S2E9 - Speak So People Listen

06/20/22 • 29 min

1 Listener

This week, McKay talks about how to speak so people listen. He opens up the episode with the story of Ronald Reagan’s powerful speech to D-Day veterans at Pointe du Hoc. Great speakers, McKay says, ask questions to connect with the audience and help them feel like the message is for them. To remember and map their speech, good speakers break their speech down into manageable chunks, each with important points to get across. By using chunks, speakers can teach instead of memorizing their lines verbatim. Most importantly though, McKay holds that the key to speaking so that people listen is knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Then, seek to magnify your strengths. It’s your strengths that make your speaking memorable.

He goes on to note that, when we try to mimic someone else’s style by playing to their strengths instead of our own, we come off as fake. That’s why McKay says it’s so important to share personal stories; the more an audience relates to you, the more they will listen to you. McKay also shares some speech 'don’ts' - such as using too many jokes to too much focus on the speaker. He draws this episode to a close by sending a heartfelt message to his friend Austin who has recently embarked on a public speaking journey of his own and encouraging all of us to learn a bit more how to speak so people listen.

Previous Episode

S2E8 - The Best Speech of Your Life

What makes a speech remarkable and memorable? McKay answers this question in today’s episode as he brings to light examples of great speeches and teaches us how to improve our speaking skills. In order to connect with your audience, McKay explains that you have to focus on your audience, prime them to think in the same mindset, use stories to carry them along, and ask questions.

The episode begins with the story of Abraham’s Lincoln speech, a short speech that inspired many and continues to do so to this day. McKay explains how Lincoln makes use of repetition and constraint in his speech and how he recognized his physical surroundings and atmosphere, giving more power to his speech. Mckay gives a step-by-step approach on how to become a better speaker by connecting more fully with your audience and making your speech less about you and more about your listener.

The Finer Details of This Episode:

Abraham Lincoln’s speech at Gettysburg
Using repetition and contrast in speeches
How to become a better speaker
You have to focus on your audience and connect with them
The story behind “I Have A Dream”
Starting your speech by priming the listeners
The different examples of priming
Priming with stories and jokes
The power of asking your audience questions

Quotes:

“Great orators, when giving a speech, seek a cadence, a feeling, by their use of words.”

“Great speaking is a developed talent.”

“Too often, we don't consider the place or the audience. And so many speakers come at it from their own point of view, or make it about themselves. And this gets in the way, it prevents the listeners from fully engaging.”

“Pay attention to where you sit. Sit where you can easily make contact with the listeners. Eye contact makes all the difference. ”

“In the beginning of a presentation, you need to prime the listeners a bit so that they can follow you more intently. Priming brings the listener’s mind into your mindset and gets everyone on the same track.”

“Too often, I hear speakers tell personal stories, and they're focused on sharing the story like an overzealous friend who just returned from vacation and wants to show you their vacation pictures. And they share every single exhausting detail about themselves.”

“Priming is a useful skill in all of your speaking. And when you learn to prime well, you can elevate your effectiveness.”

Show Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Next Episode

S2E10 - What Makes You Happy?

On today's episode, McKay explores the concept of happiness, including where to find it, and how to hold on to it. To intoduce this rather expansive topic, he opens up the show by reviewing Elizabeth Smart's story - her brutal experience getting kidnapped and raped, and her journey toward happiness. McKay says that, while it's true that happiness is partially dependent upon circumstance, we can also attribute a large portion of our happiness to dedication, the people who raised us, and those with whom we surround ourselves.

He goes on to introduce more conditions for happiness, noting that, when we have admirable intentions and goals in our lives, for example, we find more daily satisfaction. Even the love we share and receive plays a large role in how content we are. McKay draws this highly positive podcast episode to a close by reminding the audience to find joy in the little things, and by offering this invaluable advice: “Stay poised in tough situations—good will prevail. Exercise. Serve. Have Faith. Be humble and watch.... You will be happy.”

The Finer Details of This Episode:

Elizabeth Smart’s journey
Happiness dependent on circumstances
Set happiness
Taylor Swift’s NYU speech
The value of intention
Love and happiness
Darren’s happy landing
Focusing on the little things

Quotes:

"As the days passed, she started to realize that this may be her new way of life.”

“He has taken 9 months of your life that you will never get back, but the best punishment you could ever give him is to be happy.”

“Happiness is a choice.”

“Married people report a slightly higher happiness level than single people. In research, 25 percent of married people and 21 percent of single people say they are very happy. In short, circumstances such as wealth or marital status only impact our happiness in small ways.”

“We get more from our parents than eye color and facial features. We may get a large set of our happiness from them or from others. How we grew up or who we have interacted with throughout our life, does dictate our level of happiness.”

“People with aspirations have higher energy levels, stronger immune systems, stronger mental health and feelings of self-confidence and self-esteem.”

“I agree with the researchers. I believe happy people see the best, even in the toughest situations. They are empowered with poise and optimism.”

“Remember, that only 10 percent of happiness depends on circumstances. Fifty percent is heritable. So be a person who sees, talks about and shares the good in life. You can pass on the habit of happiness to others and be a blessing to them.”

“Focusing on the small things in life that bring you joy.”

Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen