Lynn Espinoza is a broadcast news veteran with more than a decade of media, presentation and executive coaching experience. She has developed personal coaching sessions for Fortune 100 C-level executives, corporate communicators of all kinds, doctors, lawyers and leaders in non-profit.
A Communications Lesson from Jay Leno
Posted on February 17, 2009. Filed under: Latest News Leave a Comment
I spent Valentine’s Day with Jay Leno. Actually, with my husband and Jay Leno. We were lucky enough to snag front row seats at “An Evening with Jay Leno” at the Mirage in Las Vegas.
Once my jaw stopped hurting from laughing so hard, I realized that Jay’s ninety minute monologue offered some great fodder for communicators of all kinds - whether speaking to the media or delivering a keynote:
- Know your audience. Leno was clearly surveying the audience moment by moment. He was making eye contact whenever possible; looking for good sports to call on for spontaneous fun. Take note: If your audience feels like you are genuinely willing to connect with them, they’re likely to support you.
- Find universal truths. The reason Leno can keep thousands of people laughing at once is because he focuses on the things we all have in common: Parents; spouses; the pain of the economy. When speaking to the media or to a live audience, spend some time thinking about the common ground shared by the people in your target audience. If you aren’t connecting with the broadest audience possible, you are missing an opportunity
- Use colorful, personal examples. Leno’s monologue went a full hour and a half. Though I laughed throughout, I can’t specifically recall a lot of the jokes. But I do remember a hilarious bit about his mom and dad in Boston. It was a story about the foilbles of aging parents – told with as much heart as humor. When you make your presentation or interview personal, it’s far more memorable. Don’t be afraid to pepper your presenation with personal anecdotes.
- Be kind. Unlike a lot of modern comics, Leno doesn’t resort to foul language for a laugh. He also reserves any trash talk for the famous and powerful – politicians, for instance. He doesn’t bash the underdog, or take advantage of human frailties. A media spokesperson or public speaker is well served by holding the high road. Bashing the competition generally yields few long-term benefits. Picking on an underdog is always unbecoming.
You have important things to say to your key audiences, and you don’t always want to leave them laughing. But if you want leave them with a memorable and personal experience – take a lesson from Leno.
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