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PART I: SPEAKING IN PUBLIC: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
WHY IS BEING ABLE to speak in public important? Since prehistoric times when language came about, human beings have been trying to convince other human beings to their way of thinking. We see it in our schools, our politics, and our homes, along with a million other places. It is the stuff of human communication discourse. It defines us as human beings.
We admire the great speakers who cause us to think, change our viewpoint, and dream of what we can become: the inspiring pastor, the encouraging father or mother, the emboldening teacher. We look up to them. We emulate them. We seek their wisdom.
This is the power of the spoken word. It moves us, inspires us, and causes us to take action to better our lives, the lives of our families, and maybe most importantly, the lives of others. In a literal sense, it is responsible for all human achievement since the dawn of human history.
Part I of this book speaks to this importance of public speaking. It talks about:
- Speak Greatly to Lead Greatly!
- Great Writing = Great Speaking!
- Speak Positive ā Gain Power!
- Do You Have the Will to Prepare to Win?
- Speak Greatly in Times of Crisis!
- Are You a Go-Giver Speaker?
- Where Are You on the Speakerās Hierarchy of Needs?
- So Where Can I Speak?
- As a Speaker, Do You Have an Attitude of Gratitude?
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Speak Greatly to Lead Greatly!
āThe greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.ā
āMichelangelo
IS GREAT SPEAKING ESSENTIAL to great leading? Think about it. Can you think of any great leader who was not a great speaker? Great leaders use their great speaking ability to influence their followers. Because of this, great speaking is indeed essential to great leading.
Below you will find out how great speaking significantly enhances your leadership in the following qualities: integrity, resolution, and having the strength of their convictions.
GREAT SPEAKING IS INTEGRAL TO DEVELOPING UNQUESTIONED INTEGRITY
Earl Nightingale in his audio album Lead the Field talks of an American Army General captured in the Korean War. He was subjected to all types of physical torture, solitary confinement, and sleep deprivation. The general was ordered several times to sign a confession admitting he was a spy for the United States. He refused every time.
One day, his captors told him if he did not sign the confession by daybreak, he would be executed. Thinking he was going to be executed the next day, he wrote a letter to his wife that night. In the letter, he wrote, āTell Johnny the word is integrity.ā
The general was later repatriated to the United States in a prisoner exchange. But thinking he would be executed the next morning, he asked his wife to tell their son, Johnny, the word is integrity. What would be your last words on this earth to your son or daughter? These would be the words you want them to remember through life. Would it be the word integrity?
Dictionary.com (www.dictionary.com) defines integrity as āadherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.ā I was pondering this the other day and thought how your public speaking greatly supports your integrity.
You are your most convincing to your audience when you adhere to high moral and ethical principles. How can you do this as a speaker? Prepare your own presentation, and when you use someone elseās words, attribute them. It is entirely appropriate to support your presentation with quotes from other speakers if, and only if, you attribute the words to the rightful speaker.
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Integrity is the bedrock of your speaking life. Modern audiences are incredibly perceptive and can catch when a speaker is being less than honest with them. Your integrity or lack of your integrity will be obvious to your audience.
Adherence to high integrity will bring you much appreciation from your audiences. In addition to integrity, audiences are looking for leaders that are resolute.
GREAT SPEAKING SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCES A LEADERāS RESOLUTION
George Washington is a perfect example of the resolute leader. He agreed to lead a ragtag group of farmers, merchants, and part-time militiamen in a struggle for independence against the most powerful military on the face of the earth at the time: Great Britain.
George Washington was a man of few words. He never wrote a book and wrote few letters. However, after the War for Independence was won, he led the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which established the Constitution of the United States, which we still live under today. In his capacity as the President of the Constitutional Convention, he had many opportunities to speak to his fellow delegates about the eventual shape of the United States.
Why do you as a speaker need to be as resolute as George Washington? Dictionary.com defines resolute as firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion; characterized by firmness and determination, as the temper, spirit, actions.
Do you as a speaker have to firmly resolve what you are going to say in your presentations? Do you as a speaker have to have determination to prepare and deliver your speech? Do you as a speaker have to have a strong opinion on what the audience should do with what you are presenting them? I hope you answered a resounding āyesā to all of these questions. This enhances your leadership.
Final question: Are you now convinced you a leader when you are speaking? I hope you answered yes, because people in the audience are following you because you are influencing them through your ideas in your presentation. When you speak, you are a leader.
Integrity and resolution are key attributes of speakers and, therefore, leaders, but people will not follow you if you donāt have the streng...
