Every speech or presentation is persuasive to some degree. If you’re trying to get listeners to accept your point of view, you’re trying to persuade them. Even if you’re delivering an informative speech, you’re giving the impression that what you’re saying is the right information on this topic. And that, too, is a form of persuasion.
At Public Speaking International, we’ve created the C.U.R.E. Method of speaking persuasively. C.U.R.E. is based on how audiences perceive speakers and the information they deliver. You can think of it as a way to “cure an audience’s resistance to the message you think they need to hear.” Let’s look at the four components of this approach:
The C.U.R.E. Method of Persuading Audiences
Credibility: You must establish your credibility early for audiences to accept that you have something to say. Mention your bona fides, your years of experience, your lifelong passion, or your sheer joy in speaking on this topic.
Using Evidence: Your viewpoint may be well informed but to your audience it’s still just your opinion. What evidence do you have to back it up? What are some forms of evidence? -- Statistics, reports, testimony, expert opinion, case studies, customer testimonials, personal experiences, and eyewitness accounts are all examples of solid evidence. And there are many more. When you back up your assertions with evidence, you become a more powerful and persuasive speaker.
Reasoning: Audiences accept arguments that are logical and well reasoned. Your speech or presentation therefore needs a logical framework. Listeners will then see your conclusion as having weight, because they’ve followed you as you put the pieces of the puzzle together. If you reason well, your audience will arrive at your persuasive point at the same moment you do. Wonderful!
Emotion: Emotion is an essential element of persuasion. Too often people shy away from emotion in public speaking, thinking that it’s not appropriate. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you ignore the emotional basis for your argument, you’re leaving the human condition out of the public speaking equation! First understand the mood or emotional climate of the situation. Then bring appropriate emotional language into your talk. Human beings make important decisions emotionally and only afterward justify their behavior with rational arguments. Why shouldn’t you tap into this rich and essential component of persuasive public speaking?
At Public Speaking International, we use theater-based techniques to help you persuade and move your listeners to action. Call or email us today. Let us tell you how we can help you impress, motivate, and inspire your key audiences. We look forward to hearing from you!
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