Public Speaking Tips: Do's & Don'ts On Addressing Tragedies (Connecticut Shooting)

I was a youth pastor in my mid twenties when the twin towers fell on 9/11. The killings at Columbine were still fresh in my mind. I was furious with evil  emotionally charged. I did and said some crazy things when I was in the High School that day talking to students. CRAZY THINGS!

When historical tragedy takes place how do you deal with it? What do you say to students? This blog is about the do’s and don’ts in speaking about immediate current events. 

1.     DO - Take Care of You. Deal with the issue inside of you first. When the news came across the radio about the shooting in Connecticut I cried, I then bawled and then I was angry and then cried again. Before you go speaking about the issues, you need time to process what has happened  first.  

2.     DO NOT - Be Over ZEALOUS! During these times we can call our students to some big commitments or call them to an action that is not necessarily God’s idea but is emotionally charged. Encourage your students or even as a youth group to pray and seek God out in how you all can be an answer.

Mental Note: What God says to you is for YOU not your students. What you are feeling convicted or called to do is for you alone and does not mean God is asking your students to do the same. God will speak to your students. Ask them what He’s saying to them. 

3.      DO – Get all the facts. Think like a Chief police officer instead of a reporter. Don’t speculate or assume anything. Wait till the reports are in before speaking to them. And make sure your information is accurate as students will share what they hear you say.

4.     DO NOT – Speak to What You Do Not Know. Be careful how you use your platform as you can guide your audience to a certain/your conclusion which could lead to judgment and misguided information.  Judgment is then cast on to people like the shooter and their family when you don’t have information on them. That’s wrong. You don’t know their story. You didn’t walk in their shoes. Stick to the Facts. 

5.     DO – Help students Process.  2 Kings 1:16 “Is there no God in Israel to answer your question?” Have students turn to God. They too are emotionally charged. Some angered, others fearful, and some may be indifferent because they don’t know what to do with the information. It can be so easy to turn to media for answers or for them to turn to you. God speaks through His word so guide them to it. 

6.     DO NOT – Be Overwhelmed or Give Into Despair. What you do matters. Like the butterfly effect in the Chaos theory, small change can result in large differences at a later state. Let your students know every bit of good counts. Kindness and prayer is powerful. Prayer walks around their school makes a difference. Saying hello to someone they don’t normally speak to has an effect. The time you spend with students over lunch is making a difference. Be aware of how much media you and your students absorb. Time spent on your knees instead of in front of the tv will help bring a clear perspective on faith, hope and love.

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A member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Alison has dedicated her time to developing her gift of Public Speaking so that her listeners would believe the truth that she shares and to raise up other strong youth communicator’s in Canada. She has been speaking full time for four years and is currently enrolled in Youth Speakers University.
Speaking Tips are from Alison’s Public Speaking Enhancement Workshop for any inquires message her today. http://www.inspiringteengreatness.com

The Case for Growth

Do your students know what to expect this year? Surprise them. Let them know that they matter and the message of truth matters by improving your ability as a communicator. Below are 10 reasons why it’s important to develop your ability as a speaker.

The Case for Growth in Public Speaking

1. It shows when you’re not prepared. You can tell when someone put work into something, or when they are delivering a message on the fly. What do you model for your students? Inspire excellence.

2. You default to poor language, idiosyncrasies, cheap shock thrillers to keep people engaged. Ie. Language (swears), Sexual or relationships innuendo’s (Bow Chicka Wow Wow) or you get sidetracked because something flew past the window and you publically blame it on your A.D.D. Let’s be honest you don’t know where you’re going next.

3. The Word of God is POWERFUL! It is sharper than a double edged sword. When you swing your sword is there impact? Does the darkness take a huge hit while the kingdom of God advances? Is your sword sharp or dull? (Heb 4:12)

4. The Word of God is RELEVANT and not BORING!!! It’s active and alive (Heb 4:12), does your message reflect that?

5. Students are hungry for truth, hungry for help and hungry for hope. When they sit at your table do they leave empty? Feed them. (John 21:17)

6. A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down. – Mary Poppins The most direct approach in dealing with sin isn’t always the best approach. There are other tools and literary devices that can help people see their sin and turn from their ways. Ie. Nathan used a short allegory for David (2 Sam 12)

7. To reach a larger audience. Students invite friends when they are certain their friends will have a good time and can get the help they are looking for. (Which leads to the next reason. )

8. *Consistency. You’ll know what you’re doing and why it works which will help you use your limited time more efficiently. You will also have more ON days than OFF days. Students will then gain the confidence to invite others.

9. Learn how to communicate your thoughts. The lessons you learn along with the profound concepts you are reading in books are brilliant and valuable. However, if you can’t express yourself how will that information benefit your group?

10. Public Speaking can help you become more efficient in outreach. It enables you to communicate to strangers better especially people you are not use to connecting with, ie. Parents, teachers, and different classes of people. You develop a sensitivity for what you’re listeners are hearing which is valuable in communicating to people in a crisis situation and ESL families (Less insert foot in mouth syndrome).

I know there is so much that you are doing as a youth worker, but please take time out for growth and development in this area. Consider it a gift to yourself in making the most of your efforts to see what you’ve been praying to see take place in your students. Whether it’s joining a toastmasters club in your area www.toastmasters.org or picking up Public Speaking for dummies, or even reading these Tips I’m giving you on this blog. You may only have one opportunity with a student as you never know what tomorrow holds. My prayer is that they would know how wide, how high, how deep the love of Jesus is while on your shift. Make that moment count.

* Consistency is the reason why I joined a public speaking club called toastmasters. I was so frustrated with my inconsistency and now I am now a lifelong learner after realizing that you never arrive as a speaker.

A member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Alison has dedicated her time to developing her gift of Public Speaking so that her listeners would believe the truth that she shares and to raise up other strong youth communicator’s in Canada. She has been speaking full time for four years and is currently enrolled in Youth Speakers University.

Speaking Tips are from Alison’s Public Speaking Enhancement Workshop for any inquires message her today. http://www.inspiringteengreatness.com