The Magic Speech Pill
If you had a pill that could only create good feelings in your next audience, and build trust and empathy with them, would you use it?
When asked this question, most people say “Yes – as long as it’s legal and ethical.”
The good news is, this magic pill is available. Humans have been using it since before the beginning of recorded history.
It’s called storytelling.
Research and the Power of Story in Speech
Research conducted by professor Paul Zak at Claremont Graduate University has determined that this ages-old tool triggers activity in specific parts of the brain. It also triggers the release of a chemical called oxytocin. Among it’s many benefits to the human body, this chemical is believed to bolster trust and empathy in people.
Why is this important when you present a speech?
When an audience feels these positive emotions about you, they are more likely to remember your message, and take action on it. This gives you long-lasting impact.
Three Steps to Bring The Audience Into Your Speech
There are 3 effective methods you can use to bring the audience into your world and help them feel as if they are part of your story.
1) Invite them in: Ask a question about their past that relates to your topic. Thinking about their own experiences will stir feelings, orient them to your story, and create an emotional connection before you begin to tell it.
Use the magic of story to pull audiences into your speech
2) Use ALL of their senses: People feel that they are a part of your story when you involve as many of their senses as possible. When you can involve sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell, their involvement changes from the intellectual to the emotional. They are more likely to act on your message.
3) Specificity: Specific details make stories more believable. If you say “My ordeal lasted a very long time”, there is no reference point. ‘A long time’ to one person may be 20 minutes, to another it could be 12 hours.
If you say “It was a 2-hour and 20-minute ordeal” the audience knows the amount of time had such an impact on you that you know exactly how long it lasted. They are more likely to trust you, because your details are more believable.
Our bodies are ‘wired’ to react to stories, as long as they are well-told. Ask questions that relate their past, involve their senses, and give specific details. Do this, and you’ll create a physical reaction in your audience that transforms your story into an experience with long-lasting impact.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
Educational Resource of the Week
The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs, by Carmine Gallo. Mr. Gallo has invested a great deal of time studying Jobs’ presentations. He offers insight into his thought processes, his obsessive attention to detail, and his unique use of props. Steve Jobs was a master communicator and showman, and Mr. Gallo helps you understand why.
To get your copy, visit: http://amzn.to/1ppeV1g.
Michael’s mission is to help leaders, managers and sales professionals communicate with more confidence, impact, and influence. This passion is born from his own communication difficulties early in his career.
Fortunately, he discovered that public speaking is like riding a bike, swimming or driving a car - it’s a learnable skill. Once he discovered this ‘secret’ he became a voracious student of the craft. He took courses, studied some of the world’s best speakers and storytellers and continues to study presentation and business storytelling skills.
He is hired by companies and organizations, leaders, managers and sales professionals, and TEDx speakers to help them become more confident, impactful and influential communicators.
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