Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #686: The Filter

A foundational tip of mine is: Never assume that people want to hear what you have to say.

You have to earn the listener’s attention every time you open the mic – even if you’re just doing something simple like intro’ing a song (in a music format), or adding “colorful” details to a story (in any format). Your “interesting sidebar” may indeed add something – but not always.

So…run what you say, or what you want to say, through the “Does the listener care?” filter first. Then, you don’t have to try to make it matter.

We all try too hard at first. Early in my own career, I tried too hard to be funny. I’m sure it probably came across as insecure, or even flippant sometimes. Two of my mentors — Lee Abrams in Chicago, and Bill Young in Houston – helped me get away from that. (Thank goodness.)

Now I’m passing this thought on to you. Sound your best. I love to hear people do it right.