I Figured Out How To Speak Intelligently

Summary

In this insightful video, the speaker shares personal growth strategies to speak with confidence and clarity. They outline three types of speaking intelligence: expertise, expression, and extemporaneous. Emphasizing mindset shifts, they introduce the ‘three M’s’—Me, Message, and Messenger—as a framework for transforming self-doubt into impactful communication. Practical techniques like creating a ‘value prism,’ pruning qualifiers, using metaphors, and conducting a post-speaking audit (PSA) are highlighted. The speaker also advocates for reading aloud and maintaining forward momentum in speech to master articulate, coherent expression. This guide empowers individuals to communicate their thoughts with greater confidence and authenticity.

Takeaways

• 😀 There are three distinct types of speaking intelligence: expertise, expression, and extemporaneous. Each serves a different purpose in communication.
• 😀 Achieving mastery in extemporaneous speaking—speaking without preparation—is crucial for conveying ideas confidently in impromptu situations.
• 😀 The 'three M's' of speaking are: 'Me' (self-focus), 'Message' (content-focused), and 'Messenger' (being a vessel for your beliefs). Reaching the 'Messenger' stage is key to confident communication.
• 😀 A value prism, a belief or value encapsulated into a sentence, helps to ground your thoughts before speaking and promotes clarity in communication.
• 😀 Reducing qualifiers (phrases like 'I just feel' or 'to be honest') enhances directness and confidence in speech, helping to focus on genuine thoughts rather than appeasing listeners.
• 😀 Asking specific thought-triggering questions can help untangle complex ideas, making it easier to articulate them effectively.
• 😀 Using metaphors can clarify complex thoughts, offering a creative vocabulary to express ideas in more relatable and vivid terms.
• 😀 Thought wrappers are pre-structured phrases or expressions that introduce your thoughts in a compelling, organized manner, creating a more thoughtful and engaging delivery.
• 😀 Conducting a post-speaking audit (PSA) helps identify and improve verbal weaknesses by reviewing words or phrases that felt unsatisfactory and refining them for future use.
• 😀 Training to think forward, not fast, by maintaining clear direction in your speech and building upon previous ideas, leads to more coherent and compelling communication.
• 😀 Reading books aloud and completing sentences fully helps develop the ability to express thoughts with clarity and maintain the momentum of ideas during conversations.

Q & A

What are the three types of intelligence speaking discussed in the script?

The three types of intelligence speaking are: expertise, expression, and extemporaneous. Expertise involves speaking on subjects you have extensively researched, expression is about speaking in emotionally charged situations, and extemporaneous is speaking on the spot to communicate ideas, visions, or values.

Why is extemporaneous speaking important according to the script?

Extemporaneous speaking is important because it accounts for around 65% of our daily communication. It involves speaking on the spot, making it crucial for engaging with others in real-time.

What is the significance of the three M's of mindset in improving speaking?

The three M's of mindset—Me, Message, and Messenger—represent stages of growth in speaking. The 'Me' stage focuses on self-doubt, the 'Message' stage is about delivering a more polished message, and the 'Messenger' stage involves speaking confidently and authentically without worrying about validation.

How can one achieve the 'Messenger' stage of speaking?

To achieve the 'Messenger' stage, focus on creating a value prism—a personal belief or value that grounds you before speaking—and prune qualifiers that reduce the strength of your message, such as phrases like 'I just feel like' or 'to be honest'.

What is a 'value prism' and how does it help with speaking?

A value prism is a belief or value condensed into a sentence that helps focus the mind before speaking. It allows you to approach conversations with curiosity, respect, and playfulness, enhancing the authenticity and clarity of your message.

What is the purpose of pruning qualifiers in speech?

Pruning qualifiers helps remove hedging phrases that weaken your speech, like 'I just feel like' or 'to be honest'. This makes your speech more direct, confident, and focused on sharing your true thoughts without worrying about what others want to hear.

What role do metaphors play in improving speech?

Metaphors help transform complex thoughts into simpler, relatable ideas by linking them to familiar concepts. They serve as a tool to organize and develop your thoughts, making them easier to communicate and more engaging for the listener.

How can thought wrappers improve communication?

Thought wrappers are creative ways to introduce your thoughts with unique phrases that capture attention. They help you present your ideas in an interesting manner, making them more engaging and impactful, and allow you to frame your thoughts in a structured way.

What is the PSA (Post Speaking Audit) method and how does it improve speech?

The PSA method involves auditing your speech after the fact by identifying problematic words or phrases, redelivering them out loud, and refining your vocabulary. This process helps improve precision and fluency in future conversations.

Why is reading books aloud recommended to improve speech?

Reading books aloud exposes you to well-constructed sentences and ideas, which helps train your brain to think and speak coherently. It encourages longer, more structured thoughts and counters the negative effects of consuming short-form content.