Highlights and Introduction:
Introduction and Background: (00:04)
Molly Young from Miami University Alumni Association introduces the topic: six principles for being a great communicator. She welcomes alumni Ruth Milligan and Acacia Duncan, co-authors of “The Motivated Speaker.”
They explain the threshold concepts and their transformative nature in mastering a discipline.
The Six Threshold Concepts: (11:12)
- Discussion of the first principle: speaking is habitual.
- Speaking is not natural
- Communication is a skill you build over time.
- You may have to change a new habit for a new audience or situation
2. Discussion of the second principle: speaking is embodied.
- Writing and speaking are two different skills
- Align nonverbal cues with spoken words.
- Great speaking takes practice, specifically in providing transitions
3. Discussion of the third principle: speaking is social.
- Most troublesome idea
- Tailor your message to the listener.
- It doesn’t matter what you say, it’s what the audience hears.
- Words fade
4. Discussion of the fourth principle: speaking contains multiple genres.
- Different genres require different preparation
- You need to adapt for specific setups
- Lean into intentional interrogation to understand expectations
5. Discussion of the fifth principle: speaking is messy.
- It’s an iterative process
- There are many points of entry
- Flexibility is key
6. Discussion of the sixth principle: speaking requires feedback.
- Watch and listen to yourself to give yourself feedback
- Feedback needs to be safe
- Feedback can be good, bad or not helpful
- You cannot speak and listen to yourself at the same time
Shaded Habits and Upgrades (23:11)
Acacia and Ruth share stories of real-life clients who displayed “shaded habits.”
- Disfluencies
- Speed of talking, pacing
- Humor in delivery
- Non-verbals and body language
