Elocution - who knew it was back in style! From 2020: “From elocution lessons to highway signs to serenades, startup founders looking to raise money in the Covid-19 era are developing new strategies to sell themselves and their companies—which might be only an idea on paper—through a video chat app on their laptop.” (Heather Somerville, WSJ, Sept. 19, 2020)

After compiling much research, it became apparent that this simple concept involved centuries of definitions and intentions. A selective summary might pique the curiosity of entrepreneurs and thought leaders and start personal reflection in these areas: enunciation, word choice, accompanying gestures, impactful delivery, matching audience needs. 

Descriptions

• the principal parts of elocution include elegance, dignity, and composition;
• (1) style of speaking especially in public and (2) art of effective public speaking (Merriam-Webster);
• style: choice of words, arrangement of words, patterns of sentences (Nordquist)
• appropriate gestures that lend animation and force to speech

 
Historic Thinkers
> The art of delivering written or spoken language in the way best calculated to express the sense, beauty, or force of the words employed by the speaker.” (Vico, 1700s, in Nordquist)
> "Elocution is the art of delivering written or spoken language in the way best calculated to express the sense, beauty, or force of the words employed by the speaker. (Isbister, 1870, in Nordquist) 
> “Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson, mid 1800s)

​While the mechanics of elocution may be attainable, it is the more challenging “art of delivering,” that anticipation of being in front of people, that may be preventing you from forging ahead. You know you need to interact with others in order to promote your business or provide leadership for one of your interests. How do you overcome and  get out of  your own way?

Three actions are offered for consideration as way to develop and elevate your art of elocutionary delivery:

• “Know your strengths and weaknesses as a speaker, and accentuate the positive.” (Cane, p. 343). Learn more from self-assessments such as StrengthsFinder, Quiet, or Values in Action Character Strengths.
• Challenge your perception: You may believe that you are an Introvert/Extrovert/Ambivert (Quiet; Drive). Reframe your label to channel a more positive energy when you network, give speeches, teach courses, star in videos, or produce podcasts. Use your purpose and vision to propel you into productive actions. Study the work of other presenters through TED talks, Teachable courses, or free webinars. Maintain a “half full” mindset.
• Enlist your supports: Prepare-Practice-Predict-Pilot-Repeat as needed. “Take your time crafting your speech…(and) Visit the room in which you’ll be speaking.” (Cane, p. 342)  Find a “restorative niche” to recharge your energy and help you return to your true self. (Cane, p. 219)  Incorporate a prop as part of your “schtick.” Entertainer Bob Hope performed with his golf club; Snidely Whiplash twirled his mustache; local entrepreneur Kathy Steinman is never without her basket of beauty products.

Final thoughts:

• Reinforce your confidence and maintain your energy as a speaker, interact with people and situations that “fill your bucket” with positive.
• Confront and wrangle negative emotions that reflect the obstacles of saboteurs, critical voices, and imposter syndrome. (Chamine)
• Focus on your “why” - your purpose - your passion – thus putting the attention onone of those instead of on you.
• Celebrate the emotions that are the “energy that move us.” (Newby & Watkins, pp. 6-8).
• Be a “joy spectator,” as “the joy we derive from others’ success comes with many benefits,” aka freudenfruede (Fraga). When you ask other people about their wins or victories, this is “giving you a chance to witness them at their best.” (Fraga)

Resources
Cane, Susan (2012). Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking. NYC: Random House.
Chamine, Shirzad (2012). Positive intelligence. Austin, TX: Greenleaf Book.
Fraga, Juli (November 28, 2022). “The opposite of schadenfreude is freudenfreude. Here’s how to cultivate it.” New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/25/well/mind/schadenfreude-freudenfreude.html
Newby, Dan & Watkins, Curtis (2019). The field guide to emotions: A practical orientation to 150 essential emotions. Middletown, DE: Newby and Watkins.
Nordquist, Richard (April 13, 2019). The art of public speaking. ThoughtCo.: https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-elocution-1690641
Pink, Daniel (2011). Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us. NYC: Riverhead.
Rath, Tom, & Clifton, Donald O. (2004). How full is your bucket? Washington, DC: Gallup Press.
VIA Institute on Character (Cincinnati, Ohio). VIA Character Strengths Survey, https://www.viacharacter.org

   
​   Everything’s in place – you’re excited to realize your passion with clients and customers –
   it’s time for action! 
 
Promoting your business is both exciting and challenging, as you communicate your message, incentivize customers, and grow your brand. Focusing on both short- and long-term achievements, you have outlined your intentions for direct marketing, personal selling, advertising, and sponsorships as part of your strategic planning.
 
So what’s holding you up?
 
While promotion has a cognitive side (“the plan”),  it is the emotional side – negative self-talk, gremlins, saboteurs – that interferes with your efforts, stymies your enthusiasm, and demotes your abilities.  You want to bring your vision to fruition, to reach a high level of success, to be a thought leader in your industry - so how do you combat the negative and mobilize the positive?
 
Start your search with these emotions accompanied by thoughts from fellow entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs (“-preneurs”) and leaders who share from experience:
 
- Courage involves moving forward despite such obstacles as fear, apprehension, and risk taking. Mike Williams, business coach, reminds -preneurs to focus on their vision and fortify their “courage to stand up for your business… to be excited… Because if you are not excited about your business, why should I be,” thinks the client from whom you want a sale.
 
-Preneurs must realize and deal with the ability of fear to immobilize, halt, and “punch us in the gut,” as noted by Cheryl Brunner (non-profit resource development). Hearing “no” is nothing to be afraid of – as we learn and grow each time until we get to the perfect match of “yes.” Kathy Steinman, Mary Kay sales director, commented that “when I feel the fear, I look for the fun… (as) what you focus on, grows.”
 
It is important for -preneurs to find positive ways to build their courage. Remembering successes through stories and mantras such as “I’ve never…yet.” Because you are always on a learning curve, it helps to remember and honor fear, failure, and obstacles - “it’s part of the journey.” (Craig Cibak, lawyer)
 
- Boldness means taking action despite obstacles – both tangible and intangible. According to William Hutchinson Murray, Scottish author and mountaineer, “Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” 
 
As you transform to being a -preneur or leader, there may be times when you feel awkward,  embarrassed, or, perhaps, rejected by your tribe. For one aspiring entrepreneur, her spouse directed her not to use their friends and family for practice or to make sales. Situations like that remind us that assumptions about who will support your efforts, contribute to your aspirations, and be beside you in your journey, need to be closely examined and not taken for granted. Being bold is having the courage to engage in unique opportunities to “think outside of the box”; to prioritize, combine, and create new values and beliefs you didn’t even know you had; to be the author of your own reality – “to look at ourselves as a source of internal authority.” (Immunity to Change, p. 53)
 
 Consider planning for strategic boldness.  While making cold calls, for example, may not be high on your promotion list, Donna Smith, vice president and bank branch manager, suggests that being strategic in selecting your connections, asking permission once the person answers the call, and being real in your interaction may well alleviate your anxiety and  avoidance with this form of bold promotion.
 
- Respect involves honoring others and yourself. While the first thought is  the language that we use when interacting, respect also involves boundaries and self-care.
 
Boundaries is a hot topic for -preneurs. During coaching sessions, -preneurs comment upon the need to establish boundaries for their clients and for themselves. Boundaries commonly involve days that -preneurs will and will not work; acceptance by clients for scheduling, missing sessions, and communication; requests made between appointments. Leaders worry about requests for presentations, free materials, and travel expenses. Cheryl Brunner reinforces the importance of setting “boundaries with yourself first, …to love and respect yourself, (and) draw a boundary with those who do not love and respect you.”
 
Self-care is not a luxury – it is a necessity. By not acknowledging this form of respect, over half of entrepreneurs face burnout due to long hours, lack of vacation time, and poor work-life balance. Yarmosh warns entrepreneurs to avoid burnout by not working all the time and to “develop an expert network of peers.” Syed Saleem, assistant vice president and bank branch manager, reminds -preneurs they need to realize and accept that “I can’t do it all by myself”; “to build teams with trust”; and to use resources such as Simon Sinek’s Start with Why to provide guidance and strategies.
 
To further explore promotion, courage, boldness, and respect, and examine the impact  these have on your own business development and aspirations, join colleagues during Quarter 2 on Zoom events in April – June sponsored by CC Robinson & Associates.  Use this opportunity to build your resiliency, heighten your creativity, and explore your enthusiasm to take new risks. For more information and registration, go to www.ccrobinsonassociates.com.
 
Resources

• Boosted (retrieved April 5, 2023). 10 marketing tips to help you thrive as a solopreneur. Lighticks: https://boosted.lightricks.com/10-marketing-tips-to-help-you-thrive-as-a-solopreneur/
• Gitnux (April 5, 2023). “The most surprising entrepreneur burnout statistics and trends in 2023.”  Blog: https://blog.gitnux.com.

• Indeed. (December 2, 2022). Types of promotions. https://ca.indeed.com › career-development › types-of-promotions.
• Kegan, Robert & Lahey, Lisa Laskow (2009). Immunity to change: How to overcome it and unlock the potential in yourself and your organization. Boston, MASS: Harvard Business School.
• Newby, Dan & Watkins, Curtis (2019). The field guide to emotions: A practical orientation to 150 essential emotions. Middletown, DE: Newby and Watkins.
• Sinek, Simon (2009). Start with why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action. London: Penguin.
• Yarmosh, Ken (March 11, 2023). Coaching for solopreneurs: How to succeed as a one-person business.  https://kenyarmosh.com/blog/coaching-for-solopreneurs-how-to-succeed-as-a-one-person-business/

 
Appreciation to attendees to The Sully Leadshare (April 5, 2023), Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, for their contributions: Cheryl Brunner, Netta Chiorello, Tammy Meyer, Syed Saleem, Donna Smith, Kathy Steinman, Mike Williams, and guest Craig Cibak.