Speaking From The Heart? Proceed With Caution (and do this instead!)

Speak from the heart? Sure.

But speak with strategy, too.

In every presentation, I hear so many people say that they are just going to “speak from the heart.” But what does that really mean?

Does it mean that you’ll let your heart decide the content in the moment where you step in front of your audience?

Does it mean that you’ll take your time and go to great lengths to speak what’s in your heart, even if it takes you way over time, because what’s in your heart just MUST be shared, no matter how long it takes? (can you tell that I’ve seen THIS scenario play out several times over the years?  )

Because both those scenarios could be a recipe for disaster.

Awhile ago, I had the chance to attend an awards ceremony, recognizing local businesses and entrepreneurs for their business growth, innovation, and dedication to community. It was a very well-organized event, and honored many hard-working individuals who deserved to be recognized.

As the winners were called up, they were given the opportunity to accept the award with a quick ‘thank you,’ or to take 30-60 seconds to expand upon their journey and thank the key people in their journey.

When one award-winner took the microphone and proudly stated: “I haven’t prepared anything, so I’m going to speak from the heart,” I had an inkling that I was going to see a very familiar scenario being played out.

And this person did not disappoint.

With a review of their business growth chronology, their mission, passion and what fueled them, the people who helped out along the way, their mentors, some of the challenges that they faced but overcame, you could start to tell that the energy in the room was starting to show a little concern: “How much longer was this going to go on?”

Apparently, it was just going to go on. And on. And on.

When it got to around the 3-4 minute mark, the emcee finally had to step in with a well-intentioned, respectful interruption (which was code for “please wrap it up, we have other people to honour and an award ceremony to continue.”

Eventually, the award winner gave a quick wrap-up and exited the stage.

Was it really so bad? I mean, in their time on stage, they accepted their award, they thanked everyone that they needed to, they shared information about their business.

But at the same time, they took more time than was allotted to them, they made the audience go from a feeling of “congratulations, well done!” to “they’re really going on with this long speech, no one else took this much time, they aren’t showing any signs of slowing down….do you think they’ll eventually be cut off?”

Sometimes, short and sweet really does get the job done.

And would it really have been so bad if this individual, knowing that they were nominated for an award and having a reasonable chance of winning, could have spent just a little time preparing what they might want to say if they would be the winner of the award?

This way, instead of having to “speak from the heart”, for too long and with too much detail that ultimately required them to be interrupted and invited OFF the stage, they could have tapped into their heart well in advance of getting in front of the audience, and ultimately spoken with more focus and intent?

So how do you speak from the heart in an authentic — yet prepared — way?

Before you get tempted to speak from the heart, take a little time to prepare your message. Ask yourself:

— What does my audience need to hear?

— What message do I want them to walk away with?

— How can I deliver the most value to them, in the time that I have? (and the time that they are giving you)

Focus on your strong message. Your compelling content. And engaging stories that bring them along on the journey.

Do your homework in deciding if this heart-filled message is relevant and meaningful to the audience.

If it is…then great. You will then be in a much better position to create a meaningful, heart-centered message that’s clear, structured, and audience-focused.

The end result? Your words will land the way you intend them to, your message will have impact — and even your heart will have had a chance to get in on the action.

— > Have you ever seen a “speak from the heart” scenario go wrong? What happened, and how do you think it could have “gone right?”