A gaffe has been described as \u201cspeaking the truth by mistake.\u201d\u00a0 Actually, it\u2019s a little more complicated than that.\u00a0 It\u2019s more like saying what you really think at that point in time, which is different from speaking the truth.<\/p>\n

Both the Romney and Obama camps have had occasion to point fingers.\u00a0 One said poor people are dependent on the government, think of themselves as victims, and don\u2019t pay taxes; the other characterized the rural poor as \u201cclinging to guns and religion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Politics aside, the important lesson to all public speakers is that you should take steps to minimize the chances of contracting foot-in-mouth disease.<\/em><\/p>\n

Avoid the mirror trap<\/strong>:\u00a0 Romney and Obama were both speaking to their loyalists, believing that everyone within earshot was just like them.\u00a0 They thought they were speaking to themselves in a mirror, but they were actually speaking through a window to a nation with diverse views.\u00a0 Considered, dispassionate speech may not ignite the base, but it protects the dignity of all parties, resonates more deeply, and stands the test of time.<\/p>\n

The camera and microphone are always on<\/strong>:\u00a0 There is no such thing as \u201coff the record,\u201d and, \u201cThe higher up the flagpole you climb, the more they see your underwear.\u201d\u00a0 Be cautious about what you say, and the words you use to say it.\u00a0 In the pharma industry, they instruct their new sales reps and marketers with this:\u00a0 \u201cBefore you say it or do it, think what it will look like on the front page of the New York Times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scrutinize your beliefs and your facts:\u00a0 <\/strong>Last I looked, most world religions preach self-management, which would include being mindful of your thoughts, words, and actions.\u00a0 If your thoughts are based on disinformation or false beliefs, it\u2019s not good for you or the people you purport to lead.\u00a0\u00a0 If your words are harmful to a large number of people, maybe you shouldn\u2019t say them.\u00a0 And if your actions cause harm\u2026well, actions are the flowers of thought.<\/p>\n

Stick to the script:<\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong>Public speaking is a poor forum for original thought, or improvisation.\u00a0 Always know what you\u2019re going to say, how you\u2019re going to say it, and why it supports your overarching message.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t blurt–bridge.<\/strong>\u00a0 It will offer some insurance against offending people inadvertently.\u00a0 Bridge when you\u2019re not certain what to say.\u00a0 In fact, you can use the ABC Rule:<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t really ANSWER (or speak to that issue)<\/p>\n

BECAUSE (and then give a decent reason)<\/p>\n

But I CAN tell you..(and then bridge to a statement you\u2019re comfortable making, such as, \u201cWhile I know that many working people support the candidate of the other party, we have to remember that most of us inherit our politics from our parents, and there is little we can do to change their minds.\u201d)<\/p>\n

Staying in control of oneself is what scientists call a non-cognitive skill.\u00a0 <\/em>The hallmark of highly successful people is self-regulation.\u00a0 <\/em>Unfortunately, highly successful people are also exposed to greater opportunity to shoot from the hip and put their foot in their mouth.<\/p>\n

Plan your speech and speak according to plan.\u00a0 Our spontaneous musings are usually not fit for public consumption.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A gaffe has been described as \u201cspeaking the truth by mistake.\u201d\u00a0 Actually, it\u2019s a little more complicated than that.\u00a0 It\u2019s more like saying what you really think at that point in time, which is different from speaking the truth. Both the Romney and Obama camps have had occasion to point fingers.\u00a0 One said poor people… Read More »Public speaking: Off the cuff is off limits<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_ti_tpc_template_sync":false,"_ti_tpc_template_id":""},"categories":[24,149,1],"tags":[411,39,18,618,20,337,904],"yoast_head":"\n