Logic and feelings

Have you ever met people who are very serious in their thinking and display the least of their emotions? They are very logical, very analytical and you would never be able to probe into their thoughts because they use their poker faces.

And then there are people who are so emotional, extremely animated, and bubbly. The things they say and the things they do seem a little illogical at times.

I deal with both types of people all the time. This is because I speak to different listeners almost every day.

The industry calls me a Motivational Speaker, which is the farthest from what I want to be. I feel a little uneasy being called as such, because the purpose of my lecture is not to “motivate” people, but to challenge their thought processes, connect with their feelings, and urge them to tap into their potential to become better. Perhaps, if I do my job well, they ended up motivated –why I am called as such.

I make it a point to make my presentations always logical, so it will be as thought-provoking as possible, but my goal is to reach the heart, and that is through “feelings.”

Think about this, there must be some point in your life when you had your emotions aroused.

A movie that moved you. A book that fired you up. Or a chill down your spine and a sick feeling in your gut when you listened to a police report describing the scene of a crime.

These facts are presented in a way that they resonate deep within that you can almost feel it physically. A good storyteller. An effective communicator knows the powerful combination of logic and feelings that make the presentation effective.

Now, here is the crux of the matter.

The communicator has to be authentic. A communicator should not be a person who merely “walks the talks” as the popular cliché goes. The communicator should already be “talking” what he’s “walking.” In other words, getting somebody who practices what he preaches could never be more powerful than a communicator who preaches what he already practices.

Being true involves showing and sharing emotions. But it is an emotion that is grounded on logic and careful thinking.

Some clients say that some speakers are all “sizzle” but no steak, all electronic light, but no heat. Perhaps, they put on a spectacle to tickle the emotions of the audience without challenging the intellect and thus, leave the audience highly fired up in terms of feelings.

On the other hand, there are those who are highly intellectual, analytical but so deficient in emotions and feelings. The numbers and the figures are there and the logic is compelling, but don’t resonate with the audience.

A good presentation should be a combination of both. A good motivation for the speaker is this, “You need to feel what I feel.” 

A person presented with logic that can touch the heart leads to the most important objective many business executives desire for: engagement.

Intellectual snobs may frown upon these emotions and feelings, but human being is not about logic alone. We are composed of thoughts, experiences, and of course, feelings.

The audience may agree with the mental, logical and analytical parts of the presentation, but the goal is not to impress them with presentation brilliance, it is to make them respond to the call.

Effective communicators are keen on logic but authentic as well, so they can present their genuine feelings that don’t feel scripted.

After all, long after the presentation is done, people may not remember what you said but they will always remember how you made them feel.

(Mark your calendars. Spend two inspiring days with Francis Kong learning leadership and life skills as he present Level Up Leadership on Sept. 23-24 at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries, contact Inspire at 09158055910 or call 632-6310912 for details.)