Oh What a Feeling

Reviewing the textbook I use to teach my basic college speaking course I found some advice that doesn't work for me. The author claims that part of using an emotional appeal in persuasion is to use emotional language. Now that statement suggests that you should use language that pushes hot buttons, or actually describes feelings you want your listeners to experience. 

This is a weak approach. Want proof? Watch a great chick flick, then watch a standard made-for-TV movie. Which one engages your emotions, and why? A talented filmmaker with a good cast will portray situations that raise emotions in viewers. But watch all the long closeups in the hack show where a character is supposed to be thinking something. No one moves, no one says anything, we have to fill in the feelings for ourselves, and guess the thoughts of the characters. On the sitcom Friends, the character Joey Tribiani describes this as "smell the fart acting." Make a face as if you are wondering where the odor is coming from, and let the viewer fill in the blanks. If you've got a real case for your position you don't need to coerce our feelings. Just make your case with evidence and examples and let us react. I didn't know what a puppy mill was until one of my students spoke on it for a class assignment. Briefly, a puppy mill confines breeding females in tiny cages and breeds them until they die. Often the puppies are unhealthy. Dealers who sell puppy mill puppies guarantee their health, not because they are healthy but because they'll gladly give you another if yours dies. 

When I learned this I had emotions, and when I repeat it to my students they experience the same emotions. But notice that I did not use the language of emotions, any more than great comedians spend their time saying things like "this is really funny," or "you're gonna laugh at this one..." If you've got a good case to make, do so. If you can convince me you are right your work is done. But my emotions will change frequently. Don't rely on them.

Say Something

Okay, I think I have entered the 21st century. I'm on Twitter and Instagram. I'm following some of the young, tech-inclined YouTube stars. Ever watch one of the early YouTube shows? They scream "amateur." Why? No preparation. One even has apologies at the end of the show for problems. They consist of people in front of a camera with no direction to their comments or conversation. In one case the "star" actually brought up something from Twitter then admitted that she had no idea what it was, as she had not checked it out. 

So don't bring it up. Other comments included news items like "Such and such company now has more money. What will they do? Could be this, could be that..." From the jumps you can tell that these little gems were actually the best, culled from all the rest in editing. 

Yikes. Kids, take it from an old hand. If you want to talk in front of people, have something to say. Plan a point, support it, and move on. A little rehearsal wouldn't hurt, either.

This Blog's for You

This blog is for you if you have had an experience like the one I went through early in my career. 

I was standing at the back of a room, shaking, sick to my stomach, distracted with fear. What horrible thing was happening to me? My dream was coming true. 

You see I had been hired to perform one of my first professional magic shows and I was terrified. I knew my tricks, and I knew what I planned to say to my audience, but I was scared of them. I wanted to die, and I vowed that I would never try to become a paid entertainer again. Fortunately, I found a better solution. I powered through the show that night, then discovered the principles that allowed me to present successfully in spite of the nervous energy that creeps up on even the most experienced speakers. Learning these has enabled me to speak in front of hundreds of strangers, appear on camera, and lead seminars that last for days. I taugh these principles to hundreds of college students in public speaking classes.  I would like to share them with you here. 

This blog is for you if: 

  • You are afraid to speak in front of people, or on camera, but you want to. 
  • You don't have large reserves of time or money to spend on training. 
  • You want tried-and-true methods that will help you speak confidently. 


Great candidates to follow this blog are: the "mompreneur" who wants to sell on-camera, or the would-be Bible study leader who gets the shakes when more than two people are listening in. 

In the upcoming weeks I will publish posts that will show you how to change the way you think about speaking situations, and change your approach to them. We will work through some of the homework you should do before you stand in front of a room, and show you how simple it can often be. Speaking should not be a burden, and preparing for a speech should not be drudgery. You will see why one of the sayings I will use is "Be bold. Be heard." Get started by following to keep up with the upcoming posts.