21-05-2025
It Takes Guts To Seek Glory. Tips for Talking From Pulpit or Podium
As someone who helps other people communicate more effectively, I have had the privilege over the years to guide leaders in a wide array of professions on how to connect best with their audiences. As a Catholic, I have been inspired over the years when many of the priests in my parish have asked for and been open to coaching regarding their sermons. That takes guts. Upon reflection, I realize that much of that guidance is applicable to a broad array of business audiences as well. Here are some thoughts I have shared with my local priests that I thought you might find helpful in your business communication.
In 2023, the first of my four children got married. It was a wonderful event. My daughter and her now husband had been together for eight years, so I had plenty of time to work on the wedding toast. It meant a lot to me to get this speech right. After my toast, one of my brothers-in-law whom I greatly respect, approached me and said, 'GREAT speech.' I swelled with pride…for about three seconds. Then he added, '7 ½ minutes! Great speech!' His priority, rightly so, was, 'Say something nice and let us get back to partying.'
When you're delivering a talk at a business function, always ask yourself, 'Am I sharing this because it's relevant or helpful, or because I have the stage and love the sound of my own voice?' When you are a leader, you often have a relatively captive audience. Since they are captive, your job is to captivate them, not hold them hostage. Keep it short.
The same is true every time someone uses their own business jargon in a presentation. Whether we are in operations, finance, marketing, or HR, we all get sucked into our own jargon, and assume everyone else speaks our language. They don't. Share your content from your audience's perspective. That's not, 'dumbing it down.' Instead, that's being smart enough to make your complex ideas understandable to everyone.
Whenever you are about to use any term that could even remotely be considered jargon, specific to your niche of expertise, use 'preface language,' that highlights that you know the term you are using may not be known to all.
Say:
'This is what's called….'
'This is what's known as….'
'What we refer to as….'
When you use 'preface language,' you're saying, 'I know this is jargon.' You are telling your audience members who are familiar with the lingo that you, too, are an expert in this field. And you're telling those who are new to the topic that you won't leave them in the lurch but will keep them in the conversation. It keeps those less informed audience members engaged because they feel secure that you are addressing them as well and are going to explain things in a way they can understand. Using preface language is not just effective communicating; it's simply the nice thing to do. 'Nice' goes a long way with any audience.
The same is true in a corporate setting. Instead of regurgitating our organization's mission statement or sharing our team's agreed set of values, tell me how I am supposed to act differently because of our mission or values. Make it real.
If one of our values is 'Integrity,' tell me what acting with integrity means when I respond to a client's request for a quote, when I miss a deadline, or when I have to acknowledge that our initiative didn't meet the targets we set out.
If one of our values is being inclusive, suggest that I ask everyone for their opinion on a matter before sharing my own perspective as the team leader.
If we say we value accountability, show me how our promises to help each other succeed were actually carried out.
We all need direction, in this life and toward the hereafter. Setting the stage with soaring rhetoric is great, but is more impactful if conveyed with a few specifics to add to this afternoon's To Do list.
I've always admired the humility and bravery of my local clergy who have asked for advice on how to connect better with the congregation. They're living their stated values. I've always valued the eagerness and openness of my corporate clients to feedback on their content and delivery. For all of us, whether we are preaching eternal truths or pushing the latest company initiative, it's important to keep it short, keep it simple, and keep it attainable.
