How to Deliver the WOW
This week I found myself feeling a little embarrassed and that doesn’t happen to me very often. My kids would argue that I’m usually the one doing the embarrassing! I’m normally quite comfortable in my own skin but on Thursday I was presenting in Brisbane and I received a very complimentary introduction. This is a regular gig for me and the guy who introduced me has seen me present a few times in the past. He said something like….. ‘today, you are all in for a treat. Midja is an amazing presenter and unbelievably funny. She will have you in stitches.’ He then went on say how much they would take away from the session and so on…. It was a huge rap and a little embarrassing as I've mentioned.
Of course as he is saying all of this (and bless him for his kind words), the audience is looking at me with eyes full of wonder and expectation and I’m nearly dying in my seat, trying to laugh it off. I wasn’t sure where to look or what do to.
When it was time to stand up and start talking, I didn’t go straight into my topic, I mean how could I? Instead I addressed my anxiousness at the audience’s now huge expectations of me and my presentation. We all had a bit of a giggle and it calmed my nerves and I could relax and get on with the session.
This situation that I found myself in last week, reminded me of the old advice that I was given very early in my career to always ‘under promise and over deliver.’ Maybe you’ve been given this advice yourself. I like the concept except I would change it to ‘realistically promise and over deliver.’ I know it doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as nicely but it sits better with me. To deliberately under promise can be as damaging to your reputation as over promising.
In any relationship, personal or professional, the greatest way to build trust is to set clear expectations and to make and keep your promises. When you feel let down by someone, frustrated, angry or misunderstood, it often comes down to mismatched expectations. Your expectations in the situation were not met and this erodes trust in the relationship.
The flip side is when someone exceeds your expectations. This gives you the ‘wow’ factor.
I remember the first time I saw Pink perform live in 2007 down here on the Gold Coast. Yes, she played at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in a small auditorium. I went to that concert having a love of her music and ready to sing along to ‘Trouble’ and ‘Cuz I can’ with my friend gorgeous Tammy.
I expected a great show but I was absolutely blown away. When the silks came down from the ceiling and Pink pulled herself up and wrapped herself around them, still singing and then started spinning above us, I was like ‘wow’. Expectations exceeded! I’ve seen Pink perform twice since then and have loved her shows but have never been ‘wowed’ like that first concert.
In business and in our personal lives, it feels great to ‘wow’ people. To know that they have been pleasantly surprised by your words or your actions. So, before you make a promise or a commitment:
1. Honestly appraise to yourself what you can deliver and communicate this clearly
2. Deliver on your commitment to build trust
3. Consider if there is anything you can do or say to go ‘above and beyond’ and exceed their expectations - deliver the ‘WOW'!
For me, I'm not sure if I delivered the WOW last week; their expectations were pretty high! I'll get the feedback in the next few days and I guess I'll find out. Maybe next time I'll suggest a slightly understated introduction. Haha :)
Midja x