On a Caribbean cruise a woman leans too close to the side of the boat and falls overboard. People hear her screams, and then they see an elderly gentleman jumping over the side. He swims to her and keeps her afloat until a life jacket is thrown to them, saving her life. The ship decides to throw a party for the hero and after they toasted him, he was asked to say a few words. He took the microphone and said, “I have just one question—who pushed me?” 
          As a speaker, when you have resistance because of a bad place in life, you can’t push people into accepting your ideas. In our time of layoffs, cutting back, and loss of money, the job of persuading an audience can be difficult. Here are some suggestions on how to get the audience on your side when people may be scared about their futures and not concerned about your latest product or idea.
          Include a success story. Your audience can’t help but feel in an up mood when they hear a narrative about someone who overcame odds to succeed. Even though it happened nearly 30 years ago, you are inspired when you are reminded of the 1980 U. S. Olympic Hockey team which took home the gold medal against great odds. The movie, “Miracle,” based on that unbelievable success story is still popular today. Success stories encourage an audience.
          Mention a benefit everyone in the audience will experience, no matter how difficult the context may be. Point out a freedom available to all or a blessing for each person. You might tie in the time of year or the opportunities afforded all citizens. With college students, I sometimes stress what a great future they have to look forward to by earning an undergraduate degree. To remind them of the big picture after a test everyone did poorly on helps the students to look at a brighter side.
          Include new and helpful information when you speak. When you listen to a new idea  or a different way of looking at the familiar, you are encouraged. Perhaps there is a perk that comes from slow business that you could mention. For example, when public speaking engagements are far apart, I have more time to research my area of expertise. You might have time to write an article or book on your particular topic that you have been putting off for the past three years. Point out the area audience members might get involved in to give them a competitive edge when the economy comes back.
          Make a memorable point toward the end. Leave the audience with a “wow” idea that they can’t resist thinking about as they leave your presentation. Maybe you have from a group or person the audience respects a statistic or testimonial which gives hope for the future. Leave the audience on a high note.
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Stephen D. Boyd, Ph.D., CSP, is Professor of Speech Communication, College of Informatics,  Northern Kentucky University, in the Cincinnati area. He presents keynotes and seminars to corporations and associations whose people want to speak and listen effectively. See additional articles and resources at www.sboyd.com. To book Steve, call 800-727-6520 or email him through his website.

A Purdue University student walked into a public relations class wearing a T-shirt that read, “You can never relive a party, but you can always retake a class.” I’ve gotten lots of smiles from people in my audiences as I’ve used that quotation over the past several months. I didn’t coin it, but the saying still came from my speech and the audience connected it to me. You can even see me make a point with this quotation at Retake a Class.

          You don’t have to be an expert wordsmith to have clever or humorous content. When people can express ideas better or more creatively than you, quote them!  Michel de Montage said, “I quote others only the better to express myself.” That thought is why the speaker should look for quotations that he or she can use to increase the value of content as well as motivating the audience to pay attention to the thought expressed from the quotation.

            You can find great quotations in all kinds of places if you are simply alert to opportunities. On a sightseeing bus in Australia a number of years ago, the driver at the first break encouraged us to be back on time, saying, “The difference between a passenger and a hitchhiker is about two minutes.” I use this line in presentations to emphasize the importance of humor even in serious matters.

A sign on the front door of the Malibu Seafood Restaurant reads, “The reason we don’t open for breakfast is we’re out catching lunch.” This quotation has helped me support the point that we should use positive language whenever possible.

          Quotations can help you paint pictures with words and create an orality that you might not be able to do on your own. Dr. Kenneth Cooper said, “Walk your dog twice a day, even if you don’t have one.” That made a great impression on me as to the importance of walking for a healthier life style. On the horrors of war, Robert E. Lee said, “It is well that war is so terrible lest we should grow too fond of it.”

You know that relating to people is crucial in any career, but Aldous Huxley dramatized the thought when he said, “It is a little embarrassing that after 45 years of research and study, the best advice I can give to people is to be a little kinder to each other.”

          Identify your area of expertise and look for quotations on the topic. My area is public speaking and effective listening. I’m always on the lookout for quotations that have punch for my audiences. In talking about the difference in written and oral style in my presentations, I use the statement from William Norwood Brigance, “A speech is not an essay on its hind legs.” On the importance of effective listening, Voltaire said, “When you listen, you have power. When you talk, you give it away.” Earl Nightingale said about stage fright: “Getting up to give a speech, you may feel like you are in the terminal stages of some type of tropical fever.”

          Finally, quotations help you get your message into the minds of the audience. As James Thurber wrote, “A word to the wise is not sufficient if it doesn’t make sense.”

 

Stephen D. Boyd, Ph.D., CSP, is Professor of Speech Communication, College of Informatics, Northern Kentucky University, in the Cincinnati area. He presents keynotes and seminars to corporations and associations whose people want to speak and listen effectively. See additional articles and resources at www.sboyd.com. He can be reached at 800-727-6520 or through his website.