Does Your Message Match the Way You Live?

I attended two funerals recently. The manner of these friends’ passing has given me much to think about. One dropped over dead instantly from a massive heart attack at the age of 57. The other had a heart attack but died about three weeks later, just a couple of months shy of his 79th birthday.

The first was a nominal Christian who went through the motions and tried to be a good person, good husband, father friend etc. But God was not very real to him. He used substitutes to get him through the days. We all know about those things that can consume us when overdone like cigarettes and alcohol. Without a strong relationship with a Power beyond himself he turned to artificial things to bolster his courage and give him artificial strength.

He had no chance to make his peace with family or foe, friend or enemy. It would also seem that he was not prepared for his death. I cannot know what it was like for him but I do know what a blow it was for his loved ones. And I can see the struggle that they are going through to deal with their loss.

The other friend had a strong Christian faith in a God that supported him every day. He was an outstanding teacher by word and example, and a very good and wise man who led a long and fruitful life. He always had just the right thing to say. As he lay dying he called in his loved ones and dear friends one or two at a time and gave them some last words. He had always been frank but then he was even more so. He expressed his love for each and every one. To some he expressed approval but to others he expressed disappointment or advice for improvement. He seemed to understand exactly what each was feeling and was wise enough to say exactly what each one needed.

None of us knows the hour of our passing from this earth but I pray that I can be as wise and understanding as my second friend. For you see he was prepared. Regardless of the time and way in which we die we can be prepared. We must spend each day getting prepared.

Just as we must be prepared for living and dying so must a speaker be prepared before stepping in front of an audience. You must not only spend some specific time writing and practicing but you must look at how your daily life is preparing you to speak. If your life and experiences are not congruent with your speaking then your audience may not get the message.

Spend time each day thinking about your message.
Examine your message to make sure the content is congruent with your life.
Live up to your potential and put your life into your message.

You can be a powerful speaker. You can be a powerful communicator.
Prepare your message and allow your life to prepare you for speaking.

You can contact me at mark@markclemons.com or go to www.clemonscreativelearning.com

Communicating the Message Important in any Languages

Speaking before a group that includes individuals some of whom speak one language, some another and some both is quite a challenge. Although I am seldom particularly nervous when speaking before groups; I must say that as I approached a group in Hof, Germany recently I was more than a little nervous. I had served as a translator for German speaking speakers in front of a primarily English speaking audience before but this was my first time to attempt translating for both English speakers and German speakers to a very mixed group. And many spoke both languages so they would know when I was goofing up.
These were members of Hof Reunion, American GI's, the German girls they had married and other Americans and Germans associated with Hof Air Station which was active in Hof from 1948 to 1971.

But I think the following comment by one of the organizers tells the story.

"A TREMENDOUS job of dual-language MC'ing at the dinner! 35 years ago I might have been able to do that in Russian/English but as good as I thought my German is/was, I could not have kept up with the job you did! And I gotta say, I understood just about every word in the Courthouse and at the dinner! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The mistake that many translators make is trying to translate word for word. What is important, particularly at a banquet function like this one, is to communicate the message that the speaker is striving to communicate.

The same is really true with any type of speaking. You must ask yourself, "Am I communicating the message that I myself or those that I represent want to get across?" The speaker is the medium not the message.

Strive to look and act in a way that complements the message.
Don't let your appearance or actions detract from the message.
Use words and mannerisms that reflect the tone of the message.
Simply delivering the right words may not deliver the right message.

When you are done did the people laugh when they were supposed to?
Was the room quiet when important or serious information was presented?
Were people paying attention and coming away with the desired outcome?

You can be a powerful speaker. You can be a powerful communicator.
Just keep the message in mind and shape the messenger to fit the message.

You can contact me at mark@markclemons.com or go to www.clemonscreativelearning.com