Key Messages
How To Persuade Like The Great Orators: Master The Art Of Great Communication
If you want to make a big impact, it’s essential that you learn the art of persuasion.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur trying to secure investment from potential sponsors, or a talented software engineer seeking the attention of a tech giant recruiter, having great communication skills will increase your chances of success.
In these sections, we’ll learn about the communication secrets of some of the 20th century’s greatest orators such as John F.
Kennedy and Winston Churchill.
Plus you’ll get up to date on engaging presentation techniques and understand better how to tell convincing stories at job interviews.
You’ll also find out what communication lessons can be learned from NASA and why it’s important to make sure that even fifth graders can understand your arguments perfectly.
So with the help of Natures Nutrition’s Five Star Book Summary you can up your powers of persuasion and really begin to make headway in achieving those ambitious goals.
Kennedy’s Communication Strategies Helped Motivate America To Achieve Its Moon Landing Aspirations
When it comes to effectively communicating and achieving a specific desired outcome, there are some key factors to keep in mind.
John F.
Kennedy demonstrated the power of this technique when he had his speeches on NASA’s space program during the 1960s; he used rhetorical methods that focused on one goal, instead of spreading out multiple objectives.
This helps because it keeps people’s minds concentrated on one unified cause; rather than trying to progress multiple goals at the same time, having everyone focus on one task is much more efficient and effective.
Furthermore, JFK also turned abstract concepts into measurable goals with concrete timelines.
This made it easier for people to rally around the project and understand its importance.
For example, during a speech he presented in 1961 before US Congress, Kennedy suggested that America should strive to achieve a successful Moon landing within the decade.
By focusing on one single goal that was clear and had a specified timeline attached to it, he was able to make sure everyone understood their target and were inspired by working towards it as a team – which they eventually did in 1969!
So if you want people to get behind your ideas effectively communicated them clearly in terms of just one goal that is tangible and has an attached timeline for completing it – like JFK did back then with NASA’s mission!
The Power Of Storytelling: Proven To Help Secure A Job Offer From Tech Companies
Haseeb Qureshi is living proof that you can win over recruiters and secure the job of your dreams with the power of storytelling.
Despite having only a year of experience in coding and no degree in computer science, he managed to land offers from some of the biggest tech companies like Google, Airbnb, Yelp and Uber.
The key to his success? Communicating his technical skills through storytelling.
By following Haseeb’s advice and constructing a compelling story around your experience and skillset, you can make yourself stand out as an applicant which is just as, if not more important than simply proving that you have the technical ability to do the job.
Begin by considering yourself as a character in your own life story with a start, midpoint and end – that includes understandable motivators for each action taken as well as points of inflection.
To really wow recruiters with your story-based answers, practice until you can confidently tell them without hesitation or pause.
Consider what questions could come up in an interview situation and create stories around those topics ahead of time.
Make recordings yourself telling stories about these topics so that you are prepared for anything an interviewer might throw at you during your session.
You could even ask friends for feedback to make sure that your communication skills are on point before the big day!
Nasa’s Successful Communication Strategies For Inspiring The Public About Space Exploration
When it comes to making sure your presentations are engaging, the best advice is to keep it short and sweet – but also make sure you add some visuals!
This wisdom applies even for an organization like NASA, which has developed a mission of inspiring all Americans to want to explore the universe.
NASA follows a tried-and-tested rule when it comes to press briefings, using no more than 18 minutes so as to not overload people with information.
That way they don’t suffer from what scientists call “cognitive backlog” – a situation in which our memory gets full and we can’t process everything.
Therefore, if you want your presentations to be impactful, you should stick to 15-20 minutes of content.
That may be easier said than done, especially if your topics are complex.
In that case you should make an effort to incorporate pictures or illustrations into your talks – research has found that adding one visual element can increase retention of information by 65 percent!
The Secret To Building Google’S Most Effective Teams: Focus On Communication And Psychological Safety
Quality of communication between members is what sets good teams apart from great ones.
This has been proven in a 2012 study conducted by Google that focused on understanding the habits of the company’s highest performing teams.
The study revealed that it was not who was part of the team, but rather how well they communicated with each other that mattered most.
The researchers discovered that the best teams exhibited three specific traits: Psychological safety, clarity and impact.
For example, effective teams showed a high level of psychological safety where members felt secure to take risks and were comfortable to express vulnerability with one another.
They also had a high level of clarity – members understood their roles and goals, as well as how their individual work contributed to the success of wider organization.
Lastly, best-performing teams had an element of impact – where each member’s job made a difference and there was awareness about how their collective efforts could lead to positive change in the larger context.
Ultimately, quality communication is what truly sets great teams apart from good ones.
If you are looking to build your own effective team at work or elsewhere, remember to foster a sense of psychological safety by encouraging people to share personal stories; ensure everyone understands their role and its impact; and emphasize clear goals to drive performance towards success.
The Power Of Pathos In Storytelling: How To Use Struggle To Instil Brand Loyalty
If you want to inspire others, be sure to incorporate some pathos into your origin story.
This should include any adversity or struggle that you or your brand have faced in the past.
Pathos is an emotional appeal that has the power to convince an audience.
A perfect example of this was seen with Nike’s origins story – even though it was a risky and unorthodox process, their co-founder Bill Bowerman created a revolutionary running shoe mold from a waffle iron, which became hugely successful and led the company down its successful path.
The tragic death of one of Bowerman’s most famous athletes, Steve Prefontaine, also adds powerful pathos to their narrative – one which continues to resonate with their modern-day employees.
In fact, new workers on initiation trips are taken to visit sites such as the original running track and spot of Prefontaine’s fatal crash to really drive home this message.
People are just naturally drawn to stories about struggle; they evoke human emotion and connection more than any other type of narrative.
These stories also have staying power because our brains have a tendency to make meaning out of hardship.
Utilizing some pathos in your backstory can give people something tangible for them to root for– invest in this idea and see where it takes you!
Less Is More: Why Simple Language May Be The Key To Clear Communication
It’s no secret that Ernest Hemingway was one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, winning numerous awards and achieving critical acclaim for his works.
What some don’t know is that he used simple language – despite writing for adults – so that a fifth grader could understand it!
His secret to success? He understood the value of using shorter words whenever possible.
This is an important lesson for all communicators today, whether they be leaders, entrepreneurs or teachers.
Research has consistently shown that people understand content best when written at a tenth grade level – or even lower!
Even if you have great ideas and unique insights, it doesn’t matter if people can’t understand what you’re trying to convey.
If you’re still skeptical about this tip of Hemingway’s, take a look at Winston Churchill.
He replaced longer words with shorter ones in his speeches in order to make his ideas easier to comprehend – after all, “the shorter words of a language are usually the most ancient.”
Wrap Up
The final summary of Five Stars is this: Presentations should be succinct, powerful, and easy to understand.
Adding some hardship into your stories can help make them more compelling.
Nerves are natural before a presentation, so try and shift your thoughts positively with cognitive reframing to improve your performance.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to create the best presentations possible!
