Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D.
www.bartongoldsmith.com
We all know that communication is the key to success
in business and in life, but what is it, exactly, that makes the
difference between an awesome, earthshaking communicator and one
who is simply average?
There are some very definite things that separate
the Martin Luther Kings, John F. Kennedys and Winston Churchills
from the rest.
The first is a clear, laser-like theme or message.
"Ask not what your country can do for you",
"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat",
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself", "Ich
bin ein berliner", "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall",
"I have a dream". These simple phrases or sentences summarize
an entire personality, an entire speech and, in some cases, an entire
movement. Your business speeches and presentations, and even your
comments in a simple meeting, will break out of the norm if and
when you take a few moments to simplify and laser-ize your message.
Once you have a solid theme, it is critical that
you deliver it with conviction and commitment. You have to own every
word. Listen to the conviction of Churchill, Roosevelt, Kennedy,
King and Reagan. They didn't just read their speeches. They sold
them!
Thirdly, you've got to reach every member of your
audience, no matter how big or small. You do this by speaking in
big concepts for the big picture people, hitting the critical facts
for the detail crowd, really connecting, on a warm, personal level
for the more touchy-feely ones and putting it all together in a
smooth, user-friendly, easy to listen to story that makes everyone
feel they've been with you for the entire ride.
And, to make that ride even more compelling, you've
gotta have rhythm. Yes, rhythm. The most brilliant ideas, the most
spectacular words, the most respected presenters can all fall flat
without a cadence that makes your audience want to listen. Words
can be . . . and should be, music and the great orators infuse their
speeches with a rhythmic cadence not unlike that of a great symphony.
Churchill, Kennedy, Anwar Sadat, Barbara Jordan and, of course,
Martin Luther King were all masters at this.
But, as one examines the greatest speakers and
the greatest speeches, one of the simplest qualities emerges as
one of the most important. Authenticity. Pure and simple authenticity.
Speaking from one's heart, like Lou Gehrig did as he stood in front
of 60,000 at Yankee Stadium in 1939, is often all that one needs
to really touch people and make your point and . . . improve your
effectiveness as a leader.
The best leaders have several things in common,
one of the most important is that they are able to speak to a crowd
and make each and every person feel like they were speaking to them
individually. Being a great speaker is sometimes a gift, but most
times it is a combination of guts, ideas and practice.
Credit:
About the Author:
For more than two decades Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions,
and government organizations worldwide have relied on Dr. Barton
Goldsmith to help them develop creative and balanced leadership.
He is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, business consultant
and nationally syndicated author. His columns appear in over 150
publications, including the Los Angeles Business Journal. Dr. Goldsmith
works regularly with The Young President¹s Organization (YPO)
and The Executive Committee (TEC). Considered an expert on small
business, he has spoken worldwide to groups of 10 to 5,000, and
is in high demand for Keynotes, Training and Consulting. He may
be contacted through his web site BartonGoldsmith.com
or at (818) 879-9996.
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You Being Heard?
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endorsement by the National Business Association; the article is
for informational purposes for our members and viewers of our Web
site.
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