Iowa 80 Group, which runs the largest truck stop in the world is celebrating their 50th anniversary. I get the privilege to speak at their Leadership Conference on Wednesday. (You may have read about this in Safety Stuff.)
I wrote them a song, which I’ll sing at the start of my session. It’s based loosely to the tune of “Happy Birthday.”
Here are the lyrics:
Happy Anniversary Iowa 80 Group
Happy Anniversary Iowa 80 Group
Happy 50th Anniversary Iowa 80 Group
The largest truck stop in the world.
You’re a trucker’s home away from home
Where you can buy all kinds of chrome
And gifts for your wife, husband, daughter and son
You also host a jamboree that’s loads of fun
Your diner’s buffet is spread with delicious foods
There’s a theater and a museum too.
And even a dentist in case a trucker breaks a tooth
Happy 50th Anniversary Iowa 80 Group
I’m sure it will be welcomed surprise and will help me connect with the leaders in the audience. I’m not telling you this to show off my song or brag about my abilities as a speaker. It’s to pass on a tactic I’ve learned over the years from other speakers, books and personal experience that will make your presentations more endearing.
At every talk I make sure to include as many things as I reasonably can to show my audience I’m not just throwing my ideas and suggestions at them but that I’ve molded some of the material that applies only to their company, trade, region or other specific trait that is unique to the group. You can do that too, even if you are speaking to people at your company or in the same department.
I use to host safety meetings every Wednesday for the electricians on a four-month Stone and Webster project. During the week I would keep my mind open to finding out about something that happened among the electricians that I could use in the upcoming safety meeting. It didn’t have to be about safety, but I would usually tie it in to the meeting topic.
For example: one of the electricians was getting married the weekend after a meeting in April. It was a particularly rainy spring so I wanted to remind everyone that the wet conditions increased the risk of shock. I made up a list of comparisons — marital risk vs. electrical risk and used it to conclude the meeting.
It was a big hit! Not only did we all laugh but it got the “safety message” across in a memorably fun way and made the meeting special for the audience (and Groom-To-Be!).
If you do things during your safety meetings and presentations that helps make your audience feel special, I’d love to hear about them.
‘till next time.
Richard Hawk
