TJ WALKER - THE HABIT INFLUENCER - Personal Development | LIVE STREAM

14 Mar 2019 · 2 min

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1:45

TJ Walker discusses effective speech patterns and presentation techniques, highlighting common rhetorical devices (notably the three-part list and rhetorical questions) and advising presenters to first decide what they want the audience to do, narrow to a few ideas, and support each with compelling stories. The speaker uses historical examples (e.g., George Wallace's three-part list) to illustrate how phrasing frames messages.

Chapters

What are some examples of speech patterns, effective turns of phrase in speeches and presentations? Well, the most popular one that you see all over the place, the three part list. Especially when there's a balance to the phrasing. I'll use an example. It's not one I endorse, but it does stand out in history. Segregation today, segregation tomorrow. Segregation forever. From George Wallace, the governor of Alabama who was running for office as a strict segregationist. Again, I don't endorse that particular political philosophy, but the three part list, you see it again and again and again in politicians all across the spectrum. It has a way of framing things. Three is a magic number for a lot of things. A lot of religions have three parts Father, Son, Holy Ghost, and similar things. In other religions too. Three is a magical number. So three part list work Rhetorical Questions Just tossing out a question and answering it is another great speech pattern. I do want to advise you on something before worrying about great soaring rhetoric using oratorical devices. The first thing you need to do if you want to be an effective presenter is just figure out what is it you want your audience to do. Then narrow it down to a handful of ideas. Then give compelling stories to make each idea memorable. You do that, the phrasing, the rhetorical devices just won't matter.