Words hurt, heal, motivate, and aggravate. They are powerful. They control emotions and can even control a person physically. It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words… But how accurate is that?
I believe a well-chosen word in a speech can be worth a thousand pictures.
Your words are power. Recall the number of people you have made smile by saying, “I really appreciate you.” Or the number of people you have hurt by saying, “What is wrong with you? Can’t you do anything right?”
Words possess as much power when spoken to a crowd of a thousand as they do in a one on one conversation. As a result when you prepare your presentations and speeches you should choose your words carefully.
1. Understand their influence. Do not use or choose your terms lightly. A wrong word can turn an audience from friends to enemies. The better you know your group the better you can tailor your terms for their benefit.
You get to choose the outcome. Want the group to be charged, mad, excited, encouraged, content, or happy? You can produce any of those by using the right words in the right way.
2. Don’t be afraid to be edgy. You can be tough without being obnoxious, or insulting a groups intelligence. You can humorous and still make a hard-hitting point.
Review your speech and find words, phrases, or sentences that can be made more impactful. Look for opportunities to use power words and phrases in business. For other speeches find ways to cut words. If a phrase can be said in five words rather than ten – use the shorter version.
What about your words? Do you toss them out lightly, or with precision power? Your words can change lives and influence everyone you speak to. Choose and use them well.
