Quote of the month: "Audiences don't care how much you know; they want to know how much you care." –Zig Ziglar, speaker, author		April, 2007 Communication is Connection A speech is a conversation between the audience and the speaker. For a bonding, supportive, encouraging conversation to occur between them, the speaker needs to ensure that a connection is created. A connection is established on two levels: the intellectual and the emotional, using logic and feelings, head and heart. For a speaker's message to alter a listener's thoughts, feelings, words, or actions, during and especially after the speaker finishes speaking, the listener's intellect and emotions need to be engaged. A human connection requires a degree of caring, sincerity, and empathy demonstrating an: "I've been there too attitude." "I understand how you felt." "I can relate to that experience too." and so on.
	Let's look at 3 ways to do this: Through the use of PERSONAL STORIES: Speaking is simply- tell a story, make a point, or make a point, tell a story. A "Mount Everest" type of story is not necessary, since very few people would ever relate their own life experiences to such an event. Therefore, simple everyday stories that were important to you and had a significant impact on your life, may have an impact on others too, as long as the story is "I- focused" (speaker-focused) and the message is "You-focused" (audience-focused), relating to possibly their life experiences. One way you can do this is by asking rhetorical questions throughout your speech at intervals, such as: "Can you relate to that?" "When was the last time you experienced something like that? How did you feel?" In essence, you're talking with them, not at them! Through BODY LANGUAGE: When a normal, natural conversation takes places between two friends, one discloses information, the other responds with either a comment and/or appropriate body language. This exchange of information proceeds back and forth between both parties. A speech, also a conversation, is very similar. The speaker discloses thoughts and ideas and the listener responds accordingly. The response could be a nod, a smile, laughter, a frown, or even a growl. Using eye contact, the speaker needs to consciously acknowledge the variety of audience responses and react appropriately to the cues in order to connect. Natural hand gestures, facial expressions and vocal variety add to communicating in a connective, conversational manner. Through SELF-EFFACING HUMOUR: Humour is the cheapest, most abundant gift you can give to others. We all have stories with our mistakes and lessons learned. We need to share them with others, as it shows the audience our down-to-earth humanity, that we don't take ourselves so seriously, and that we are no different than anyone else. Through your use of humour, you are "speaker-friendly," consequently, more connected to them. This month, I challenge you to attempt one or a combination of these methods of connecting the next time you speak to an audience. I invite you to join me next month, when we look at the letter D for: "Dynamic Delivery in 3D." kathryn@kathrynmackenzie.com 416.489.6603 If you wish to unsubscribe from these newsletters, please contact Kathryn at the above email address with the word: UNSUBSCRIBE in the heading www.kathrynmackenzie.com © 2007 All rights reserved