By: Rev. Ed Schneider, MPTh
I had the honor of engaging in a group discussion concerning what others appreciated about those who regularly are involved with some iteration of public communication. These public communicators would include coaches, preachers, politicians, and other individual leaders from a wide variety of organizational responsibilities.
Beyond expressing their heroes and villains of public oratory, our 90 minutes together revealed several commonalities of what they considered extremely valuable in the art and science of public discourse as well as the worst things to do when trying to influence people into an actionable response.
Below are the group’s list of the top 5 attributes concerning successful public communication as well as the 5 bad habits to avoid. Surprisingly, there was very BIG surprise that everyone agreed with regarding a rampant symptom of fallibility in any inspirational speaker. I’ll save that to the end.
Top 5
◦ Authenticity
◦ Singular Messaging
◦ Well Prepared with Underlying Premise
◦ Comfortable and Secure with Details Without Fixating on them.
◦ Intentionally Engage with Audience and with Purpose.
Worst 5 – Do the Opposite
◦ Disingenuous
◦ Bring into the presentation competing points of interest
◦ Lazy and ill prepared with context and supportive details
◦ Wrongfully believe that Details alone Convince an Audience into Action
◦ Show little enthusiasm or caring connection for the Audience.
Big Surprise
The longest discussion we had dealt with the subject of passion. Even though we agreed trying to move others without a personal passion and genuine enthusiasm being felt, we also firmly decided empty, misleading or uniformed bravado can and often is useless, and can be dangerous.
One of our participants said when referring to a political figure that she truly appreciated
“He really speaks his mind, doesn’t he?”
Someone else marginally agreed when he added,
“I can’t stand people who are noncommitted to their own words! Why would anyone want to listen to that?”
Here’s the basic problem with foundationally evaluating a speaker by their commitment to speak their mind.
The term “speaking your mind” carries the understanding to be blunt, candid, forthright, frank, free-spoken, point-blank, boldly direct.
Probably my lone contribution to facilitating our discussion was when it became obvious to me I needed to redirecting the group’s focus when I commented.
I’m not convinced speaking one’s mind is that critical if what is inhabiting the person’s mind is indeed junk.
Everyone laughed loudly as we all agreed just speaking with blunt enthusiasm means little if your facts, premise and conclusions are based on ignorance, hatred and gaslighting the audience.
I told our group that I was sick and tired of ignorant, hateful fools using the cheap trick of volume and enthusiasm when trying to persuade people toward their own opinions and purposes! From a sincere and accurate Christian perspective, it is dangerous for two very important reasons.
The first is associated with the motivation of the speaker.
It is incredibly tempting for any speaker, Christian or otherwise, to premeditatedly fall victim of significant volume and overt excitement as a requirement. I’m not saying to communicate in subdued quiet while showing a complete lack of fervor. What I am trying to convey relates to transforming from the substantive to the performative. Far too many preacher lean heavily on the HOW not the what or the why.
The second danger is relying on the performative instead of the critical partnership of substance and application
When a speaker becomes focused on the unfortunate reality that most people primarily evaluate the value of a message – any message- through a performative lens. Substance and application often take a backseat to what the Bible refers to as “itching ears.” If the public communicator is a consistently scheduled speaker they will quickly and regrettably learn to lean on this technique instead of doing the hard work associated with preparation.
The Bible clearly warns against these kinds of speakers, especially when they are intentionally taking advantage of a self-serving and undiscerning audience. The following three passages of the biblical witness will demonstrate the importance of this danger.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (KJV)
For the time will come when they (the audience) will not endure (be exposed to) sound doctrine (accurate teaching); but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Matthew 7:15 reads,
“Beware of false prophets, (preachers-public communicators) which come to you in sheep’s clothing, (pretending to be safe, compassionate and familiar) but inwardly (true hidden motives) they are ravening wolves”.
Romans 2:21-23
You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? (If the teacher is genuinely studying then their lives should be authentic examples)
While you preach against stealing, do you steal? (Saying the words alone does not guarantee honoring those same words)
You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? (Disobeying a covenant before God is prime evidence of a malignant spirit)
You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (Yet the unfaithful and false prophet treats God’s house like a cheap idol carrying no value)
You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law” (The foundational transformation of our souls is built on two summary truths.
- Love God with all your heart, mind and soul. AND –
- Love others with an unending commitment to uplift, care and sacrifice while genuinely demonstrating affection and acceptance. In other words, love your neighbor as you would love yourself.)
Here’s a jolt of bold Christian authenticity.
If any of us who claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior can’t or won’t be led by and then subsequently demonstrate the above two building blocks of Christian faith, the Bible admonishes us as being falsely infected by an…
- Empty Heart,
- Insulting Spirit,
- Inadequate Intelligence, and/or a
- Fraudulent Motivation.
When referring to someone spouting some nonsense, my grandmother use to say.
“It doesn’t matter the words coming out of their mouth if what they’re saying comes from an empty head and a cold heart.”
Grandma Fern, circa a long time ago
Lord, yes!
For those who may want a more in depth study, here are a couple of videos that can add a wider scope of information to the above understanding.
Categorical Preaching Methodology: Participant’s Course Workbook https://a.co/d/gSssa3A
Categorical Preaching Method: Facilitator’s Guide with Course Included https://a.co/d/hY84xYn
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