How to Use Public Speaking to Deepen Relationships, with Michael Port

Mo asks Michael Port: How can people use speaking to deepen relationships?

It's critically important to start by demonstrating that you understand how the world looks for the people in the room. Can you fill multiple pages with their thoughts and perspectives?
There is a difference between having someone tell you "you're right" versus "that's right". Too many speakers are driven toward getting the audience to admit that they are right, but the better approach is to share an idea and get the audience to say in their head "yes, that's right!". That's how you create an intellectual and emotional connection.
It helps to find an analogy that you can use to demonstrate an idea. People are much more likely to adopt a new idea if they can contextualize it and relate it to something that they already understand.
In terms of importance to communication, the most memorable things are stories, with metaphors and analogies towards the top, then data and facts at the bottom.
Generally, we want to ask questions of the audience so that they can come to the answer themselves rather than us telling them what the answer is. Questions like "how would you feel if…?", or "Would it make a difference if you were able to do X?".
Avoid leading the audience with questions that always end up in the affirmative. Research shows that people will resist answering your big idea when they feel led, but if you frame the questions in the negative you will actually increase the odds of getting a yes on your big idea.

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