Do You Really Have A Persuasive Speech?

Do you really have a persuasive speech?

Knowing the difference between persuasion and coercion can make all the difference to your presentation.

You have probably been asked to give a talk that requires you to change your audience's thoughts on a matter, maybe part of toastmasters or as a public speaking class assignment. The last thing you want to do is fail miserably by not meeting the criteria.

So what is the difference?

Simply put

• Coercion is about using force to change someone's beliefs.
• Persuasion is guiding people to change their beliefs.

Both approaches are commonplace, but this may not necessarily be morally correct. There have been many situations where people have forced others into changing their minds only to find later on there are future repercussions.

Maybe you are thinking that force only means threatening someone with a knife or similar. Not true, what about implied threats.

Have you checked your presentation for implied threats?

An implied threat is:

A threat that has been suggested without being stated directly.

Whether you are still choosing your good persuasive speech topic, or you have one chosen, you need to think about how you will present it, to ensure you do not include any hidden or veiled threats

If you stick to Aristotle's 3 methods you are unlikely to go wrong.

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