By Stephanie Bickel and Madina Behori
Think of a speaker you heard years ago. How did they make you feel? Excited, angry, curious? You may not have always liked the feeling; however, the difference between a moment we remember and a moment we forget is the emotional effect it had on us.
Therefore, if we want to be remembered by our audiences, we need to elicit feelings in them. What feelings do you want your audience to have? Here are some examples of what most professionals tell us: "I want my listeners to feel..."
heard
reassured
confident
engaged
inspired
motivated
enthusiastic
calm
safe
trusted
supported
relieved
secure
convinced
understood
open
comfortable
enlightened
impressed
smart
secure
relaxed
happy
Feelings fuel actions and actions lead to results. Therefore, if you want your audience to feel something, you must convey this verbally, vocally, and visually. This means what you say, how you say it, and your body language while you say it.
For example, if you want your audience to feel understood, then pay attention to the words they repeat and adopt their language (verbal). If you want your audience to feel enthusiastic, then use a more motivational vocal style; this is a voice that is varied in pitch, pace, and volume (vocal). If you want your audience to feel relaxed, then remove all tension from your body and be more fluid in your gestures (visual).
It's all about being more intentional with your communication.
This is what it means to speak by design.
Would you like to learn how to inspire audiences with your presence? Speak by Design tailors our approach exactly to your unique communication needs to help maximize your personal effectiveness through your communication. Contact Speak by Design to discuss a program that could transform your leadership communication skills and help others succeed.
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