I love to cook – really, just about anything about food and food preparation. So you won’t be surprised when I tell you that Julia Child is one of my idols. She could cook, she could teach and she did it with style, joy and humor.
Re-watching some of her early shows on PBS recently, I realized that there are valuable lessons to learn. These apply to video but could easily be applied to any communications.
Do it with conviction – whether you’re flipping a potato pancake or kneading a baguette, you have to have the courage of your convictions. If you have a vision for your video, you have to commit to it.
Tell them only what they need to know – after Julia flubbed the flip of the aforementioned potato pancake, she gathered what had missed the pan and put it back together saying “Just scoop it back into the pan; remember that you are alone in the kitchen and nobody can see you.” Your audience doesn’t need to know every last detail. Tell them what will move them. Only include information that makes the story compelling.
Have a sense of humor – Yes, you want people to see you and your company as professional. You can pull that off and still have a bit of fun. Humor can make your video or presentation more memorable.
Be yourself – There are always things you can do to improve your performance. People can sense when you’re being genuine. Start there and then build on that experience.
You can see Julia’s original series on the PBS site. Maybe you’ll pick up a lesson or two.
