Communications Insight For More Inspiring Leaders A Tip on How to Inspire...

A Tip on How to Inspire...

 21st Jun 2024
 
Question Mark Blog
 
Watching rugby player, Joe Marler's, remarkably frank documentary about struggles with his mental health (see link in Comments below).

Improvisation class, community choir singing, life coaching in Snowdonia, cold water swimming and more - what's not to like?!

In his search for experts who might help, Joe comments:

"I want to meet people with the same struggles I've had. And I want to see what I can learn from them."

What's true of Joe's journey is true of inspirational public speaking too.

If I'm an audience member listening to you...

Can I relate to you?

What can I learn?

How might I benefit?

But for you, the speaker...

How do you achieve that when, by definition, your own life story is unique?!

Well, dig deep into your human experiences.

Somewhere, down there in the dark - half-buried, even forgotten - you'll find human emotions.

Emotional undercurrents which cut across age, profession, class, gender, income and yes, culture.

What angers you may differ from what angers me.

But you and I both know what it is to feel anger.

In that, there's common ground.

With diverse audiences - even audiences of strangers - it's through the emotions that you'll connect.

So, dig deep.

It may not always be easy.

But it's true.

And all power to you, Joe.
👍 👏 🙏

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The school is at the start of an ambitious and exciting journey. You have helped us set the standard for the remainder of the year and further ahead. I hope you will return to the school in the future and inspire subsequent cohorts of MPP students.

 

Professor Peter Kemp | Associate Director, The Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

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