22 Dec 08 @ 3:31 pm
A Commentary on the Theory that Guides Us: Aristotle’s Rhetoric, Part IV
This is the fourth installment of a four-part series.
Logos (Reason)
If a message establishes credibility while it emotionally connects with an audience, then the argument itself should be able to stand on its own merit. The point here is that if you have attended to the other two issues properly, make sure you also have a well-thought-out, intelligently-crafted message.
Coaching Points:
- This arena deals with the logical strength of the case you are presenting. If you are making a presentation to a group, one way to strengthen your argument is to include voices of dissent, as well as how you overcome these objections.
- Another method for establishing certainty in an argument is to lean on the cutting-edge scholarship in a given field. Our field is change management and communication, so we need to stay up on the latest scholarly journal articles and books in these fields. Citing the world authority on ERP implementation, for example, will help solidify your argument.
- Get your facts straight and take your time to think them through. The last thing you want to do is be in a position where you have to make a case for something or an important decision with partial or wrong information. As they say in carpentry: “Measure twice, cut once.”
Aristotle may be notoriously complex, but remember that he simplified things for us. If you want to be more persuasive in speeches, messages, or any sort of communication, there are not an infinite number of things to think about. There are really only three aspects of being persuasive. The question you constantly need to be asking yourself is how to embody Ethos, Pathos, and Logos more fully.
posted in category(s): Miscellaneous