HARVARD MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION LETTER
Connect with Your Audience
The key is using your physical presence to create trust.
by Nick Morgan
Nick Morgan is President of Public Words Inc, a communications consulting firm, and author of Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma.
“What moves an audience to action? Fair words or fair face?” Audiences are moved to action by speakers they trust. Once a speech is fully launched, a successful presenter can feel the audience deciding to trust her. The audience simultaneously relaxes—because it knows it is not wasting its time—and pays attention—because it is confirmed in its original decision to attend the speech. A kinesthetic bond develops between the audience and the speaker. It is this kinesthetic ...
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