Railroaded by Strong Emotions?

by J.A.
Gamache 3rd place Champion at Toastmasters International
World Championship of Public Speaking 2001

When you get emotional during a speech, the best thing to do
is to take the time to breathe properly.

I love to tell touching stories, because when I'm moved, the
audience experiences the same emotion. That's what I call the
resonance effect. When the audience and I are at the same
emotional level, we're like tuning forks.

A tuning fork is a metal instrument used by piano tuners. It
looks like a stick with a long, narrow U shape welded to the
tip. When we grasp a tuning fork and hit it against
something, it makes a musical note.

The remarkable thing is that when you place a second tuning
fork very close to another one without touching it, it also
makes a musical note. The vibration of the first tuning fork
is sufficient to make the second one resonate. Similarly,
when you tell a touching story, the vibration of your own
emotions will be enough to make the audience feel the same
emotion.

Wouldn't you agree that most people love to be touched by a
well-delivered story? In fact, the most successful movies are
dramas that make us experience strong emotions.

The audience will enjoy the emotions they experience during
your talk, but under one condition: that you stay in control.
People are touched when they see you on the verge of tears,
as long as you can still talk. But if you have to stop and
take a few moments to calm down, that time may seem like an
eternity to them, and they'll feel uneasy.

Here's what to do when you feel a surge of emotion during
your speech.

1- GO ALONG WITH THE EMOTION
Fist of all, don't try to suppress the emotion. It's too
late. The emotion is already there. You have to let the wave
pass.

2- TAKE THE TIME TO BREATHE PROPERLY
Concentrate on your breathing. We tend to stop breathing when
we experience intense emotions.

Try this the next time you get emotional during a speech:
make pauses. Inhale more often. Take the time to really fill
your lungs. If you have to, speak slower.

With proper breathing, you'll be able to "surf" the wave of
your emotions. You'll see that it is still possible to talk
and not necessarily burst into sobs while you're feeling very
emotional. It's all in the breathing.

During your next speech, learn to breathe better, and you'll
be able to talk even when you're feeling emotional. Through
the resonance effect, your audience will also be touched by
your presentation. Remember that people will forget what you
say and do, but they'll never forget how you make them feel!

Happy writing!

©MMIX J.A. Gamache http://www.jagamache.com
All rights reserved.

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This article was reproduced from the "Speaking in public with
J.A." FREE electronic magazine, authored by J.A. Gamache,
International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE
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http://www.jagamache.com .
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