Make Them Feel Something
- Dec 12, 2017
- 2 min read
We say it to our students all the time: “Words matter.” But, do we ever take that to heart beyond using kind words? Do we consider how powerful and impactful words can be? Thinking back in my life, I can remember powerful words, both positive and negative, that were said to me. Things that changed my life at the time are still remembered today for their impact. As educators, we can use this to our advantage. We have the opportunity to make our words memorable; we just have to say the right ones.
The key to creating a memorable message is to draw on emotion and increase motivation. As the old adage says, people may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. When trying to motivate somebody to change, lecturing doesn’t work because people don’t want to hear what they already know (Grenny & Maxfield, 2015). Assuming people already know the facts, target the hearts of the audience rather than the heads. Take the example of a blind man asking for change with a sign that reads, “Blind – Please Help.” He told his story and created a call to action, but people did not feel inclined to help because they could not relate. When his sign changed to, “It’s a beautiful day, and I can’t see it,” people felt inclined to help him because they became emotionally connected (Gardner, 2010).
This goes back to Aristotle's principles of argument (ethos, pathos, and logos) from thousands of years ago. An argument can state the facts (logos) and establish credibility from the speaker (ethos), but the emotional argument (pathos) is what creates the action. You need all three, but the emotional piece is what wins people over. This is important as teachers. What we say to our students, other teachers, parents, and administration matters. Teacher and motivator are synonyms in my book, and words are the most powerful tool we have. If you want to innovate, make your words count.
References:
Gardner, Andrea. [Andrea Gardner]. (2010, February 23). The power of words. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU
Grenny, J., & Maxfield, D. [VitalSmarts Video]. (2015, January 05). How to change people who don't want to change: The Behavioral Science Guys. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=9ACi-D5DI6A
Comments