René Borbonus - Interview for the 10th Obb. Knowledge Forum.

René Borbonus - I have 10 commandments. Nine of them read: Thou shalt not bore (Billy Wilder)

Mr. Borbonus, you are one of the leading specialists for professional communication in the German-speaking region. The visitors of the 10th Upper Bavarian Knowledge Forum on April 15, 2016 in Rosenheim can look forward to your keynote speech "The Power of Rhetoric - convincing, sovereign, captivating." Can anyone become a good speaker? "Dichter werden geboren - Redner werden gemacht." In this quote by Cicero, there is certainly a grain of truth, as I am convinced that - even though talents are distributed differently - everyone can develop their rhetorical skills within their framework. The substance of what is said is crucial, the rest can be practiced. From a good speech, we expect to be informed, moved, and entertained. Of course, thorough preparation is necessary, as the first impression is crucial. The audience should feel that your speech could be exciting. A helpful approach is an unconventional, yet topic-focused introduction. Additionally, a captivating speech requires a skillfully structured framework: I recommend dividing the main content into three parts, along with an introduction and a conclusion. To engage the audience, this structure should be audible: If I, as a speaker, want people to listen to me, I must ensure that they enjoy listening to me. It is also helpful to ask oneself what kind of presentation would appeal to oneself, in order to build the speech on that basis. Many speakers are well-prepared in terms of content but still fail to captivate their audience. What "tools" do you convey in your seminars and trainings to communicate successfully and persuade as a speaker? For a good speech, I have three rules that I would like to share: Brevity, simplicity, and structure. An essential factor is also the ability to inspire, with which someone can convince their audience. One should avoid using conventional phrases, convoluted language, unfamiliar foreign words, or abbreviations, or simply reading the speech: this is tiring for the listeners. It is important to have a structured presentation where the content builds on each other and transitions logically. Every speaker should strive to remain concrete and credible in their presentations. By incorporating surprising elements and appealing to emotions, a speaker can remain memorable to their audience! What rules should be followed for the use of humor and body language? The posture should convey tension, dynamism, and energy. Barack Obama is a good example for me in this regard. Conversely, the posture of many speakers who collapse at the hips on stage does not come across well to the audience. Humor should be used cautiously, as a good speech does not necessarily have to be funny or comedic to touch us. Only those who are naturally humorous can appear funny on stage; otherwise, they may seem less credible and should refrain from it. However, having a repertoire of interesting stories is helpful, as they provide an easy way for a speaker to convey messages and evoke emotions in their audience. Every audience reacts differently. What tools do you use if things don't go as desired? How would I react in such situations with family or friends? Probably deal with it quite naturally! This should also be the case in a professional presentation. Showing composure is crucial, especially when things are not going perfectly. Credibility is more important than a flawless presentation. Use weaknesses to your advantage: a three-second pause can even emphasize what is being said. Perhaps, incorporating a change in style into my speech, varying the pace or tone of voice, could be successful? Sometimes, nervousness can even have a positive effect, and people who make mistakes can come across as more likable. The performance of employees is closely linked to the interpersonal climate and communication structure within the company. What actually makes good communication? First and foremost, respect: respectful interaction involves truly seeing the other person, acknowledging their needs and concerns. Most people are capable of recognizing that others may have different opinions. However, people suffer when they are not respected. Feelings should not be trivialized, with phrases like "It's not that bad," "Don't get so worked up," or "you complain too much." It is also important to find the right balance between the conflicting needs for closeness and independence. We must realize that every act of connection also contains an element of control and power. We should also be mindful of our choice of words: the question "why," for example, is backward-looking and serves to put the other person in a position of justification. I recommend using the future-oriented question "for what purpose" for a respectful interaction. One of the worst communication mistakes is doubting or questioning the other person. As a leader, I must demonstrate my composure and seek the key to a solution through careful wording. Comparisons are also lacking in respect: we should not use the emotional expressions of others to talk about ourselves. What sounds simple in theory is not always easy to implement in practice. Should success-oriented companies not focus much more on the careful communication training of their employees? I particularly emphasize the role of leaders as role models for their employees. Empty promises, unkept agreements - if a boss acts in this way, they should not be surprised if employees adopt this behavior. I always advise leaders to have a dose of humility, to show a certain humility towards themselves. Only when I value others and interact with them on an equal footing will I unleash energy and motivation. What insights will you give to the attendees of the 10th Upper Bavarian Knowledge Forum, now the largest educational event in Bavaria? First and foremost, I want to show how to inspire with one's own ideas and how a speech can be linguistically and thematically enhanced with simple tools. In my speeches, I don't aim to teach but rather guide individuals to discover things within themselves. Mr. Borbonus, thank you for the conversation!   Experience René Borbonus live at the 10th Upper Bavarian Knowledge Forum! Here is the event page: https://www.speakers-excellence.de/veranstaltungen/event-details/10-oberbayerisches-wissensforum.html