Thanks Ken Davis
Ken Davis can do wonders for your speaking.
I’ve never met Ken Davis but I’ve watched some of his comedy on YouTube. Most of my experience with this gifted comedian and speaker has come from reading his book How to Speak to Youth and Keep Them Awake At The Same Time. As a speech teacher I’ve read quite a few books on public speaking. Not many of them have been able to match the intentionality, personality, and practicality of Mr. Davis. His SCORRE method helped me bring clarity and depth to a set of sermons I preached over the summer. His book is a must read for anyone who desires to be serious about speaking not just to youth but to adults as well.
Thanks again Ken!
Survey Says
For 15 weeks I get to evaluate my students. Sometimes its rough. Especially when some of them haven’t been doing a good job. Part of my responsibility as a teacher is to tell them the truth. I tell them because I want them to be better.
At the end of the semester the students get to evaluate me.
I tell my students that I want them to be completely honest with their evaluation surveys for two reasons.
1 – The evaluation is completely anonymous. I will never be able to trace their comments back to them.
2 – I want to be better.
Its never easy reading that a student didn’t like my style or that I was unclear about assignments. Who really wants to be corrected? Hearing the truth can be painful but I read the evaluation and look for changes that I need to make. I want to that much better the next semester.
My leadership professor shared with me that many pastors disregard being evaluated. They never ask for feedback on their performance. They avoid being critiqued on their sermons. They don’t want anyone to grade the effectiveness of their ministry. Maybe they think they have it all figured out.
If you’re sure you have it all figured out then you should have no problem reading what the survey says.
Got energy?
Credibility is defined as the quality of being trusted or believed in.
Lumsden and Lumdsen (2006) list the following as the factors in credibility of speakers/presenters:
Competence – expertise or skill
Objectivity – the ability to be impartial and see both sides
Trustworthiness – consistent and honest behavior
Coorientation – similarities between you and the audience
Dynamism – Energy and enthusiasm
I don’t think good products are the key to successful infomercials. We were willing to buy what the late Billy Mays was selling because he was so excited about it. His energy and enthusiasm were contagious.
Over the years I found that the factor missing the most from my students’ speech is dynamism. They display competence, they are objective, the appear honest and relate to the audience well – but most of the speeches that I hear are missing the energy. There is no passion or personality. Could this be because most of the lectures, speeches and sermons that they have heard over the years have lacked energy as well. Even though I push them to inject some vitality into their presentations there are a couple challenges I face. I’m challenged by the fact that in their very next class professor monotony and sleeping students might be the status quo. I’m challenged by their pastor, who over the weekend might deliver his or her sermon with the enthusiasm equal to that of a saltine cracker.
Legendary public speaker and trainer Dale Carnegie suggests, “Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success.”
If we want our students to stick with us we must teach, preach and facilitate discussions with the energy and passion that will keep them engaged! When focusing on being credibile be sure not to skimp on the ENERGY!
