Recently I watched this video on a lecture given by Marc Brackett, Director, Yale Center for Emotional  Intelligence.

Although the subject is interesting, what struck me more is the way that Brackett engaged his audience. He knew how to generate laughter and create silence. Since viewing the video, I’ve found myself comparing other presenters to him. Although I didn’t know his “secret sauce,” what did he do to keep people captivated? I chalked it up to him being a master in emotional intelligence, his area of expertise until I came across the tenth bullet in this article, 10 Communication Secrets of Great Leaders by Mike Myett.

The secret sauce? Professor Brackett spoke to his audience as individuals. He shared personal stories that you would only tell a friend. He was humble; he goofed off, he let his guard down and invited the audience in. He presented as if he was sharing a beer with his neighbor in the backyard.

Reference

Myatt, M. (2012, April 4). 10 Communication secrets of great leaders. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/04/04/10-communication-secrets-of-great-leaders/?sh=66af2e4122fe

Yale University. (2013, October 30). Emotional intelligence, from theory to everyday practice. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8JMWtwdLQ4&t=2259s