Communicate Emotion - Your Fast Lane to Motivating Business Action

Can you remember a time when you attended a meeting, only to be lulled into an occasional listening mode because of one dull fact after another?

Just like you, your audience during a presentation will tune out quickly if you don't capture and hold their attention. After all, most business professionals have a lot on their minds.

Presenters who want their ideas remembered must electrify their audience by moving them emotionally throughout their presentation. It is the fast lane to motivation and action. So how do we accomplish this?


1. Verbal Images
 
Create enough detailed images for your audience to assemble a mental picture of what is being described. For example, if you want to change a policy or procedure, help people to see the dire consequences for not making the change or conversely, the positive responses customers will have to a new process.

Draw word pictures, but remember that the word pictures you have created must be powerful enough for your audience to see the same thing you envision in their mind's eye.


2. Strong Language

Create enough detailed images for your audience to assemble a mental picture of what is being described. For example, if you want to change a policy or procedure, help people to see the dire consequences for not making the change or conversely, the positive responses customers will have to a new process.

Draw word pictures, but remember that the word pictures you have created must be powerful enough for your audience to see the same thing you envision in their mind's eye.


3. Tell Stories Tied to Business Point


People get very involved with stories, particularly personal stories. Sharing your emergency room experience of the ER doctor's inability to access your recent x-rays, would really highlight the need for new technology. Your wild travel story or your child's soccer goal will be remembered long after the fact as long as it is tied to a business point.

Although not personal, client or customer stories or examples are also winning. They explain a lot more than just the numbers. They put a face on the client or customer and motivate people to correct issues affecting people's lives and businesses.


4. Visual Aids & Demonstration


Not to be overlooked are Visual Aids and Demonstrations. Nobody dreams about bullet point lists, but pictures speak louder than words. Easy access to the web means that all of us have the ability to insert powerful images into our presentations.

In terms of demonstrations, imagine the power of holding up a stapler to make a point about the pain associated with testing for diabetes or a large ball of rubber bands to indicate how a client's network is in dire need of an update.

Most people would say they make decisions based on facts, but the reality is emotion is proven to be a stronger and hidden motivator. Vivid images stir the soul to action.

As you plan and review your content for your next meeting or presentation, ask yourself, "Have I moved people emotionally?" “Have I created what I want them to imagine?