THE POWER OF WALKING YOUR TALK
Live your words and earn the right to speak about them

By Azim Jamal



We as professional speakers are privileged to have a platform from which we can effect positive change. To carry out our profession effectively we need to live our words -- and thus earn the right to speak about them..

It is a given that professional speakers should have expertise in their chosen topic. In fact, in the National Speakers Association’s (NSA) 2003 White Paper, “The Expertise Imperative,” the following traits are used to measure the expertise of the professional speaker:

• A perceived authority
• Educator and interpreter
• Contributor in the field
• Sought after by others
• Counselor and mentor
• Longevity/consistency
• Public acclaim
• Lifelong development
• Service orientation
• Ethics and character

“People are persuaded more by the depth of your conviction than by the height of your logic,” says Cavett Robert, founder of the NSA. “More by your own enthusiasm than any proof you can offer.” Thus a speaker who lives what he or she knows speaks with power beyond compare.

The theme of NSA this year is Expertise to the Power of Eloquence. In my opinion the eloquence comes not only from expertise but also from the power of purpose and living your words. This year’s Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) theme “The Power of Purpose” ties well with the NSA theme of Expertise to the Power of Eloquence and we can translate this theme in our speeches by asking the following questions:

• Do we know why we speak on the topic we speak on?
• Do we live every inch of our talk before speaking about it?
• Do we have self-awareness at the deepest level?

Do we know why we speak on the topic we speak on?

Clarity brings power. When you are clear about what you want to speak about you achieve focus, which gradually leads to expertise. So we can begin by defining our mission as a speaker.

The mission statement reveals who we want to be and what contributions we want to make to society. It also clarifies the values and principles that must guide our actions if we are to achieve these aspirations. Our mission statement should motivate and energize us and should drive all activities of our business.

When we are clear on why we want to speak on a particular topic, we have the “oomph” to persevere when things get tough.

Do we live every inch of our talk before speaking about it?

The most powerful speakers live and breathe their talk. When we walk, sleep, live, and breathe our talk we speak from the heart. And when we speak from the heart, our words enter the hearts of our audiences.

If we only speak with our mouth, without emotion and conviction, then our words do not even enter the audience’s ears. Real power comes from eye-to-eye contact, and that is triggered by the conviction of the speaker.

Our off-stage behavior indicates our sincerity and connection to our message. When we live our lives in harmony with our message, our vibes, energy, and aura reflect that confidence. In the wise words of Emerson, “Do not say things. What you are stands over you the while and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.”

Let us revisit our keynote addresses. How do we live and practice each thing we talk about? Has our thorough understanding of the material as well as our commitment to live our talk earned us the right to speak?

Consider the following story about the inspired leader, Mahatma Gandhi, as an example of this. A father who wanted his son not to eat sugar asked Gandhi for help. Gandhi told the father to come back after four days. When the father returned, Gandhi told the man’s son not to eat sugar. The father asked Gandhi why he had had to wait four days. Gandhi replied that he had to first stop eating sugar himself before he could tell the man’s son not to do so.

Therein lies the power - living your talk! Earn your right to say what you are saying! The win-win comes when your audience feels the enormity of your sincerity, and thus the power of your words.

Do we have self-awareness at the deepest level?

Being aware ourselves of what we talk about breeds effective communication. This implies being conscious of our everyday motivations, actions, and responses. Doing so allows us to discover the gap between how we want to lead our lives and how we actually do lead them.

Try keeping a detailed journal to evaluate your actions. This will help you to become self-aware at the deepest level. It also helps keeping the ego in check and allows us to strive for positive pride instead.

Use your reflections in that journal to create your evolving talk. By recording our thoughts, feelings, struggles, victories, and defeats we can use them as our most powerful communication tool.

If every professional speaker practiced achieving clarity of their mission, lived every inch of their talk, and had self-awareness at the deepest level, it would greatly enhance the credibility and image of our profession and increase their business success as a speaker.

Live your words and earn the right to speak about them. Therein lies the power of your talk!