In a world of 140 character tweets and sound-byte messaging (which have their place), there’s nothing like an inaugural speech to provide a refreshing look at older timeless techniques for effective communication. Though there were many rhetorical techniques used, below are just two from President Obama’s talk. See how to adapt them into your presentations for maximum results.
The Rhythm of Triads
Three is a magic number. Not only is a list of three items easy to remember, we like the music in a list of three. We say: One, two, three; a,b,c; Tom, Dick and Harry; bacon, lettuce and tomato; etc. President Obama frequently taps into that rhythm in his speeches. His inaugural was no exception.
- We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names…
- That is our generation’s task – to make these words, these rights, these values – of Life, and Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – real for every American
- We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate.
Using Triads is as Easy as, well, One, Two, Three
- Can you net out a situation to three bullets?
- Do you list the benefits of your solutions as three bullets or in crisp groups of three?
- If you have multiple options, can you chunk them into three categories for easier understanding?
- Can you rationalize the use of your services in three clear, crisp thoughts?
Repetition
When you learn a language, you hear the word, you say it, you read it, you use it in a sentence, in a question, etc. The act of repeating it deepens its impact. Repetition for meaning, retention and drama was evident throughout the President’s speech.
…. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law … Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants … Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm.
How to you use Repetition in your Presentations?
- Do you link your various informational points back to the key message of your presentation?
- Do you use mini-summaries to repeat key points before moving to new ones?
- Do you have a recurring visual in your PowerPoint that conceptually makes your point?
- Do you have a recurring sentence pattern or phrase that stays with your listener?
Learn by Example
Even if you heard the speech, I encourage you to read Obama’s inaugural. Reading it online or in print makes it easy to notice the many communication techniques that were used. If you want to communicate effectively, it is a good idea to read the great speeches of the day when they occur and to read the best journalists of our day every day. Notice how they use language to persuade, to explain, or to influence you. Then, adapt these perfectly legitimate techniques to your own situations.