Chapter 82 Support the main idea

In a longer speech that resonates with the audience, there may be several points, but as few as possible, with supporting material for each point.You can use statistics or analogies. Statistics are used to show the aggregated and generalized results of a situation, and they can also be impressive and convincing, especially because they have a function of evidence that isolated instances cannot.Shaq's polio vaccine was considered effective because it was based on statistics from across the country.Of course, there are some ineffective cases, but that can only be used as an exception. Arguments based on this exception cannot convince parents that the Shaq vaccine cannot protect their children.

But numbers themselves are annoying, and should be used judiciously and judiciously, and when used with their dynamic language, to give them a pop of color. Here is an example to illustrate the effect of strengthening impressions by comparing statistics with familiar objects.One executive thought that New Yorkers were too lazy, and they were in the habit of not answering the phone right away, which caused a lot of lost time.In support of his argument, he said: "Seven out of every 100 calls show a delay of more than one minute before the person receiving the call answers. A total of 280,000 minutes are lost per day in this manner. Over a period of six months, New York This delay in time is nearly equal to the hours of business since the discovery of America by Columbus."

Mentioning only numbers, quantities in themselves, will not leave any impression on people, they must be accompanied by examples.We must also speak, if possible, from our own experience.I remember listening to a tour guide's explanation in a large power generation room under the dam reservoir.He could have given us the square footage figure for this room, but that would be far less convincing than the method he uses below!He told us that the room was large enough to accommodate 10,000 people watching a football game on a planned pitch, with room on each side for several tennis courts. Using analogies to support a main argument is a good technique.The following is an excerpt from a speech entitled "The Need for Greater Electricity," delivered by C. Girard Davidson when he was Assistant Secretary of the Interior.Notice how he uses analogies for comparison to support his argument:

A thriving economy must keep moving forward or be thrown into disarray.It's like when an airplane rests on the ground, it's just a bunch of useless screws and nuts.But once it moves forward in the air, it will feel like a fish in water and play its effective function.In order to stay aloft, it has to keep going.If it does not move forward, it will sink, because it cannot go backward. Here's another analogy, and it's probably the greatest analogy in the history of speech.It was used by Lincoln to answer his critics during the difficult Civil War: "Gentlemen, I want you to make a hypothetical. Suppose all your property is gold, and you deliver it to Borodin, the famous rope walker, to take it by rope to Niagara Falls. Will you shake the rope, or keep shouting to him as he walks over the waterfall: 'Borodine, lean lower! Go faster!' No, I'm sure you will No. Instead, you will hold your breath and stand aside until he walks safely. Now the government is in the same situation as they are. It is currently carrying a huge weight to cross the rough sea, countless Its treasure is in its hands. It is working as hard as it can. Do not disturb it! Just stay calm and it will carry you through."

A few years ago, Henry Robinson wrote an interesting article for Your Life magazine, "How Lawyers Can Win." It described a man named Abel Humo, who was an insurance company lawyer.He used theatrical display to great effect in an injury lawsuit.The plaintiff, Mr. Post, complained that he was thrown from the elevator passage, causing his shoulder to be so badly injured that he was unable to raise his right arm. Hu Mo looked extremely concerned. "Mr. Post," he said confidently, "please show the jury how high you can raise your arms." Post carefully raised his arms to ear level. "Now let's see how high you can lift your arm before you get hurt," Humo urged him. "As high as this," the plaintiff said, throwing his arms outstretched, over his shoulders.

One can imagine how the jury reacted to Mr. Plaintiff's display. In those longer speeches where the audience is expected to respond, there are three or four points to note.They can be said in less than 1 minute, and it would be tedious to tell an audience from a script.Is there any way to bring these arguments to life?Yes, that's the supporting material you use to make your presentation sparkle and interesting.Borrowing events, comparisons, and demonstrations can bring out your main ideas clearly.Statistics and testimonies are used to powerfully illustrate the facts and reinforce the weight of the main argument.