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Speaking with Passion
Many people in positions of power do not know how to speak in a way that is authentic, powerful, and moving.
What you say and how you say it are important, but why you say it is even more important. Every communication should be a moving encounter for you and your listeners. Even when your objective is to entertain or humor your listeners, an underlying motive carries you. The best comedians fall flat if no genuine purpose comes through. And that genuine purpose comes from personal experience.
When you tap your own source of conviction, you maximize the possibility that your listeners will commit. People will follow you, not because you have all the right answers, but because you have experienced similar trials and confusion.
You can be physically attractive, mentally agile, have a great voice and still not connect with your listeners because you do not know yourself. If knowing your audience is important, knowing yourself is vital. The evidence that touches people most deeply is your personal experience.
I used to think I needed a character transplant in order to be heard. It took me a long time to realize that a group doesn't follow me because I know stories about famous people. I discovered that people do follow me when I inspire commitment through personal authentic experience. Not the facts of the experience, but the heart of the experience is what matters, complete with hopes, fears, longings, and conclusions.
When I told a group that I thought the most important leadership skill is asking for help, they nodded knowingly. But when I told a story about my own personal breakthrough, they were able to visualize the impact.
In the past, I rarely asked people for help out of fear that they might say no. I assumed most people were off limits. I suspected they had better things to do, or they were too smart, too busy or too wealthy to have anything to do with me. So when the author of Smart Speaking, Marcia Yudkin, agreed to brainstorm some ideas with me it opened new doors. Overnight I realized that I could ask just about anyone for help!
When I started speaking professionally, I made the mistake of trying to reach listeners by being something I was not. I thought I had to give people a laugh a minute. Marcia taught me otherwise.
She advised that as long as I have valuable information to convey, being myself is what works. Marcia doesn't worry about whether people like her or not, or if she's putting on a good show. She says, "That would just get in the way." She even claims to have a mousy personality. But many times people thank her for showing them they don't have to change their personalities to become good speakers.
Personal stories are far more moving than a list of suggestions. Tips and rules won't leave listeners with any lasting impression. The best communicators use stories, symbols, analogies, and metaphors. They understand the power of personal experience and know how to evoke emotion. They also understand that personal experiences need to be distilled into simple messages that are easily received. Thinking in terms of sound bites or bumper stickers, their colorful expressions and slogans energize listeners.
As you learn to communicate with your whole being, you increase the depth and range of emotional expression. You gain a stronger command of language when you use the full range of your voice and truly feel your words. When you speak with passion you promote yourself and your ideas, which helps you connect strongly with people.
Self exploration is the foundation for discovering your passions and the underlying "why" of your communications. If you don't have a reason to communicate, stop talking. Wait until you have a purpose. Before you begin any speech, ask yourself a few questions: What is your intended impact? How do you want listeners to react? What do you want them to think, say or do?
To inspire others you must leave them with something to remember or something to do. Among professional speech writers, the gems that make the audience feel their time is well spent are known as "take aways" or "keepers". Whether you're speaking to one or thousands, the simpler your message, the greater your impact.
People who communicate well offer great teachings that touch people's hearts. Most importantly they mobilize others by challenging them to take action or think bigger. Calling for action or change is the undeniable attribute of a leader; it is the reason powerful people speak. Challenge yourself to find that something that's worth sharing and give voice to your passion. Specifically, which passion will you share today?
Martha Lasley is the author of this column and a business coach at Leadership that Works, a firm that offers training and coaching for individuals and companies.
E-mail or call her at 570-297-2270. She specializes in enhancing performance to reach business and career goals.
© 1999 Leadership that Works