Dr. Bon-chul Goo, CliniqueL

 

“A good lecture communicates with the audience.”

 

Each lecturer emphasizes different aspects of a talk such as materials, format, visual presentation, etc. Dr. Goo of CliniqueL prioritizes good ‘communication with the audience’ and is known for earning the empathy of the audience.

“A good speaker understands what the audience wants and is able to satisfy that want. This is why I recline lecture requests for non-specialists, or schools where the audience do not share the same background with me. Preparing for a lecture is that much more difficult for a nebulous audience.”

 

 

However, Dr. Goo remembers a non-medical talk as his favorite despite his emphasis on empathy.

“I once attended a talk titled ‘Philosophy of making cars’ by Hyo-joon Kim, CEO of BMW Korea. I thought he was the most eloquent speaker I have ever seen among Koreans. He abstained from unnecessary repetition and delivered an organized, succinct and impactful speech. I thought using such an effective style of talking would appeal to the audience more. On the other hand, simply reading the prepared materials without forming a rapport with the audience will make a poor speech. It may even be better to distribute handouts rather than give such a presentation.”

Dr. Goo observes the reaction of each member of the audience during his talk.

“When I have to go on a podium, I focus on identifying what the audience wants. So that I can delve into the topic that coincides with the needs of the listeners. I also try to gauge if the audience are being satisfied with my talk.”

Prioritizing empathy has helped him to overcome unexpected challenges. He remembers a lecture he gave in Peru.

“I was given a chance to make a presentation at a medical device fair in Peru, similar to KIMES in Korea. There were over 1,000 people in the audience, which included not only doctors and industry personnel but children, the elderly and those who just walked in because they lived close by. This posed a challenge as the needs of the audience were varied as there were those seeking professional information and those who simply wanted to look around. It was difficult to figure out to whom I should direct my talk. I decided to keep the topic professional but images easy and interesting. When I had their attention with interesting images, I delivered advanced materials. This helped keep the focus of the audience and I could feel that they were satisfied with my talk.”

 

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Dr. Goo gives over 200 talks a year which include those given in overseas locations. He also emphasizes communication with the audience even if they were foreigners.

“When Koreans give a lecture in limited English, the audience may find it monotonous. So the strategy should be appearing overly enthusiastic to grab their attention. If this is difficult, putting emphasis on key words can also help.”

One has to also consider that the audience respond differently depending on the region. For example, Western and Asian audiences have different responses.

“American audiences ask a lot of questions. If no questions are asked during the Q&A session, they think it is because the audience did not understand the talk. However, Asian audiences such as in Korea, Mongolia, etc. have less questions. It is therefore important to understand cultural differences when giving talks in an international setting.”

When he give talks in foreign countries, some are sceptical about an unknown doctor from Asia. In an extreme example, during the Q&A, one doctor asked him to come to his hospital and demonstrate the procedure as he could not believe the presentation.

“When I visited his hospital and gave a live demonstration proving my claims, the doubtful doctor apologized and acknowledged the integrity of my lecture. This is a natural part of lectures on innovative ideas and a speaker should not be flustered by aggressive questions but actively resolve doubts.”

Lastly, Dr. Goo offered valuable advice to younger doctors based on his novice days.

“For my first overseas talk, I prepared answers to over 100 questions. Those who are first stepping onto the podium may be clueless as to what to prepare. After my first talk, I realized that the most important strategy was to distinguish what I knew and did not know. The key is to thoroughly prepare what you know best, your specialty. This gives you confidence during your talk and Q&A and makes you more credible to the audience.”