'Friends, Romans, countrymen,' said mark Anthony. He started by expressing goodwill to his audience, appealing to their patriotism, and moving from his close friends to include total strangers. That's good NLP, neuro-lingusitic programming. What do your audience want to hear/ What is their identity? What do they have in common with you? What are they proud of? What do you want them to think, or do?
The most important speeches are those which start or stop wars, keep people going (We shall never surrender - Churchill) change politics even when in opposition (I have a dream - Martin Luther King).
On a personal level we can teach a baby to talk, welcome pupils on their first day at school, tell a doctor whether or not to resuscitate a parent, give a wedding speech or a funeral speech, greet a prospective buyer in a shop, encourage somebody to dance, swim, or ski, get a team to win a sports game, motivate a teenager to do homework and pass exams, get a spouse to co-operate or feel wanted. Even more important, still on a one to one basis, persuade a person not to commit suicide, or jump off a bridge, persuade a rapist and serial killer to let you go, or persuade a person not to shoot you.
I can give you examples of all of these and shall do so in separate blots.
But here is today's story. A cautionary tale.
A young man, a top student, is shot by a policeman. In the USA. We often quote somebody's last words. What were the last words of the young man who was shot. In effect he asked to be shot. Americans, especially those in authority, do not stop to consider double meanings. A policeman or airport authority does not want to hear jokes about bombs and shooting people. He (or she) understands quick commands and fast reactions in time of danger.
Angela Lansbury
Author of Quick Quotations …; How to be the Best Man; Wedding Speeches & Toasts.
The most important speeches are those which start or stop wars, keep people going (We shall never surrender - Churchill) change politics even when in opposition (I have a dream - Martin Luther King).
On a personal level we can teach a baby to talk, welcome pupils on their first day at school, tell a doctor whether or not to resuscitate a parent, give a wedding speech or a funeral speech, greet a prospective buyer in a shop, encourage somebody to dance, swim, or ski, get a team to win a sports game, motivate a teenager to do homework and pass exams, get a spouse to co-operate or feel wanted. Even more important, still on a one to one basis, persuade a person not to commit suicide, or jump off a bridge, persuade a rapist and serial killer to let you go, or persuade a person not to shoot you.
I can give you examples of all of these and shall do so in separate blots.
But here is today's story. A cautionary tale.
A young man, a top student, is shot by a policeman. In the USA. We often quote somebody's last words. What were the last words of the young man who was shot. In effect he asked to be shot. Americans, especially those in authority, do not stop to consider double meanings. A policeman or airport authority does not want to hear jokes about bombs and shooting people. He (or she) understands quick commands and fast reactions in time of danger.
A knowledge of NLP - language programming, would have told the boy that saying a confrontational sentence ending 'shoot me' gets that result, saying, 'I'm harmless, put the gun down,' would have got a better result. The cop did what he was programmed to do. React fast to a command.
In the UK a teacher saved her life by persuading her assailant that she would co-operate.
When you learn to teach or give a speech, you learn valuable lessons about persuading individuals and crowds to follow your mood and be co-operative.
And like all exercise, you have to keep it up to be on top form. That is why I am a member of two speakers clubs, part of Toastmasters International. You just never know when a knowledge of saying the right thing could save a life. As the highway sign says, the life you save may be your own.
If you go to lulu.com you can buy my book of quotations: Quick Quotations For Successful Speeches.
Go to Toastmasters International Find A Club to find a club near where you live, work, or play to holiday. Most clubs meet regularly, some monthly, most fortnightly, a few every week.
In London you could try Harrovians and HOD in Stanmore near the station. You can see me talking about speeches on youtube and performing with my prop, a puppet I call Ollie the owl. Good luck with your speeches.Angela Lansbury
Author of Quick Quotations …; How to be the Best Man; Wedding Speeches & Toasts.
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