Walter Kohl is an entrepreneur, author, and speaker. He is also the son of former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. The topic of "public speaking" and its desired and undesired effects were experienced by Walter Kohl at a very early age: Political speeches by Helmut Kohl not only had an impact externally. As the "son of Kohl," Walter Kohl was still later associated with his father's politics.
On the subject of public speaking and the power of words, precision, authority, and the consequences of careless communication in politics, Walter Kohl spoke with the editor-in-chief of the Rhetoric Magazine, Christian Bargenda. Mr. Walter Kohl, you regularly speak in front of audiences as a speaker, discussing topics such as strength. What, in your opinion, makes a strong speaker? A speaker becomes strong when they leave an impression on the audience - essentially a footprint in the audience's memory. To achieve this strength, various elements are needed: an independent personality, certainly rhetoric, but above all, the ability to evoke empathy. By this, I mean that listeners can experience and empathize with what the speaker is trying to express. We want to hear from the speaker something that enriches us. This can be a factual, emotional, or personal topic. Strong speakers elicit empathy in a positive sense.
How can a speaker achieve this? First, he must know why he is saying something. I always ask myself the same questions: Would I like to listen to my speech myself? Why would I like to listen - or why not? Which elements of the speech are helpful for others - and which might be just self-indulgence? A very good method is to practice the speech in front of a mirror and observe how you come across. I believe practicing in front of a mirror is even more effective than using video. Additionally, practicing a speech in front of people helps - I also give speeches to my children. Teenagers are very tough critics, and my son is a great help in developing speeches.
In your joint book with Anselm Grün, you wrote that even as a student, it seemed normal for you to speak in front of others because you often saw your father as a speaker in front of many people. Were you aware at that time that you had an advantage over others? No, I had and still have stage fright and sometimes inhibitions. That's natural. I certainly learned about public speaking early on through socialization in my family. But I also experienced the other side of public speaking, the booing, the confrontations, especially in the 1970s with their ideological hardening.
Do you have rhetorical role models? I have people from whom I like to learn things. This is different from having a role model. Rene Borbonus is someone I greatly appreciate and who serves as an inspiration in many areas of language use.
Your son Johannes is politically and rhetorically active - can you be a rhetorical role model for him? He should answer that.
Does he ask you for rhetorical tips? I helped him with presentations in school. Back then, we could creatively solve tasks together, and he felt similar to how I did. Suddenly, there was a moment when he realized, "Oh, I can do this!" I have tried to introduce the topic of presentations as a tool to various children in my circle of acquaintances - following the motto: "If you have something to say, dare to say it."
When you entered the public sphere with your personal background and the special challenges of your heritage: How did you prepare to deal with the media? Hardly at all. I jumped into the deep end, and there was a scene that had a profound impact on me. It was during my first TV appearance on Reinhold Beckmann's show in February 2011. I was very nervous, and one of Beckmann's staff said a sentence to me that helped me a lot: "Mr. Walter Kohl, just imagine you're sitting at the kitchen table." A few seconds later, I was in the studio silently repeating "kitchen table, kitchen table" to myself. I became calmer, the bright studio lights didn't blind me as much, and I felt, "You can do this," because next to me were Mr. Beckmann and Mr. Gauck - truly strong personalities. That evening marked a major plunge into the cold waters of the media for me, and I felt that I could do it.
"Words carry great power, use them wisely and respectfully." This was a motto of your German and history teacher. What does this sentence mean to you today when you observe businesses or politics? It means a lot to me because words are the most important tool for steering and leading. Leaders live by their words. They should use words very carefully, with a focus on quality in terms of truthfulness and wisdom. If they squander their words, they also squander their authority. Nothing is worse than a leader who is inconsistent with their words - whether in politics, industry, or sports. A football coach, a chancellor, a company's executive board, or the head of a large hospital - they all rely on words. It's almost a biblical statement. In the beginning was the Word. Unfortunately, in many societal areas today, we have a rather careless relationship with words.
In your experience, is the power of words more often used or squandered today? I find that due to digitalization, we can quickly express ourselves on any topic. This is often associated with a loss of quality in thinking. In the past, letters were written on paper and dropped in the mailbox. Today, anyone can immediately write a comment on social media, perhaps even anonymously. Quick does not always mean good. I believe that the ability and willingness to use high-quality language often suffer. I find this very unfortunate because words connect us. If we are careless with our words, we also have careless connections. There is a saying from Confucius that is very important to me. It roughly translates to: "If we name things correctly, we have solved half the problem." When I coach someone, I pay close attention to ensure that my coachee and I have clarity on important words. When preparing for speeches, I work with keywords. I progress like a climber from one foothold to the next - the keywords are the footholds. What one has to say should be packed precisely in words. This does not mean using pre-formulated sentences or even strings of sentences, but rather carefully considering, declinating, and presenting the most important terms with precision. This is a skill that is not taught in schools or promoted by digital culture.
Mr. Walter Kohl, you studied and worked in the USA and are active in business in the Far East, specifically in Korea. Do you learn rhetoric better there than here? Every culture has its own way of using words, gestures, and body language. A reserved Asian style naturally differs from a more direct, personal American style. However, that is not decisive. What is crucial is that what unites us all is the need for precise, clear articulation. Both in my time in the USA and in Asia, I made the same observation: People who articulate precisely and clearly have authority. They can lead. They appear thoughtful and are therefore trusted.
You once said, "The way we treat each other, the way we communicate with each other - that's how the results will be!" What, in your opinion, constitutes successful communication in this sense? The most important thing is that communication between sender and receiver leads to a shared understanding of the topic. This can then lead to shared reactions or actions. However, if you practice communication based on fear, pressure, and shouting, you will get resistance, submission, and misunderstandings. We see this vividly in certain companies or parts of politics. Not only do misunderstandings arise easily, but also protests, alienation, and the retreat to apparent alternatives. The key in communication is the right use of words, and human community begins with words. The conversation between Walter Kohl and Christian Bargenda took place at the international convention of the German Speakers Association in 2016. Walter Kohl spoke as a speaker here and addressed experts from various fields on topics such as strength, personality, and overcoming the "biographical backpack" to harness energy.
