Speechless: What would you say if your life depended on it? A Pocket-Guide to Public Speaking and Effective Communication

Speechless

Speechless

What would you say

if your life depended upon it?

Roshan Abbas and Siddharth Banerjee

BLOOMSBURY INDIA

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First published in India 2018

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Copyright © Roshan Abbas, Siddharth Banerjee, 2018

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ISBN: TPB: 978-9-3871-4675-4; eBook: 978-9-3871-4677-8

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Contents

THE CONTEXT

People often say that speech in today’s world and age has been swamped by Whatspp chats and Facebook emojis. But what about our early days? From which primal sounds did modern speech evolve? A shrill mating call. A piercing war cry. A soothing lullaby. The precursors to speech were all about communicating primary and often basic urges. But modern language is one of humanity’s most complex, and yet universal, achievements. If you can’t describe something in words, does it really exist?

The right word conveyed with the right feeling can propel us into action and effect change. Whether it’s getting a dull party started or sleepy classroom motivated, a speaker has the power to effect real and lasting change.

It’s a safe bet to begin any historic study with the polymath Greeks. Aristotle’s ‘Rhetoric Trifecta’ from the fourth century BC gives us this useful structure.

We are no students of neuroscience or linguistics, nor do we claim academic theories of laboratory fitness. But as public speakers, who have based our entire careers on communication with a wide range of audiences, we have picked up tips and tricks along the way that might help you put words to good use.

It’s the age of remixes and reinvention. So here’s our own version of ‘Aristotle’s Trifecta’, which we call ‘The Golden Triangle,’ three Cs, based on the principles of the of Content Clarity (Delivery) and Cohesion (Structure).

The need for effective communication

How many times did you have to persuade a colleague to go that extra mile? A family member to weigh in on home tasks? A child to put in more effort before a test? And how often have you had to address a gathering and found yourself struggling with thoughts that just won’t translate to words? Dear audience—take heart. We’ve been there too. And come out on the applause side after many failed attempts, some hilarious and others just humbling.

Through a process of trial and error refined with extensive reading and advice shared generously by our friends and peers, we have come upon a PRIMING ROUTINE that helps lay the foundation for your thoughts as an effective speaker, builds awareness about your audience and ensures that you are set up for success and for effectively communicating your key messages.

The preparatory questionnaire below is where it all begins:

Q) How do you define the context of what you are going to communicate?

•Is there a background to your speech? A topical reference or a life event?

Q) How do you define the purpose of the communication?

•Does it aim to inform/educate/entertain, etc.?

Q) Where are you speaking?

•At a bar or a conference hall? A face-to-face meeting? A press conference?

Q) When are you speaking?

•Opening/closing? Are you the first pitch or the tenth interview?

Q) Who is the audience/recipient?

•A team that reports to you will be completely different from a dealer whom you cater to. An alumni meet may be different from a principal’s address welcoming new students.

Q) What is the occasion?

•A thanksgiving or an acceptance speech? An introduction or a team meeting?

Q) How can you begin and end on a high?

•Can you plan for a James-Bond-Style explosive start and end equally strongly?

Q) What is your expected outcome?

•Be clear about the two to three key messages you want to deliver and ensure that you keep reinforcing these messages.

Hence, while we now have numerous ways to communicate in this new Digital Age, the basics of effective communication continue to remain the same, rooted in a few simple principles and some trade secrets, which we have crystalized into a simple mantra called Speechless.

We are all social animals blessed with the unique gift of imagination. While reaching out for the best life possible, we connect with others, try to influence them and are ourselves influenced in turn. Ideas are the intellectual capital of all ages—they make civilization and culture possible. And for these to spread, we need effective communication.

While researching, writing and road-testing this book, we spent hours and hours pondering upon the meaning of speech. But the core ideas of our book actually began with a single word, ‘speechless’, and the ‘aha!’ moment for our mantra also came from the same word.

Allow us to explain this using two scenarios.

Everyone among us, irrespective of social background or personality skills, has found themselves grappling for words at some point or another; fumbling, while trying to build a case; being underprepared for a discussion; being left tongue-tied in a public situation; being rendered ‘speechless’.

On the other hand, we are also likely to have experienced situations where somebody makes a point very effectively, expresses a point of view with panache and confidence, or debates a position with pertinent facts and sheer passion. In this instance, but for very different reasons, we are also left ‘speechless’.

Whichever way you choose to look at yourself—as the speaker in a fix, or listener in thrall—this book is for you. It is filled with the lessons we have picked up, hacks we have devised and stories that have enriched our lives. We hope this book makes a difference to your story, dear reader.

So without further speechifying, let’s roll out the speechless mantra as per figure below.

Like a pair of twins (think ‘Ram aur Shyam’ or ‘Seeta aur Geeta’) in a Bollywood blockbuster, who operate on different instincts, Speechless too has a couple of dissimilar heroes that work in tandem: LOGIC and MAGIC.

The LOGIC segment empowers you with tools that ensure you are never left speechless.

You can think of LOGIC as the basic hardware that is required to build your presentation, talk or speech.

1) SET-UP: Assess the readiness of the physical space and test the technical facilities—the room/space/lighting/tools/water.

2) PREPARE : Use the mantra: write - reduce - repeat. Fix a thread that runs through your story. Assess your audience.

3) EUREKA : Decide on the winning part of your talk/pitch/presentation. Find ways to pre-test your material.

4) ENGAGE (Level 1): Draw in your audience. Work the room. Use devices like eye contact.

5) CLARITY : Stress upon your key message. Build support via three to four key points. Connect key points seamlessly.

6) HIGHLIGHT : Devise powerful, creative ways for key messages to hit home. Use voice modulation.

7) LISTEN : Scan the audience. Assess the temperature. Have booster plans. Build supporters in audience.

8) EVOKE : Call for a poll with a show of hands (spot the naysayers early). Get feedback. Prepare with objection-handling tips.

9) SUMMARY : Develop a tool (a pithy statement or turn of phrase). Reiterate and recap. Check delivery.

10) SIGN OFF : Build your own signature device. Deliver a clear call-to-action. Keep space for feedback.

(Edward G. Bulwer Lytton’s quote suits our purpose well, with a few tweaks.)

LOGIC does what it can, MAGIC does what it must.

So let’s get started here. Underneath the veneer of a cautious communicator lies a terrific speaker. All you need is to channel some of the MAGIC that comes from the realm of imagination—our common ancestry. It’s time to raise your game and perfect your craft using some simple tools. Are you ready to leave your audience speechless?

1) STAGE (PRESENCE) : Practise at the venue beforehand. Use the entire space. Try to see things through the audience’s perspective.

2) POP OUT : Thrill the audience with the unexpected. Disrupt attention. Have striking visuals or slides.

3) ENERGY : Approach the audience in an optimistic, upbeat mood. Transmit your energy and excitement. Pace yourself well.

4) ENGAGEMENT: (Level 2): Use insightful personal stories to connect with the audience. Use humour or satire judiciously.

5) CLEVERNESS : Use the space creatively. Use the senses— sight, sound, smell and touch—to land your message.

6) HONESTY : Be authentic in fact and opinion. Do not shoot the breeze. If you care, the audience will too.

7) LANGUAGE : Avoid clichés. Use original expressions. Pepper your speech with quotable quotes. (e.g. What tweet could be put out? Which hashtag?)

8) EMPATHY : Sense