Speaking Truthfully is a profound, powerful, and radical style of authentic self-expression, public speaking, and communication based on the authenticity, integrity, and transparency of the speaker. Its essential philosophy and fundamental tenet is: YOU Are the Message!
The quality of almost everything in our lives is determined by the style, substance, and effectiveness of our speaking, by the sum total of our verbal and nonverbal expressions — our relationships, work, and creative projects; our contributions to others and service to our community; promoting our ideas, affecting change, inspiring action, influencing the course of events. Our speaking pervades all domains of our lives: personal, social, business, political, spiritual. We even, and often, speak to ourselves. Speaking is everywhere.
And, in all speaking situations, whether it be a dance workshop or spiritual sermon, a conference keynote or high-stakes business meeting, a book tour or media interview, pitching to venture capitalists or angels, a political stump speech or nonprofit fundraiser, a global webinar or an intimate one-on-one social encounter — in all speaking situations: YOU are the message. You command respect and attention, you impart power to your words, you inspire others, you impact and influence people, you are credible and believable. YOU are the message.
This is why we have to be authentic, genuine, and sincere in our speaking, to be willing and able to tell the truth, to show others who we really are, what we know, what we want, what we stand for. Vulnerability. Intimacy. Transparency. Connection. Courage. Confidence. Clarity. Power. Presence. Awareness. Silence. These words are the floor and walls and roof and windows of Speaking Truthfully. These words are our portable home, where we must live if we are to speak truthfully.
Speaking Truthfully calls forth our most authentic self, the one with knowledge of one’s passions and place and purpose in the world. Speaking Truthfully is a force that comes from deep within you and depends upon your clear, grounded, and present-centered awareness, your open heart, your confidence, your humanity.
Speaking Truthfully means we use our words, tone, gestures, and spirit to reveal, rather than conceal, our authentic self, purpose, and motivation. One cannot lie, distort, or mislead people when Speaking Truthfully. One cannot be split in two, serving different masters and different value systems. Speaking Truthfully requires impeccability; we need to establish our personal credibility as human beings, without which people will not listen to us because they will not believe us.
Speaking Truthfully means that we show up, plant our feet on the ground, look people in the eyes, and tell the truth. No hiding, posturing, pretending. No deception, half-truths, or statements we don’t believe. If we speak truthfully, people will listen. Our life will glow. Our work will thrive. Our heart will sing. Our spirit will soar. We will be a blessing to ourselves and to others.
You will appreciate Speaking Truthfully if you feel inhibited about public speaking and ever:
- withhold your point of view
- fear being criticized or judged
- fail to command attention and respect
- miss opportunities to promote your ideas
- feel misunderstood or not taken seriously
- feel anxious and light-headed before speaking
- avoid situations because of poor speaking skills.
You will appreciate Speaking Truthfully if you want to develop a truthful and profound presence and if you want to connect with others and express yourself with:
- ease, enthusiasm, and energy
- passion, poise, and power
- clarity, credibility, and confidence
and if you seriously want to:
- fulfill your leadership potential
- say what you mean and mean what you say
- positively impact and influence an audience
- effectively express your ideas and point of view
- have others experience you as credible and authentic
- improve your public speaking confidence, skills, and impact.
In public talks, masterclasses, and individual mentoring sessions, Robert has talked about and taught the Speaking Truthfully philosophy and principles with hundreds of people — teaching them to be more authentic, inspiring, and effective speakers. His client list includes:
- marketing and sales managers
- community activists and leaders
- business owners and entrepreneurs
- politicians and public sector officials
- authors, publicists, and professionals
- fashion designers, musicians, dancers
- martial artists, photographers, singers
- non-profit fund-raisers and spokespeople
- corporate managers and senior executives
- spiritual teachers and life/business coaches
- principals, teachers, academic administrators
- professional actors and motivational speakers.
The Speaking Truthfully philosophy, principles, and practices are the reflection of Robert’s lifelong cultivation of self-awareness. Speaking Truthfully is the application of keen self-awareness applied to the art of public speaking and communication. It is precisely Robert’s history of self-development, along with his thirty years of public speaking, that is the basis for his remarkable capacity to see everything about a person’s speaking and offer insights and possibilities not available anywhere else.