The Questioning Motivational Speaker
Why are questions so powerful?
Have you considered the benefits of asking for audience responses?
How do questions encourage dialogue and discourage lecture?
I recall listening to a speaker who began her presentation asking “How old would
you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”
This inspired laughter and discussion in the group…
“Does that mean how old do I feel?”
“How old do I look?”
It made an immediate connection and it led into the point of her talk.
Asking questions is also a good opportunity to start off with some humor:
“How many people are in the wrong place?”
“How many wish they were in the wrong place?”
“How many care where they are?”
“How many wish I would stop asking questions?”
People will laugh, and you’ll see hands raised after each question. This provides
both spark and a change of pace.
You do have to be careful, however, when you’re asking rhetorical questions
because some people won’t pick up on the fact that they are rhetorical. It’s not that I
don’t love to get responses from the group. I frequently interact with audiences. But
there are times in a speech when you don’t want people shouting out answers. It can
undermine a dramatic or inspirational point in your speech. You can’t ignore that raised
hand or that shout. I effectively set up rhetorical questions by letting the audience know
in various phrasings that no verbal response is expected. I’ll say…
“Let me just ask you a few rhetorical questions…”
or
“I want you just to think about possible answers to this question…”
or
“There’s no need to respond to this, but why would…”
These pretty much guarantee that you won’t be faced with the awkwardness of
someone speaking up from the audience when you’d rather them not.
Why don’t more speakers use this magical device that shows respect?
Why do teachers rarely use questions, except on tests?
Will you consider asking more questions in your presentations?
Can you think of a better way to involve others in your keynote speeches as a motivational speaker?
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Tags: Motivational speaker