? And how will you come across with your message.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
You’re so right about that. And I’m want to underscore that. People who, for example, when they were growing up, always sat at the back of the classroom, because they didn’t want to be called on. And when they’re in committee meetings, or when they’re in board meetings, and they’ve got great ideas, but but they say, I wouldn’t know how to do it. It’s so important to develop that skill. And that’s, that’s why I tagged myself as the best communication guy, because helping people do that is what you and I love doing. Terry, we’re going to have to wind up in a minute. But we’ve talked about coaches, I’ve mentioned that you and Mike Stewart are great coaches and mine, I know that you’ve relied on coaches across the way. One I remember you’re talking about that was very influential for you. When you were in college was Dr. Thomas Stanley, and who are some of the coaches and we got a couple of minutes to mention them.
Terry Brock
Well, Tom Stanley was he was at a marvelous professor that I had at Georgia State University in my MBA program. And he helped us to learn so many nuances of what to do, what not to do. And when I graduated, he went on later to write a series of books called The Millionaire Next Door, and had a tremendous amount of success with that. And I know it’s because he had me as a student. That’s my story. And I’m sticking to it. It was because of me, but he did very well. And other coaches have helped me people from time to time that I’ve been able to work with, I had a chance one time to spend about an hour and a half or so with a guy named Wayne Dyer. Oh, my gosh, well, microbiologist and he just Wayne and me in a hotel room doing an interview with him. And talking about life and many things. One of the things that he told me, I still do today, he said he would get up at 4am, do his exercise, do his work in his study. And it really made a difference. And I hit me, I thought Jay Wayne Dyer doing that, I’m going to have to pay attention to that and look at it. So that was a really good thing I feel had some coaching recently, when I had a chance to be hired by and work for a guy named Carlos Slim. Carlos Slim is a wonderful man, very, very rich. He was the richest man in the world, from 2010 to 2013. And I got a chance to work with him for a few days for an event down in Colombia in Bogota. And I learned and see how this man, but billions of billions of dollars, but so gracious and kind and always learning, still learning, taking notes. I was the opening keynote presenter for this group and the closing keynote, or the closing speaker was Yvonne do K, the current at that time President of Colombia. And so I got a chance to work with him and see it. But I see these people have taught me and I’ve been so grateful to learn from them. And I’m still learning matter of fact, after 40 years in my professional speaking business, Bill, I think I’m off to a really good start, and I’ve got a long way to go.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
That’s the attitude that keeps us improving. Right there. Terry, this has been a just exactly what I expected because I’ve known you and respected your work and benefited from your work for so long, and also from our personal friendship. Certainly our viewers and our podcast listeners will want your contact information. So please give that to us.
Terry Brock
Well, I’ve got the various social media presence and website is probably the easiest because you find it all there. And that’s at Terry brock.com And I’ll spell that because they can be spelled differently. Terry is spelled t e r r y. And Brock is spelled the right way V R O CK. So Terry brock.com, you’ll find all the contact information there.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
Thank you, Terry and I, I encourage our viewers and listeners to get in touch with Terry to study all that he has available, there’s plenty on YouTube get get affiliated with Terry Brock, you will benefit just as I and many truly 1000s of people have. And now that Terry has shared his contact information, I’m delighted to share mine, the business communication, guys, so logically, my website is biz bi Z. Biz communication guy.com. And my YouTube channel, which I invite you to go to is listed, go to the search screen there and type in Bill Lampton PhD. And then, of course, I want after all that, please give me a phone call is 678-316-4300. Again, 678-316-4300. I want to talk to you about your communication challenges and problems, and how I can assist you with them. Terry brought, what closing comments would you have for us from this? Stimulating, scintillating and highly informative conversation?
Terry Brock
Well, I guess we could go for a long time on it. But I’ll say this, or you, those of you watching this, remember that communication is something that is an ongoing learning process. No matter where we are, we can always get better. And matter of fact, we want to always get better. So pour yourself into the literature that’s available today. Yes, look at YouTube. There’s a lot of wonderful ideas there. Yes, stay in tune with the biz communication guy, Bill Lampton, he knows what he’s talking about, and it’s an honor to be with him and keep growing, keep pushing yourself to get better so that you’ll be able to help the world and be able to do more in a wonderful way using the live and let live philosophy of helping others not initiating force or coercion and non Aggression Principle, living life peacefully and abundantly. I think that’s the way to do it.
Bill Lampton Ph.D.
Well said as as always, many thanks to Terry Brock for honoring us today with not only being with us but for the terrific advice that he has given us. Thanks to those of you who were with us on video and on the podcast, be with us again, for future editions of the biz communication Show. I’m your host go Lampton the biz communication guy
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
