He reveals to Gründerszene which strategies Mawave CEO Jason Modemann uses to win over the audience as a speaker. These are his three tips.
Jason Modemann is the founder and CEO of Mawave and regularly gives lectures. How he inspires the audience and what his tips are for getting booked as a speaker again.
I recently gave a speaking engagement to marketers from agencies and companies. After the lecture, someone from the audience came up to me and said: “That was so good, can you do that again in our company?”
This isn’t the first time I’ve received this feedback. My masterclass at the OMR in Hamburg was also among the top ten best-rated sessions last year. And at some point I asked myself why that actually was. Because I seem to be doing something right.
I take the following things to heart to captivate my audience:
1. The first and last impression
Before every performance, I think carefully about how I go on stage and how I go back down again. Because the beginning of a speaking decides whether someone will listen to you. And the end decides what sticks. When it starts, all eyes are on you and you’re insecure, you immediately lose attention. And without a conclusion, even a good lecture falls flat. That’s why I always have both clearly in my head. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I have come up with a choreo or have completely memorized the wording. But I’ve already thought very carefully about what I want to convey.
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2. Crowd control
Many speakers simply do their thing. I rather try to read what is happening in the room. Are people still looking ahead or are the first to pick up their cell phones? Depending on the situation, I adapt: more energy, more speed, maybe even consciously slowing down.
I also try to maintain eye contact and actively engage and involve the audience – be it through a question that requires people to raise their hands or something similar. When I do that, I don’t just end up talking into a wall. And that’s more fun for both me and the listeners.
3. Value first
I think many people try to get too much out of a lecture and lose sight of the most important thing: the audience. That’s why I don’t go on stage to present as many of my own cases as possible or to subtly sell my services. People notice that straight away… and then you’re usually labeled.
It is more important to me that the listeners really get something from my lectures and that I can provide real added value. For example, tips that stick with you or best practices that you can apply directly in your own business. If speaking is good, the requests will come automatically. And if not, that’s okay too.
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My conclusion: You don’t necessarily have to be a born speaker or have had a lot of speaking training to give a good talk and captivate the audience. Even small tricks make an enormous difference.
Jason Modemann is the founder and managing director of the social media agency Mawave Marketing. At 27, he manages 150 employees. Mawave’s customers include Red Bull, Nike and Lidl. He is also the author of the book “Always hungry, never greedy.”
