How Can You Use Public Speaking to Influence and Persuade?
Public speaking is an art, and a public speaker who can influence and persuade the audience is a true artist. Persuasive or influential public speaking is the act of delivering a well-organized set of arguments to persuade an audience to accept or support the presenter’s viewpoints. Compared to a one-on-one interpersonal discussion, it is a more formal way of communication.
You can be a great public speaker, but do you know how to get to the mind of your audience and influence the way they think?
Well, in this blog, we will discuss how you can use public speaking to influence and persuade.
Educate or Choose a Purpose
A purposeless speech is equal to no speech at all. When you are a public speaker, it is very important for you to find a purpose. Purpose can be categorized into two types – general or specific purpose.
The former includes a common purpose to entertain, inform, and inspire the crowd. While the latter form of purpose involves talking about a specific topic and explaining its purpose.
Also, to persuade and influence the audience it is important to educate them. Give individuals enough knowledge so they are aware of the need to take action and are confident in their ability to do so.
Try to present the information from the perspective of what the public will gain because people don’t typically take action unless they perceive a personal benefit.
Use the Technique of Storytelling
The audience loves it when the speaker talks about personal stories and emotions. They tend to connect way more to personal stories than mere philosophies. You must always have a series of stories and each tale should demonstrate a specific point, which you can utilize like ingredients in a recipe to support your arguments, persuade listeners, and animate your presentation.
A tale told with candor and humility can affect practically anyone, regardless of your speaking experience.
The Strategy of Logos
Logos typically means backing your statements with authentic facts and information. Can you imagine influencing or persuading people to buy a product if you are unable to factually tell them why should they purchase it?
Well, that’s exactly what logos means. To support its rationale, this tactic compares a fact or an event to the topic at hand. Given how difficult it is to argue with good logic, Logos provides the audience with a practical comparison.
Establish Your Credibility
Why would people be inspired or influenced by a speaker who doesn’t exhibit his/her credibility?
Introduce yourself by stating why you are qualified to talk. Explain your past in the workforce, your present position, and your field of expertise.
To connect with you, the audience must know your life, your professional experience, and your journey.
Use of Rhetorical Questions
If you wish to connect with your audience, you must use rhetorical questions that make the audience ponder on it.
For example- “With less hatred, wouldn’t the world be a better place to live in? With better audience engagement, influencing or persuading becomes easier.
Once you become an influential or persuasive speaker, you can fetch the desired result you want from the audience. You can effectively influence and persuade your audience through the careful use of words if you comprehend the approaches, techniques, and strategies efficiently.
Till then,
Stay Awesome. Stay Productive.
– Divas Gupta