BE A PERSUASIVE SPEAKER

 

 

Persuasion is undoubtedly an art form, but have you ever wondered about the secrets of the world’s most persuasive speakers? They are usually tasked with steering an audience to accomplish an explicit action, or to get it to convert to a specific assumption or opinion. A persuasive speaker is someone who effectively convinces their audience to believe or act in a certain way. They use arguments, evidence, and emotional appeals to influence the audience's beliefs, attitudes, values, or behaviors. If you can recollect Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech or Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with destiny” speech or Hillary Clinton’s “Women’s rights are human rights” speech or Winston Churchill’s “We will fight on the beaches” speech you will at once understand what I am hinting at.  So, what makes these speakers different?

 

1. They always appear confident

Although the confidence might not be there in reality, a persuasive speaker will always give the impression of confidence. This is one of the most imperative parts of being persuasive. Unsureness on the speaker’s part will be picked up on by the audience, so it’s crucial for a persuasive speaker to have a confident demeanor.

 

2. They always reinforce who they are

The introduction of a speaker is usually the thing that sells the message to an audience before a speech even commences. It is the thing that makes the audience eager to listen to what the speaker has to say.

 

3. Their body language is strong

In order to maximize their interface with an audience, a speaker must exhibit strong body language. Consider how much emphasis is now made on visuals in our culture thanks to technologies such as tablet computers, smart televisions, movies, video games and smartphones. We come to expect the same visual strength from the people we consider to be persuasive.

 

4. They make eye contact

Rather than looking out at the audience as a collective, a persuasive speaker will go that extra mile to ensure that they make eye contact with as many individuals as they can during their speech. In fact, people in an audience tend to expect a speaker to make eye contact with them, and this is a great way of building trust.

 

5. They use an emotional punch

Many highly persuasive speakers include a “grabber” right at the start of their presentations. Examples of a grabber are a declaration, symbol, image or other tool that is employed to immediately grab the audience’s attention. Furthermore, persuasive speakers also use emotions to gain attention and elicit a positive response from their audience.

 

6. They always answer “why” questions

Another technique that persuasive speakers use is to answer a “why” question at the very beginning of a presentation, such as “why is it essential to discuss this subject at this point in time?” Posing such a question, then having the ability to answer it clearly is a demonstration of strong and effective communication skills.

 

7. They are passionate about the topic at hand

In order to persuade or convince an audience, a speaker needs to be passionate, or at least convey passion, about the topic at hand. This has an impact on the audience, which will inevitably pick up on the passion, leaving its members with a sense of obligation that they should accept what they are being told for their own good.

 

8. They speak conversationally

A persuasive speaker will always place emphasis on talking conversationally with their audience, as opposed to giving a speech. This creates an honest and trustworthy perception of the speaker in the minds of the audience members. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is a brilliant example. He never lectures in rallies, he establishes a dialogue and uses easily understandable language, the language of regular conversation.

 

 9. They build a sense of truth among the audience

The world’s best actors are prized for their ability to completely involve themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally in the role they are playing. Just try to remember Marlin Brando in Godfather or Anupam Kher in Saransh. A persuasive speaker takes on the same role when in the boardroom or at a conference. The more natural the delivery, the more believable the speaker’s message is.

 

10. They will use repetition for emphasis

Recapping certain points a few times throughout the course of a presentation is the perfect way for a speaker to create greater engagement with the audience. This is especially effective when the speaker goes over the points covered in the presentation immediately after it has been given.

 

11. They share their personal experiences

In order to make themselves more relatable, persuasive speakers will share personal experiences when and where they can as they’re giving their presentation. Doing so brings the message to life, makes the presentation pleasant and wins over the hearts and minds of the audience.

What makes a great and iconic speech? There are numerous examples of brilliant orators and speechmakers throughout history, from classical times to the present day. What the best speeches tend to have in common are more than just a solid intellectual argument: they have emotive power, or, for want of a more scholarly word, ‘heart’. Great speeches rouse us to action, or move us to tears – or both.