Have you ever stared into the empty eyes of an audience? Do you receive little feedback stating that you are connecting? Do you notice that there is a common thread that people do not follow the message, or worse yet, do not follow through?

You can be a better speaker, when you consider tools that give leverage in communication.

As a communicator, it is not your job to convey information - books do that much better. Your primary job is to impact people. One of the tools is certainly with content, but that alone will not get the job done. If that were the case, the Bible alone would suffice and God would not use people to convey truth. You bring something moves like nothing else, and God designed it to be that way.

Here is something to consider as you speak to people and your desire is to initiate impact for Christ:

Aim for the heart, not the head.

Anyone married for any length of time knows feelings trump arguments every time. Emotions are so strong, that when controlled properly they have a positive influence.

Consider the emotional appeal of your content, frame it in a way that is relevant to the heart of the listener and you will gain attentiveness.

• Use illustrations from their lives.
• Speak of relationships.
• Tell stories that contain tension.
• Use humor - that is a win. (Please save your corny old-guy humor for people that you don't care anything about).

Emotions are certainly not the meat that you desire to provide as a meal, they are the ingredients that make the meal enjoyable. Use tension and make the audience feel the need for the content. It will go a long way to make people thirst for something that will satisfy.