If you’ve never seen Coach John Wooden of UCLA speak, then check him out on TED.com:  http://tinyurl.com/cz6765.  He’s a reminder that Aristotle was right about his insistence that there are 3 ways to persuade an audience:  logic, emotion, and character.  In the end, it’s Wooden’s character that shines through and wins us over.  His essential kindness and humility are hallmarks of the man and we feel fortunate to ‘meet’ him as a member of his audience. 

There are a number of reasons why you might not give 'Coach' more than a cursory listen. He speaks too quickly, he doesn’t make much eye contact, and he speaks from a sitting position because of age and infirmity.  His message is simple and straightforward. 

And yet, it’s magic, because of the charm of the speaker.  This is what Aristotle meant by character. 

What’s his message?  Never try to be better than someone else.  Be the best you can be.  Study others, but only to learn from them.  Peace of mind comes from the self-satisfaction of knowing that you did the best you could.  Don’t whine.  Don’t complain.  Don’t make excuses.  The journey is better than the end, often.  Never be late.  No profanity.  Never criticize a teammate. 

As you can see, there’s nothing earth-shattering here.  But delivered by a great human being, even the simplest messages take on profound meaning.  Study Coach John Wooden, not for his speaking technique, or even for his content, but for his character.  In the end, it's the emotional connection a speaker makes -- or doesn't make -- with an audience that is at the heart of successful public speaking. 

Comments

[Sarah Gershman]

I love this post. One thing I would add - Coach Wooden persuades not only because of his character - but because he is able to let the audience see what's inside. His externals match his internals. As you said, he's not technically perfect in the traditional ways, but he nonetheless is able to communicate his character. Please check out my public speaking advice blog - sarahgershman.blogspot.com - and let me know what you think.

I look forward to reading more of these.

thanks,
Sarah