Strategies for Effective Communication

An interview with Peter Hall

CEO, Econosphere Inc, Cambridge Ontario

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place,” says playwright George Bernard Shaw. Sometimes communicators fail miserably. In fact, fear of public speaking is ranked higher than even the fear of death, in opinion polls.

Yet it can be learned, and MUST be learned, the higher up a business leader climbs on the influence ladder.

“Effective communication,” says Peter Hall, “boils down complex issues into one to three easily digestible points that lead to an action benefiting the listener. Making complex issues understandable and memorable for the audience is the speaker’s primary responsibility.” 

Peter Hall’s Story

At age seventeen, Peter was saved. He talks about how shy, introverted and lacking in confidence he was as a teenager. Yet he developed a fascination with critiquing public speakers. After listening to some lacklustre speakers, he thought he could do better! He mentally noted ways to improve the presentation. That habit eventually led to him overcoming shyness and voluntarily taking on teaching assignments at his church, and at school.

In his first job, as an economist, he continued this practice. After amazing a senior executive audience with an engaging speech they expected to be boring, he was invited to join a speakers’ roster. Eventually this grew into 80 to 100 presentations a year.

Later, a financial institution hired him to increase their visibility, which eventually led to Peter launching his own business, Econosphere Inc.

Peter’s Public Speaking Tips

Don’t show your work. What does this mean? It’s a common mistake for speakers to share a plethora of details that justify their conclusion. But resist this temptation! Instead, be succinct, offering about three key points, that lead to a memorable conclusion. Listeners do not want to hear WHY you have reached your conclusion. That’s exhausting. They want to simply trust you to tell them what you have learned.

You’re the expert, so be confident! Audiences want you to own the podium. You’re the expert. Come prepared with substance and insights. Then present your arguments with the confidence the audience is expecting.

Storytelling, especially parables, matter. Complex ideas can often be better understood when just the right story or parable is used as an illustration. At times, this brings a touch of brilliance to a speech, so take advantage of its amazing power. Captivating the imagination of your audience touches hearts!

Expect the unexpected. Be prepared for anything, such as power outages or emergencies. One day Peter’s presentation to a room of senior executives went up in smoke---literally. His notes rested on a hot lightbulb and ignited! Adding quips such as “our next burning issue” and “this hot topic” saved the day, bringing laughter, and compliments instead of panic-filled responses. Peter even polished Winston Churchill’s quote: “What you should have done is put the speech into the fire!” to better suit his circumstances.

Know your audience. If you have a degree in nuclear physics and your audience is high school students, you will need to explain things using far less technical language. How you speak, and your choice of words must change with each audience.

Progressively reach a conclusion. Build your argument succinctly, step by step, to a destination that listeners can grasp, and later share with someone at home. Preachers are well-skilled at this process.

A favourite book of Peter’s is by D. (David) Martyn Lloyd-Jones entitled: Preaching and Preachers. It is full of great advice, and teaches communicators to always leave room for the Holy Spirit. In other words, sometimes God wants to use you, as the speaker, to address a unique need in the audience.

Biblical Principles

Gracious Words Can Heal:

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 

Proverbs 16: 24 NIV

Only God Tames the Tongue:

The tongue also is a fire…But no human being can tame the tongue.

James 3:6a,8a NIV

Encourage One Another:

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up.             

1 Thessalonians 5:11a NIV

Jesus Models Excellence

In conclusion, Jesus models effective communication when He uses parables as a teaching tool, vividly capturing the imagination of his audiences, and adeptly illustrating powerful truths that compel a heart response. 

For example, in Mathew 20:33-46, sharing The Parable of the Vineyard, Jesus brilliantly confronts the Pharisees with God’s just response, even when it points to them as leaders. 

Why does effective communication matter so much? Building one another up, through our encouragement of those around us is needed more today, in this world, than ever before. Every leader has a responsibility to be as effective a communicator as possible, as we learn to ask God to tame our tongues and help us build wholesome and trustworthy relationships, according to His purposes.