The Art of Eliciting Emotions: How to Make People Feel When Speaking in Public
Maya Angelou famously said, “People don’t remember what you say, they remember how you made them feel”.
And it’s so true. The most impactful speeches are the ones that move you emotionally.
Whether you're a seasoned public speaker or just starting, mastering the ability to evoke emotions in your audience can significantly enhance your public speaking skills.
In this blog post, we will explore some powerful techniques that can help you make people feel emotions when speaking in public.
Craft a Compelling Narrative: Humans are hardwired to connect with stories. By weaving a captivating narrative into your speech, you can engage your audience's emotions on a deeper level. Start with a strong opening that grabs attention and introduces a relatable situation or problem. Develop characters and plot points that mirror real-life experiences and challenges. Take your audience on a journey, and use vivid imagery, descriptive language, and personal anecdotes to elicit emotional responses.
Utilise Vocal Variety: Your voice is a powerful instrument for evoking emotions. Use a wide range of vocal techniques to add depth and impact to your words. Vary your tone, pitch, and pace to create suspense, excitement, or empathy. Emphasise certain words or phrases to convey intensity or importance. Pausing strategically can build anticipation and allow your audience to process emotions. Remember, the way you deliver your message is just as crucial as the content itself.
Nonverbal Communication: Body language can communicate emotions effectively, often more than words alone. Pay attention to your gestures, facial expressions, and posture. Maintain eye contact with your audience to establish a personal connection. Use appropriate hand movements to emphasise key points or convey enthusiasm. Allow your body language to mirror the emotions you want your audience to feel. When you radiate confidence and passion, it becomes contagious, stirring emotions within your listeners.
Incorporate Visual Aids: Visual aids, such as images, videos, or props, can evoke powerful emotions and make your message more impactful. Choose visuals that align with the emotions you want to elicit. For example, if you aim to inspire, include images of success stories or powerful quotes. If your goal is to create empathy, share photos that depict real-life situations or testimonies. Be mindful of the balance between visuals and your spoken words, ensuring that they complement and enhance each other.
Connect with Personal Experiences: Emotions are most potent when they stem from personal experiences. Share stories from your own life or incorporate relatable anecdotes to foster a sense of connection. When your audience sees your vulnerability and authenticity, they are more likely to empathise and experience similar emotions. Additionally, invite your audience to reflect on their own experiences and emotions, creating a shared emotional journey that resonates long after your speech.
Create Emotional Peaks and Valleys: A speech that maintains a constant emotional pitch can become monotonous and lose its impact. Instead, aim for emotional peaks and valleys to keep your audience engaged. Build tension and anticipation leading up to a climactic moment, and then provide relief or resolution. This emotional rollercoaster captures attention and enhances the overall impact of your message.
Conclusion:
Mastering the art of evoking emotions when speaking in public can transform your communication skills and leave a lasting impression on your audience. By crafting a compelling narrative, utilising vocal variety, leveraging nonverbal communication, incorporating visual aids, connecting with personal experiences, and creating emotional peaks and valleys, you can engage people on a deeper level, inspire action, and make a lasting impact with your public speaking.
Remember, the power of emotions lies in the ability to connect with others on a human level, and with practice and intention, you can truly master this art form.
We dedicate an entire class on our 4-week public speaking course to learning how to use emotions in speeches. Find out more on our courses page.