“I’m not an expert on this topic, but…”
“This isn’t exactly an exciting topic, but…”
“I hope you find this interesting.”
“If I had had more time to prepare…”
All these expressions have the same thing in common. They make your audience wonder why you, and especially they, are there. Each statement communicates the same message: “This is not going to be a good use of your time: sit near the door.” They are unnecessary and harmful statements. They are “power thieves” who extract the energy from your ideas. The three biggest thieves are apologies, weak sentences, and weak words. Attack them on all fronts.
Run away from weak words and weak sentences. People may forget what they hear, but they will remember what they see. That’s why someone once said, “The most effective speaker is someone who can make people see with their ears.” The well-chosen word has the ability to create a vivid and unforgettable mental image.
One way to ensure that your listeners “see” your words is to avoid euphemisms, words that make concepts more politically correct, but are vague and less colorful. (In other words, don’t sweat when you should be sweating.) These days, people no longer die, pass away, end, or expire. If you want to exercise, you don’t go to a smelly gym, you join a spa or fitness center. We used to lay people off, now we downsize, resize, restructure or redesign.
Here’s one final point to make: Can you visualize an undertaker? What color is the suit he is wearing? Can you visualize a “grief counselor”? Of course not. You can’t even see the person, let alone the clothes. And that’s the problem with euphemisms, sometimes called “commercial red tape,” that suck the juice out of his words.
Well-chosen words give your speech the power to captivate, mesmerize, and captivate your audience. You will command attention when you sound convincing, authoritative, and believable.
Extracted from Sandler’s training program Introducing Yourself with Impact ©1997. All rights reserved.