Words, words, words…

Words, words, Words, words, words…words…

Leadership &

DYNAMIC Speaking

dy ● nam ● icdy ● nam ● ic /dī-n/dī-năăm´ m´ ĭĭk/k/ adj.adj.

• Marked by

vigor and energy• Of or relating to

variation of intensity• Characterized by

continuous change, adaptable

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

~ Julius Caesar Act III, Sc. 2

Art vs. ScienceArt vs. SciencePUBLIC Speaking is

highly PERSONAL

• My way is NOT the only way– No formulas– No rules

• Practice, practice, practice

Mission: Mission: CommunicationCommunication

• Free and open exchange

of ideas and information• Two-way street

– What you SAY– What they HEAR

• Objective: make both the SAME THING!

Success =Success =WHAT you say +

HOW you say it• Master the WEAPON

– Words, words, words• Perfect the DELIVERY

– Eliminate the distance: CONNECT• Physical• Emotional/Economic/Educational

– Make them listen, make them FEEL

Begin at the Begin at the BeginningBeginning

Gathering Intel:Know the obstacles,

know your audience• 5 W’s– Who

• How many; age/level of education; race/creed– What

• Lecture, pep talk, brief, discussion– Where

• Be familiar with the space/medium– When

• Time of day, year – what else is going on?

– WHY• KNOW your message:

1 sentence, 1 headline, 1 word

SentenceSentenceA lecture about understanding, A lecture about understanding, harnessing and exploiting the power harnessing and exploiting the power of language to communicate ideas of language to communicate ideas and inspire imaginations. and inspire imaginations.

HeadlineHeadlineUnlocking the Powerful Unlocking the Powerful Potential of WordsPotential of Words

WordWordPowerspeak

Energy: The Great Energy: The Great EqualizerEqualizer

• You WILL BE nervous• Energy is Energy

– Cannot be created or destroyed (or suppressed)– Use it, channel it

• Energy is INTOXICATING,Passion is ADDICTIVE

• Audience will respond to the energy with which the message is delivered

BEFORE they respond to the message itself

YOU, Version 4.0YOU, Version 4.0Cannot be something --Cannot be something --

or SOMEONE -- you’re or SOMEONE -- you’re notnot

• No one does YOU better than you– Find your STYLE & BE YOURSELF– Do what you do, just do it better

• Streamline and Support– Exploit strengths, minimize weaknesses– Make that gesture, just make it bigger– Make that point, just make it clearer

• Any and ALL distractions, must be cut away– Self-Study– HONEST assessment

The Power of OneThe Power of One

• Eye contact– Let them IN– Invite them IN

• “Exit sign” acting• Speak to individuals, not “the

group”

Shock and AweShock and Awe

• Do something DIFFERENT– Ordinary is quickly forgotten

• “Perform” outside the box– No rules

• Fourth wall

KISSKISS• Keep it simple…• Make it EASY for them• HELP them to see, hear, feel• Talk TO them, not AT them• “Kindergarten” exercise

Easy does itEasy does it

• Push the envelope– Find the edge

• Know the limitations– TOO MUCH just as deadly

as NOT ENOUGH

Words as WeaponsWords as Weapons

• We use language to GET what we WANT

• We get what we want because of two things:– The WORDS we use– The WAY in which we use them

From the bush leagues From the bush leagues to the Showto the Show

• Not all words are created equal– From novel… to short story… to poem– As number of words goes DOWN ,

the value of each individual word goes UP

• What gives a word power?– Sound – BLOW TO THE EAR

• Buick vs. Oldsmobile– Meaning – BLOW TO THE HEAD AND HEART

• Definition (denotation) – what it actually means– Stupid vs. ignorant

• Association (connotation) – what it implies– Cheap vs. inexpensive

Sound and Fury:Sound and Fury:Signifying EVERYTHYINGSignifying EVERYTHYING

• The nature of words– Invented to express emotions and/or ideas– The story of the hammer and the thumb

• ALL words built with same four sounds:– Long and short vowels

• Oh, say can you see… • Pit, cup, sat

– Sustained and perCUSSive consonants• Mmmmm, buzz• Smack, snip, spit, pop

When 2 + 2 = 5When 2 + 2 = 5

• Some words are greater then the sum of their parts

• History, context, community• $25 words• Honor, commitment, freedom

The Dynamic DuoThe Dynamic Duo• Verbs (Superman)

– Packed with TNT– “Doing” words – shock the squirrel

• Nouns (Batman)– Change/define:

• Status, state and significance– Princes into paupers– mountains into monuments– fans into fanatics– fantasy into foolishness– cards into collectibles– automobiles into antiques

Don’t forget about Robin Don’t forget about Robin (and the (and the

rest)rest)• Adjectives

– Classify, clarify, codify– Spice and sophistication– Caveman Romeo

• Half the language, half the man• Need the “glue” to hold it all

together

With love’s light wings did I o’er perch these walls.

~Romeo and Juliet

The Head vs. the GutThe Head vs. the Gut

• The constant battle between

intellect and emotion• Kirk vs. Spock• Anglo Saxon vs. Latin

– Simple, short– complex, multi-syllables,

often with suffixes & prefixes

• Where do you want to hit them?

Latin vs. Anglo SaxonLatin vs. Anglo Saxon• Unattractive or ugly• Regurgitate or puke• Expectorate or spit• Benevolent or kind• Contemplate or think• Deceased or dead• Illustrate or draw• Offensive or rude• Preposterous or silly• Uncommon or weird• Reconcile or make up

Call to the BullpenCall to the Bullpen• Uncommon words

– Amuse and confuse– Cliff’s Notes & Context

• Space to breathe– Time to digest– Feeling stupid

Rhetorical MercenariesRhetorical Mercenaries• Add color and clarification

– Simile and metaphor– Antithesis– If-then statements– 180° words– alliteration

Let it flow, Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow,

let it flowlet it flow• Words combine to form LANGUAGE

– Be precise– Be concise

• Remember:– Success = what + how– Style vs. Substance

• Making Music/Poetry

Variety is the spice of Variety is the spice of life…life…

and the LIFEBLOOD of public speaking• Mix it up

– Pace• Don’t let them get too comfortable

in the saddle

– Rhythm• The seductive power of three

– Volume• Verbal electro-shock

Final FourFinal Four

• Diction• Projection• ENERGY• Imagination

Contact InformationContact Information

• Tyrus Lemerande Artistic DirectorKNIGHTHORSE Theatre

Company• (814) 442-6072• [email protected]