Last Friday was a beautiful day in Peru, Indiana. Everything was setup for my talk and I had time to schmooze with the employees from Schneider Electric as they strolled into the tent to sit down. Retirees and their mates were invited to the event too.
I went over to Ed and Irene. Ed was a retiree. I asked the couple if they would mind if I asked them a few questions as part of my talk. Irene wasn’t sure but Ed said “fine.” So Irene went along. I found out later that after I had left, Irene leaned over to her husband of many years and said “Don’t embarrass me Ed.”
A few minutes into my talk I looked over at Ed and asked him ‘How he got married? Was it a church?’ “Yes” he said. I then asked him if it was a big or small wedding and other details about the momentous occasion.
It was when I asked him ‘Why he got married?’ that he ignored his lovely wife’s demand that he not embarrass her in front of nearly 500 people, many who she knew. Without any hesitation when I asked Ed ‘why he got married’ he boldly said “Because I had to!”
Everyone laughed and Irene was visibly embarrassed.
Later, when I hung out with the couple during lunch, Irene told me right away that “we were married ten years before we had our first child.” I told her that didn’t matter anymore, Ed had fixed that. She actually wasn’t mad. Having been married to Ed for several years, she was not surprised by her husband’s response. In fact, we all got a big chuckle out of it.
What the episode with Ed and Irene did reinforce for me was that, whether it’s at an in-house safety meeting with a group of carpenters or at a convention with safety professionals from around the world, when you get your audience to be a part of what’s going on rather than just standing up and preaching safety, it’s better! Yes, it’s a bit risky. Whenever I ask a couple ‘why they got married’ I don’t know what will happen. But almost all the time it’s good. And sometimes, like this past Friday at Schneider Electric, it’s awesome! Thanks Ed–I hope Irene forgives you.
If you’ve ever had a similar “audience moment,” I’d love to hear about it.
‘till next time.
Richard
