In the original book (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz published in 1900) by L. Frank Baum, after each one goes individually to the Wizard and receives a brain, a heart and courage, respectively, the Wizard reflects on what amounts to his ‘humbug’ (deceptive, dishonest or false talk). The Wizard knows it’s all a con. Baum writes: “Oz, left to himself, smiled to think of his success in giving the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion exactly what they thought they wanted. ‘How can I help being a humbug,’ he said, ‘when all these people make me do things that everybody knows can’t be done? It was easy to make the Scarecrow and the Lion and the Woodman happy, because they imagined I could do anything.’”
There’s that word ‘imagine’ again. An important word to use in giving speeches. Audience members respond well when speakers ask them to imagine a future that is better than today’s reality. Just think about Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a Dream’ speech. His dream still fires the imagination of his listeners to this day.
Dorothy’s three friends imagined that the Wizard was all-powerful so they accepted his humbug about being able to grant them what they thought they wanted (and in fact already possessed): brains, heart and courage. Imagination is powerful. Speakers should tap into that power. They should also make use
of those three qualities in every presentation: brains, heart and courage.
Here’s another little secret: being a great speaker comes from inside too. Just like Dorothy’s wish to return home. Ultimately, this comes from the inside. Tapping her ruby slippers together, she tells herself repeatedly: “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.” And she awakens instantly in her bed surrounded and supported by family and loved ones.
Along those same lines, I’m asking you to think about the Wizard of Oz Formula and repeat to yourself, almost like a mantra, the following simple sentence to boost your confidence and tap into your true authenticity: “The audience supports me, the audience supports me.”
If you practice the Magic of Three in your presentations and repeat that empowering mantra before you speak, you’ll become a much more confident, charismatic and authentic speaker and you’ll soon find yourself surrounded by appreciative audiences. It’s a bit like tapping an imaginary pair of ruby slippers together and finding yourself back home surrounded by loved ones.
Matthew Cossolotto is a former NATO speech-writer. Author of several self-help books. He conducts public speaking workshops and other personal empowerment programmes in Brussels and beyond. www.ThePodiumPro.com, Matthew.Cossolotto@gmail.com
