Next level communicators speak as if they actually believe it to be true.
Next level communicators speak as if they actually believe it to be true.
Nothing turns me off more than a speaker who kind of, sort of, maybe believes what they are saying is true. You know the type, right? The let me give you something to think about kind of communicators. These dear souls would make awesome parents of young adult children, where the name of the game is, “giving them something to think about,” instead of passionate appeals as to why the decision they are about to make is harmful. But when you have the microphone and an audience, you don’t want to give people suggestions, you want to talk with a sense of urgency, as if you believe with all of your soul that what you are saying is true.
Scholar, Bryan Chapell, argues what’s missing in too many of our communicators is this sense of authority, and I wholeheartedly agree (Christ Centered Preaching). We’ve traded authority for talks and conversations. More and more it feels as if the person on stage is seated in a comfortable chair helping a couple understand each other, instead of a passionate communicator drawing from a deep well of authority. This is a real problem.
When Jesus finished his sermon on the mount, Matthew observed how the crowds who just listened to him, “...were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29). Notice, what set Jesus apart from the scribes as a communicator was authority.
When I use the term, “authority,” I’m not thinking about a person’s position, or someone raising their voice, and I’m certainly not thinking of a speaker who is mean and talks to the people as if they are kids. The image that comes to mind when I think of authority is when a referee has to make some sort of a call. Ever heard a referee sort of, kind of, blow their whistle? Have you seen a referee remove their yellow flag, look at it for a few moments and let it gently fall to the ground? Ever watched a basketball game, and see confusion over whether or not the referee called a technical for some egregious act? In all my years watching sports, I’ve never seen any of this. When it’s time for the officials to assert themselves, there’s no, “let me give you something to think about,” in their approach. They act with authority. What’s more, they have several thousand reasons not to- the upset fans who will not receive their act of authority well. But their obligation is not to the fans, but to a book which governs the game.
The number one trait of speakers who inspire and persuade, of communicators who truly move people, is authority. There’s just this thing about them where they can make you feel what they feel. Want to begin to make serious strides as a communicator? Learn to speak with authority. So how do we grow in this area? I’ve found the following helpful:
If you don’t believe it, don’t speak about it. That’s simple, right? Remember, at the heart of authority is a person who fully embraces what they are talking about. So yes, sometimes this will mean turning down a speaking engagement. I’ve done that plenty of times because what I was asked to talk about just didn’t move me. But there are other times when you may not initially feel the subject matter, but immersing yourself in the topic can lead you to be convinced that it really is true. But whatever you do, don’t agree to something because it pays well, or will look good on your resume. Say, “yes,” because you feel it.
Internalize your message. I can’t make my audience feel what I want them to feel, if I haven’t done the work to internalize my message, moving the content from my head to my bones and heart. For many young communicators, the issue is not whether or not they feel what they are talking about, but they are too stuck in their head trying to remember what comes next, and this distorts their ability to make the audience feel what they are saying.
Pick and practice your moments. You don’t want to step on the gas and make the whole message feel authoritative, that can fatigue your audience. Pick your moments, and then practice what you want to say in those moments. You may want to use phrases like, “I really need you to hear what I am about to say,” or, “If you’re taking notes, you may want to catch this,” or, “I believe this with all of my heart.”
Express authority in ways which are consistent with who you are. This is really important. If you are naturally animated, then be that when it comes to conveying authority. If you are more subdued, then be that way (A little cheat code for those who fall in this subdued category, pauses work well, right before you have your authoritative moment). If you are genuinely emotional at times, then don’t turn that off. I think you get the idea. For help, listen to communicators with your similar presentation style for how they express authority.
If you are interested in learning how to help your organization or church become more multi-ethnic, meet me and some great leaders in Orlando, May 11-12, for our Kainos event. Go here to find out more.
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