• Who:  Bobby Fisher
• What:  Pastor Equipping Conference
• When: Today (May 14, 2012)
• Where: Pretoria, South Africa
• Why:  Now that’s a good question!

It’s 2:00 AM and jet lag has stolen the last vestiges of sleep.  Today, our team starts a two week pastor equipping conference in South Africa and Uganda.

Why?

That’s the question that has been rattling around in my head. For the first time in Africa, the SCORRE conference is being presented.  I thought I was coming to equip some of the best and brightest young pastors on how to study and communicate the Gospel with focus and clarity.  In my humanity I dream that one day the next African Billy Graham will stand and thank Dr. Bobby (my moniker) for everything he knows before drawing thousands into a relationship with Christ.

I thought I was coming because I truly believe in the SCORRE process and the positive impact it has on anyone who will embrace it.  I can make these students better with my knowledge and winning presentation skills in an area of great need.  Yes, maybe someday the Dr. Bobby Institute of Biblical Preaching will be opened with much fanfare and a life-size bronze statue of…well, you know who.

But yesterday evening, things changed.  The students started to arrive.  They came from Zambia, a one thousand mile journey packed in a van, from Harare, and from across South Africa.  They laugh with gusto as we are introduced and are gracious for any and all that they receive.  By our standards they are dirt poor, yet seem to be rich in joy, thankful in demeanor, and eager to learn.

My glory dreams are rapidly fading and I am humbled in their presence. God is being glorified simply in the gathering of saints eager to bring glory to His name. The only Scripture that fits my soul in this moment is, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.”

I am here because there is much God wants me to learn.

Yes, it’s going to be a big day!

–

Bobby Fisher has been married to his lovely wife Jill for 33 years; he is father of three grown children and grandfather to four. Bobby is Executive Pastor at Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto, California, where he oversees a staff of more than 50 pastors, directors and administrative staff. He is passionate about the local church and its role as the expression of Christ to the surrounding community.

Saved at the age of 35, Bobby’s business background has given him the necessary skills and experience to oversee the programming and staff of a large church. He is committed to the mission of Dynamic Communicators International to bring clarity and focus to all who proclaim the word of Christ. For Bobby, these principles apply wherever there is a message to share.

Bobby is an avid water skier, golfer and loves a long run to begin his day.

“What was the best part for you?”

We’ve had an eclectic group this year — school teachers and physicists and full-time authors — and they all found their own way to uniquely apply the coaching and instruction.

Here’s what they had to say in their own words:

For those who attended: What’s been the best part of the SCORRE Conference for you? Share your answer in the comments.

If you’re following along on Twitter or Facebook, you may have seen status updates from some of our students and coaches. Here’s a quick run-down of quotes from those in attendance this week (and a few from previous conferences):

• “Once you learn the SCORRE speaking method, you can’t unlearn it.” —Michael Hyatt
• “Speaker wannabes: Truly, verily you should make it a priority to come to the SCORRE Conference. Transformational!”
• “Thank you… Ken Davis and Michael Hyatt for inspiring amazing people to resolve to connect here at the SCORRE Conference! Phenomenal!” —Justin Foster
• “Even as a professional speaker, [the SCORRE Conference] is challenging me to work on my skills, my message, my craft… They are challenging me, stretching me and making me think differently.” —Carrie Wilkerson
• “Loving SCORRE. Thank you for the sharing, challenging and educating.” —Paul Evans
• “I love that I am being stretched to improve as a communicator…” —Chuck Carringer
• “Nerve-wracking? Yep. Invigorating? Definitely. Helpful? I can’t wait for the rest of the week and seeing how some of these principles can be applied to what I do for our church on Sunday mornings.” —Chris Vacher
• “Great sessions, full access to the staff and validation of my speaking gift. Worth the money!” —Kelly Combs
• “Incredible time at the SCORRE conference! I learned so much and met some amazing people. I’m changed as a communicator forever.” —Holly Worley
• “It brings me such joy to be around people who take the gift of public speaking seriously. I love coaching [at SCORRE]. It’s a true honor.” —Ryan Daffron

If you haven’t made it to one of or events yet, we hope you’ll find a way to get here! Find out more about our next event here.

For alumni and past attendees: How did the our workshop change the way you approached public speaking and communication? Share in the comments.

The first day of the SCORRE Conference went off without a hitch. Over 105 people (including) are attending, and we are, once again, at the beautiful Winshape Retreat in Rome, Georgia.

The staff arrived on Sunday, and yesterday all students arrived to check in and begin a week or workshops. Twenty-six states were represented, and five people from Canada came.

How It Began

Ken Davis opened the evening with a few powerful statements: “If you know where you’re going [in a talk], people will follow you wherever you go… If you aim at nothing you will hit it every single time.”

Joined by his partner-in-crime, Michael Hyatt, Ken and the team cast vision for the week and shared some exciting news about the future (more on that soon).

Towards the end of his speech, Ken shared, “Dynamics minus a point is entertainment…” Which is all well and good, but people come to the SCORRE Conference expecting something more: to become better communicators.

“You’re here to become better communicators.”

As the students go through this process, they will make some important discoveries.

Discovery #1: Communicators of All Types

This conference brings so many people together from different backgrounds. Though from different parts of the country and world, they all rally around one common belief: Communication matters.

I met Lance, a pastor planting a church in New Orleans who, after years of working in student ministry, is now moving into a full-time preaching ministry. For years, he’s spoken for youth, but now he wants to improve how he shares a message with an adult audience.

Over supper, I met a couple of men from Pennsylvania, one of which owns a plumbing business and wants to get better at public speaking. The reason? So he can communicate better with his staff of seven employees.

Many of these people will connect with each other and learn these interesting facets about their lives. As they do so, they’ll learn a valuable lesson: They are not alone.

Discovery: #2: Everyone Has a Story

Whether it’s a unique perspective on the world or a compelling tale of hope, every communicator has a story to tell. Each has a voice worth hearing.

During the evening, as the students gave the first of three speeches, I made the rounds and was able to hear some of them:

• Carrie told a touching story about her son.
• Another gentleman came so that he could learn to clearly communicate. He wanted to stop getting bogged down with the details of his company and begin leading with clear vision and focus.
• Sharon runs an organization and writes a weekly leadership blog. “I don’t feel like a professional speaker,” she said.

Everyone who is here — from CEOs to small-town pastors to professional musicians — has their own series of coincidences that brought them here. But as they stick around, they begin to find out how alike they really are.

Discovery #3: We Have More in Common Than We Realize

Everyone comes to the SCORRE Conference for a different reason, but at the same time the same one: They want to improve their communication.

As I walked around, eavesdropping on the various sessions happening last night, I heard the same themes repeated over and over again.

• One man wants to focus his writing this week. Another is an aspiring apologist. Henry came, quite simply, “to communicate better.”
• One student said he was looking for a “jump start.” Another confessed to waiting years before she felt brave enough to face criticism. Yet another was afraid to deliver a speech, but when he did, the whole group was blown away.
• Joel came to better articulate what he’s thinking — for his staff, clients, and family. He’s most excited about being able to capture his thoughts and crystallize them for his loved ones.

Some of our attendees communicate on a daily basis to individuals and groups. Others are aspiring speakers working up the confidence to stand in front of an audience for the first time. One thing is certain: All are here to make a difference with words.

Two Questions

1. For alumni and past attendees: What did you discover at the SCORRE Conference?
2. For friends who have yet to come: What would you hope to find?

Share your answers in the comments of today’s post. Also, be sure to follow the conversation this week on Twitter and Facebook.

~ by Ken Davis

Team,

As you continue your quest to be clear and powerful in your speaking, here is my helpful encouragement for the week:

Every speaker can deliver a more powerful and memorable speech by following these Ken Kommandments:

Ken Kommandment #1:  Choose a key word!

Make sure that you have a good key word that defines all of your rationale.  Even if your presentation is narrative and you won’t actually say the key word (remember, this is extremely rare and difficult).  Make sure you have a key word written in your ugly sentence.  Memorize it.  Know it.  Think it as you speak.  Even if you are Gen X or Gen Y person…choose a key word.  If you know where you are going you can take anyone with you.  If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time. Choose a key word.

Ken Kommandment #2: Use that key word!

Each time you begin a new rationale, use that key word.  My first Ken Kommandment was choose a key word.  But that word is no good unless you use it.  So my second Ken Kommandment is, use that key word.  Use it when you are reviewing your rationale. Feel totally obligated to use the key word when you remind your listeners of the rationale you have already covered and when you name your new rationale.  Sound redundant and simplistic. Trust me. It only sounds that way to you.

Your audience WANTS to know what you are driving at and where you are in the journey. All the stories and dynamics in the world without focus are at best only entertainment. There is nothing wrong with entertainment but you have been called to change lives, so I encourage you to carefully select that key word and USE IT!

I am confident that each of you will be more powerful communicators by following this week’s Ken Kommandments.  Choose a key word!  Use the Key Word!

Always in your corner,

~ Ken

When something compliment you, you should embrace it. And I did just that by becoming a graduate of the SCORRE Conference.

It is a top-of-the-line learning experience that even the most prolific can benefit from. I started to learn the value of preparation and practice in Toastmasters, a very good organization, but I needed what the SCORRE Conference taught:

• prepare with focus
• deliver with clarity 
• speak with power

That’ll end up permeating your sleep…or you’ll engage it via Twitter or Facebook.  All these are ongoing as part of the conference. I appreciated that so much!

You glean from the best in business, writing and even scripture. The governing principle of this conference is if you can’t communicate your purpose or message in two minutes, you can’t enrich it, craft it or present it to your audience or congregation with any more time. Everyone’s time is valuable – focus and intention must be streamlined to be understood and appreciated. Let me give you only a few highlights:

• Curtis Fletcher was outstanding as he laid out the value of the business icon and the lead to the corporate story!
• When we were at the stretching point, Ken Davis, who can only do what Ken Davis can do, introduced the value of humor. I personally witnessed even pastors laugh outrageously and secure the twinkle…!
• Remember the part about learning from the best? Well, after you do that, there is a breakaway, and you apply what you learn in a small group setting. Yes, come prepared to do speeches! This is a working conference.
• There was no room for anxiety when I was being charmed to acquiesce by my small group coach McNair Wilson. How could you not excel? I know had the best group and from what I heard everyone there thought the same thing.
• The wonderful registration process is where the building of relationships started. I had Joy, Traci and Diane who are so very organized just warm me through the process. There are others of course, and depending on the time you actually registered you were also meeting and greeting the different presenters and peoples involved.
• Wes Roberts, a jewel of a human being, is a counselor and leadership mentor who makes himself available during the entire conference for one-on-ones.

This is a group in accord and mutually supportive. When you can articulate and communicate so well that people feel the value of that time, you accomplish what you intend. That is the whole purpose of the SCORRE Conference. It’s a school of style you should personally look into to strengthen your own. Seek excellence…

My intentions are to return to the SCORRE Conference this year with a possible double header – a summit on platform building. What a pairing! Michael Hyatt always exemplifying “Intentional Leadership” and the humor of Ken Davis to keep it.

Michele Cushatt’s dare is to do it well! Why develop any other way?

Did I mention the hotel and the conference facilities were great?

Last week, one of our SCORRE coaches sent the following video to a few members of our team. His goal was to start a discussion about using this clip at our upcoming SCORRE conference in Rome, GA. What happened afterwards was … well, first just watch the video:

I could hardly watch this video without turning away. The poor guy was eaten alive–not by a ruthless audience but by his inability to deliver what he promised. Even more compelling than the video was the email conversation that took place between several members of our staff afterwards. Here’s a sample of what flew over the internet in less than an hour:

Curtis: We have to use this one.

Michele: This is PAINFUL! Yes, we have to use this. If for no other reason than to say, “Ever felt like this guy?” Great opening clip on the second day, when we unpack SCORRE in more detail. Or we could do it before “Putting it all together.” Then talk about how SCORRE is the heart of your talk, and keeps you from panicking when the “biggest moment of your life” comes.

Mike: Michele, I agree. It’s everyone’s WORST fear.

Jeff: You know what, I bet I know what this guy did: He memorized a whole talk (or tried to) instead of an outline. He didn’t have an objective or supporting rationale, so when he lost his place in his spiel, the whole thing fell apart. Great proof for the SCORRE method. Just my opinion, but it seems that’s what happened. When you’ve got your talk SCORRE’d, it may be messy and less-than-eloquent, but you always know where you’re going.

Curtis: At first I thought the technology let him down and he had a slide that didn’t advance…but if that were the case he would have said something, that’s an easy out. But you’re right Jeff, SCORRE not only keeps you on track but lets you be eloquent in the moment.

Michele: Jeff, that’s exactly what I thought. He manuscripted his pitch, and then memorized his manuscript. He was trying to remember the next line, rather than just speaking from the heart. Without an established objective driving him, an unconscious objective hijacked his opp.

After watching the video and participating in the discussion that followed, I see at least four major takeaways from the experience:

• NO ONE wants to fail in front of an audience.
• Every speaker can potentially freeze in his biggest moment.
• Without the RIGHT kind of preparation, lucrative opportunities can be lost.
• Knowing the heart of your message (rather than a memorized script) is what makes the difference.

With a little training in the SCORRE method, this guy could’ve had an entirely different pitch. Even if he forgot a line in the pressure of the moment, his objective and rationale likely would’ve remained intact. Of course, it’s now too late — this opportunity has passed.

But for every lost opportunity, there’s the hope and possibility of another.

How can you better develop the heart of your message for YOUR next biggest moment?

The distributor of this film is watching closely to see well how a faith-based film like Fully Alive will succeed in the general theater market.  If the film does well, they will be looking for more projects like Fully Alive to bring to theaters.

The plan is for packed out theaters from coast to coast. This is where you come in …

Please support this film by bringing your kids, family, friends, neighbors…anyone you know.  Ken’s comedy is hilarious and the message is life-changing.  This is a film that you will be PROUD to be associated with.  For a list of participating theaters, please visit www.fullyalivemovie.com. Remember, this is a limited release, for two shows only, March 22nd and 25th. Please help us spread the word!

Once you make the decision to live Fully Alive … you will never be the same again.

See you at the movies!!!

It seems that every year at the SCORRE Conference I get at least one student in my group who wants to use copious detailed notes for their talk. The simple reason is that they have crafted a manuscript detailing exactly what they want to say. Even when I point out to them on video how impersonal it looks to be reading to their audience, they resist giving up the notes because they like the words.
I WISH they would spend as much time figuring out their audience as they do sweating over the turn of a phrase.

It goes without saying that every speaker/presenter needs to know their material. I don’t mean their lines, I mean their subject matter and the objective of their talk. But it is far too often the case that in preparation for a presentation speakers gloss over the makeup of the audience.

• It’s a gathering of industry executives
• It’s a conference I speak at every year
• It’s my church
• It’s a sales pitch

Wow, really? Industry executives all from the same size company producing the exact same goods with the exact same challenges? Is that conference in the same location … because I’m willing to bet that even though it is sponsored by the same organization, a Boston audience is quite different than a Phoenix audience. And you think your congregation is not only the same every Sunday but completely homogeneous? Don’t even get me started on this last one.

Awareness of your audience make up is much more important than the turn of a specific phrase. The availability of and access to information and the opportunities to build small tribes of like minded people through social media networks that are available today have produced more specific, specialized, responsive audiences than ever before. We can no longer assume, if we ever could, that a room of 200 people will all think generally the same way.

So where do you begin finding out about your audience? By asking questions:

1. Who are they?
Not just demographically speaking. “Who are they” questions include:

• What motivates them?
• What role do they play in their organization?
• How will the information effect what they do when they leave?

2. Why are they there?
Not just because they signed up. “Why are they there” questions include:

• Do they want to be there or do they feel they ought to be there?
• Are they after general information or specific answers?

3. What do you want them to do?
Not just listen and enjoy your command of the language. These type of questions include:

• Do I want them to change behavior?
• Do I want them to buy something?
• Do I want them to come back next year?

This last section really forms the objective of your talk, something we’ll teach you to do with pinpoint focus at the SCORRE Conference.

Ask yourself these questions before you start preparing a single word of your presentation. Your answers will inform your direction. You may discover that you don’t know the answers. If that is the case, stop, and either ask the people who have invited you to speak or craft some of those questions into the introduction of your talk.

The better you know the folks to whom you are speaking, the more effective your words will be.

–

Curtis Fletcher has been an integral part of the SCORRE family for close to 20 years. During that time he has applied the principles of SCORRE while working in a variety of companies in a variety of roles ranging from youth pastor to internet programming analyst, from marketing director to CTO, and from VP of strategy to personal coach. Curtis is currently a Senior Manager with Hitachi Consulting in their Oracle practice.

In his spare time, all three minutes of it, Curtis enjoys photography, computer graphic art, and occasional fits of Xbox and he subscribes to the notion that Disneyland IS the happiest place on earth. You can connect with Curtis on his blog. 

He was prepared. He knew his content. He wasn’t particularly nervous as the meeting began. In fact, the last time he presented to that same group, everyone really encouraged him and affirmed how great a communicator he was.

So, why did he sound so nervous? Why did he get more nervous as the meeting went on? Why did he lose his place a few times? Why did he say “er” or “um” 15 times in one minute? (Yes…I counted.) Most importantly – How can he present with more confidence next time?

The following question certainly won’t solve every confidence issue, but it will solve more than you might imagine.

How can I say everything I need to say in two minutes?

Almost a decade ago, I heard my friend Ken Davis say, “If you can’t say it in two minutes, I don’t want to hear you ramble for an hour. But if you can clearly say what you need to say in two minutes, I’ll listen to you all day.”

How many meetings or presentations have you sat through while the person talking rambled on and on? Too many to count, right? If you don’t want people to feel that way about one of your meetings or presentations, then figure out how you would say it all if you had to say it in two minutes.

There are several reasons why being able to say it in two minutes will boost your confidence.

It will help you focus. We have all had times when someone has to cut things short. “Hey, something came up. What’s the gist of what you wanted to discuss with me?” While hearing this is frustrating – especially if you have poured time into preparation – the end result is that you weed out everything that is non-essential and focus only on what is essential.

What if you did that from the beginning…every time? What if you knew that every point you were making, story you were telling, or slide you were showing was essential? What if you discarded all the “clutter” during your preparation? Your confidence when it came time to deliver would skyrocket. If you practice saying what you need to say in two minutes, that’s exactly what will happen.

It will help you remember. Few things are more frustrating – or embarrassing – than forgetting what you wanted to say…while saying it. I see it happen all the time. I can’t tell you how many times someone I am coaching says, “I completely left out something I really needed to talk about!”

When you can say it in two minutes, it is easy to practice, easy to memorize, and easy to remember. And when you are not worried about forgetting what you are going to say, guess what? Yep…you’re more confident.

It will help you regain control. The tangent. You know the one. The dreaded we-are-only-10-minutes-into-this-meeting-and-totally-off-track tangent. When you are presenting on stage, this isn’t as big of an issue. But most people communicate in meetings far more frequently than they have to present on a stage. Tangents always seem to rear their ugly heads 10-15 minutes into a meeting.

When you have the 2-minute version of the meeting clearly at the front of your brain, two things will happen. First, you will recognize the tangent before it derails the meeting. Without question, the simplest way to get back on track is to not get too far off in the first place. Second, you will be more polite as you regain control because you will be able to point people back to the common purpose instead of focusing on the person who took the group off track. When you have the tools to regain control of your meetings (and I know I am repeating myself) you will be more confident throughout.

So…next time you have a presentation to deliver or meeting to lead, try to walk through the entire thing in two minutes. As soon as you can do that, you are ready. Proceed with confidence!

–

Keith Ferrin is an author, speaker, and storyteller. He founded That You May Know Ministries and travels internationally, speaking at conferences, churches, retreats, universities and wherever people will let him. He also started True Success Coaching and coaches individuals and teams in the area of communication and public speaking.