Tuesday, August 11, 2009

THAT'S INTENSE: SPEAKING INTENSITY

THAT'S INTENSE: SPEAKING INTENSITY

While watching the film THE HURT LOCKER, I felt the intensity of each scene. Wow. What it must be like to disarm bombs; what it must be like to look for men on nearby cell phones, cell phones which when used can ignite a bomb which can blow up half of a block.

This film was very intense throughout.

When we speak, we want to have intense moments--times when we feel very passionately about our topic or when the examples we are using to illustrate a point are crucially significant and emotional; but we want to make sure that these moments are followed by "chill" ones.

Let's create a scale.
Let's say a 1-intensity moment would be one where nothing at all is at stake: you have to lick one stamp in one hour's time, with nothing else to do.
Let's say a 10-intensity moment would be one where life itself is at stake: you see your child on the window sill of your apartment and the window is open; or you yell at a friend,  who is not paying attention while crossing the street,  to look out, as you reach  for him, quickly pulling him out of harm's way and death's door.

Decide what parts in your speech are at the lower end of intensity, in the middle range of intensity, and at the higher end. Assign a number. And rev up the passion to match the number.

Intense? Maybe--but definitely useful, especially if you are too low keyed of a speaker or too high-maintenance of a presenter. 

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