If you prefer video content over text, I explain this material with fun, musical examples in my YouTube video.
Many technical leaders I work with are afraid of expressing emotion when they present. Some are naturally more reserved. Some believe emotion will make their material less credible (because they want the material to speak for itself).
In this article, I break down the proper role of emotion in our professional speech:
What Not To Do
Consider how you would say this sentence:
“I prepared a 10-minute presentation on karate. It was something I was passionate about, and it was pretty easy to do. Now that cold September Saturday morning when I showed up, I was shocked”
If you are more reserved or if you prefer to let material “speak for itself”, you would likely read that sentence flatly and “objectively”, in other words in a monotone voice.
Here’s a few analogies for what a monotone voice does to an audience:
- Imagine driving endlessly – in only one direction.
- Imagine going into an ocean with a surfboard – but there are no waves.
- Imagine watching a movie, with one image and one sound playing the entire time.
In every case, you would fall asleep out of sheer, blinding boredom.
What To Do
Check out how Matt Abrahams, bestselling author of “Think Faster Talk Smarter” says this sentence:
When he says, “It was something I was passionate about”, you hear his passion. And you feel excited about it too.
When he says, “I was shocked”, you hear his shock. And you also feel surprised.
Every emotion the speaker expresses is an invitation to the audience to feel the same – to connect and care just as much.
A few things to keep in mind:
Intensity
If you don’t express “passion” and “shock” to the same degree as Matt, that’s fine. Express those emotions as you would in regular conversation. Push yourself to see how far you can go while still feeling like yourself.
Extremes
If you’re talking about “data warehouses” or “dashboards” or some other highly complex topic, you also don’t need to make it a theater show with extremes of joy and sadness. Use emotions appropriate to your material.
- If you’re surprised by something, express it.
- If you believe something is good based on your expert opinion, express it.
- If you believe something is bad and you want your audience to avoid it, express it.
As an expert and leader your job is to express what you think and how you feel about it.
Summary
Use emotions – naturally and authentically – to connect with your audience and help them understand your point of view.
If you’re looking for further guidance on how to differentiate your communication skills and stand out in the workplace, take my free self-assessment.
I’m writing a book on thinking quickly, speaking clearly, presenting convincingly, and supercharging your executive presence. My current focus: a section on regulating emotions during high-stakes speaking situations. This will be a psychological primer on cognitive bias and why we see the world in the distorted way we do.
Follow me on LinkedIn for more updates on the book and its release!
