Article about Richard Tierney in Conference News

1. THE CONSULTANT
Way of the introvert
Our ever-willing extrovert Richard John spares a thought for the introverted presenter and points any such
types in way of another Richard who says presenting coaching books are mostly aimed at the wrong targets
the London Business School, which led to
the development of his creative coaching
company. It equates to a staggering 30
years of coaching presenters from over 60
of the Fortune 100 companies. He has
worked in more than 30 countries, and
has coached everywhere from an
Indonesian deserted Island to
Buckingham Palace.
Introverted Presenter is also the title of
his forthcoming book, and he explains
The presentation why he feels the world needed another
book on presenting.
coaching and “Here’s the scenario. An accomplished
presenter – let’s call him Roy – gives a
message planning great presentation at the company’s
annual conference. Mary, a salesperson in
services out the audience, admires his stage presence
and wants to emulate him. She searches
there are aimed online and, guess what?, Roy has written a
‘How to’ book sharing his personal secrets
at the wrong and tips for presenting. So Mary buys it.
Late into the night she studies Roy’s
personality type secrets, and put all he says into practice,
and guess what? It does not work.
Richard John
The reason is very simple: Roy is an
extrovert. From an early age Roy has
been the star of the show, he’s always
If you’re putting on a conference, there’s a the one who volunteers to be in the
good chance that you’ll have thought that nativity play, speech day, University
some of your line up of speakers could do debating society, and company
with some help. But have you ever meeting. That’s why he’s a presenter
wondered why ‘presentation skills’ and speaker – he was born to do it. No
training may not make a difference? My matter how often Mary reads the book,
mate Richard Tierney, is an industry she’s missing a vital part. Mary is an
veteran who has recently launched a introvert and yet will still dread getting
consultancy called the Introverted up to speak no matter how many books
Presenter, and reckons he has the answer. written by extroverts like Roy she reads.”
His credentials are impressive. He Richard’s view is that most professional
started as a theatre techie, rose to presenters are great on stage because
become an event producer, then retrained they are extroverts. They love the
at the Royal College of Art in television spotlight. However, here’s a surprise;
production, worked as a video and TV the majority of clients, presenters and
producer for a decade and then studied at meeting planners, are introverts.
February 2012 • www.conference-news.co.uk • 91

2. THE CONSULTANT
It’s about leading
the reader through
the terror to a
place of comfort
and acceptance
Richard John
So the presentation coaching and that: “We introverts are known to have For some reason Mr Tierney believes
message planning services out there are slightly higher IQs than you lot”. Still, that your beloved columnist is an
aimed at the wrong personality type. other researchers have pointed out that extrovert, just because it takes a stick with
more extroverted people tend to report a hook at the end to get me off the stage.
Cod psychology higher levels of happiness than introverts. But he points out that the majority of
Now, here’s a spoonful of cod-psychology; people find such a situation totally alien.
the terms ‘introversion’ and ‘extroversion’ Extrovert/introvert “This started out as a presentation
were first popularised by Carl Jung, and Jung stated that introverts acknowledge coaching service, and with some clients
many of the popular ‘personality profiling’ more readily their psychological needs and that’s where it stops,” says Tierney. “But
questionnaires make use of the concept, problems, whereas extroverts tend to be with others I go into deeper questions
including those by Eysenck’s, the Cattell’s oblivious to them because they focus more about their business and the messages
16 personality factors, the Minnesota on the outer world. However, extroversion they wish to get across. Introverts don’t
Multiphasic Personality Inventory or the is socially preferable in Western culture think about this, they just want to keep
Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Jung and the and can make introverts feel more their heads down and get on with their
gang suggest that everyone has both an self-conscious. Other studies have found lives. And because I’m an introvert I can
extroverted and an introverted side, with that extroverts tend to report higher levels relate to that.”
one being more dominant than the other. of self-esteem than introverts. After three decades in the events
Typically, extroverts are seen to be So far, so good; it’s obvious an industry Tierney describes his new role as
gregarious, assertive, and interested in extroverted trainer may struggle to “the most rewarding work I have ever
seeking out external stimulus. Introverts, change the performance of an introverted done. It can be transformational. Using all
in contrast, are seen as introspective, quiet delegate. Richard’s success stems from my experience in the events business yet
and less sociable. And of course, these are the fact that he is a classical introvert, not being a vendor is a great liberation for
behaviours that are highly visible on stage. and his starting point is to use some of me. Seeing my client’s actually enjoying
Richard also points out that the popular questionnaires to identify the standing up and speaking, with their
introversion/extroversion is measured in degree of introversion within his clients. audience having clarity, is a great joy. But
terms of a scale or spectrum, and around As he explains: “It’s about leading the you extroverts probably don’t understand
seven out of ten people fall in the middle reader through the terror to a place of what all the fuss is about.”
ranges, known as ‘ambiversion’. That comfort and acceptance. Mary will never
means only around 15 per cent of the be a stand-up comedienne, but she can
population at either end can be come to present carefully prepared Richard John is an events industry trainer
considered genuinely introverted or material her audience will connect with, and consultant. He can be contacted
extroverted. He’s also keen to point out and she can enjoy doing it.” through the Editor.
92 • www.conference-news.co.uk • February 2012