The tag line of Speaking Truthfully is “YOU are the message.” This notion runs counter to conventional, and prevailing, ideas of public speaking in all its forms. Conventional approaches put emphasis on the presentation itself, the content. I put an emphasis on the person, the way that he or she uses the speaking opportunity to fully reveal one’s own self: their character, intentions, integrity, honesty, transparency. Before I will consider the content of a person’s speaking, I want to have a sense of who they are. Are they believable? Are they truthful? Are they reliable? Are they credible?

Speaking effectively is about credibility; credibility is about authenticity, which is about vulnerability — which means one’s speaking has to reveal, rather than conceal, one’s true thoughts and feelings. It is important for entrepreneurs to know that the true power of their speaking comes not from facts and figures, not data and research, but from authentic connection. (more…)