Walk with Kings
England rugby players Jonny Wilkinson and Dylan Hartley have a more mesmeric effect on their fans than other players, helping them control their audeince better, because they dazzle when they communicate, but with a warm and approachable dignity.
Watching the England rugby team training at Twickenham in the build-up to next month's Rugby World Cup was a joy, as was meeting some of the players afterwards. But what was most revealing was the way the team members dealt with the fans and well wishers who were there to see them.
Watching the England rugby team training at Twickenham in the build-up to next month's Rugby World Cup was a joy, as was meeting some of the players afterwards. But what was most revealing was the way the team members dealt with the fans and well wishers who were there to see them.
Forty men are competing desperately for a place on the World Cup squad. Ten of them will not make it and will be told in the next few weeks that they're not on the plane to New Zealand. They are under a lot of pressure.
Now, while some of the players waved to the crowd of about 2,000 people after the training was over and then wandered back to the changing room, others really took time to sign rugby shirts, rugby balls and anything else people could thrust at them.
Some were industrial in their autograph signing - their scribbles were like chinese letters - others really took their time and chatted with the young and old there as if they were old friends. Players like hooker Dylan Hartley and fly half Jonny Wilkinson were so warm and down to earth that they had a magnetic aura around them.
The fans they chatted with and had pictures taken with were calmer and less frantic. And, as a result, Dylan and Jonny were better able to control and communicate with their audience.
To quote the wise words of the 20th century British poet Rudyard Kipling from his poem If..."If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch."
Both men tuned into their audience and made them feel special without trying too hard to be one of the crowd. And their fans loved them for it even more.
And that's why, when you appear in front of your varied audiences, whether presenting or networking, you should feel you have something of great worth they can enjoy and benefit from without you having to act as if you do.
Now, while some of the players waved to the crowd of about 2,000 people after the training was over and then wandered back to the changing room, others really took time to sign rugby shirts, rugby balls and anything else people could thrust at them.
Some were industrial in their autograph signing - their scribbles were like chinese letters - others really took their time and chatted with the young and old there as if they were old friends. Players like hooker Dylan Hartley and fly half Jonny Wilkinson were so warm and down to earth that they had a magnetic aura around them.
The fans they chatted with and had pictures taken with were calmer and less frantic. And, as a result, Dylan and Jonny were better able to control and communicate with their audience.
To quote the wise words of the 20th century British poet Rudyard Kipling from his poem If..."If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch."
Both men tuned into their audience and made them feel special without trying too hard to be one of the crowd. And their fans loved them for it even more.
And that's why, when you appear in front of your varied audiences, whether presenting or networking, you should feel you have something of great worth they can enjoy and benefit from without you having to act as if you do.
posted: 10 Aug 11