Trumps Communication Playbook: 4 Speaking Techniques That Captivate!

No matter what you think of Donald J Trump as a politician, businessman or human being, you have to marvel at his ability to rally a crowd and influence a nation. You may not agree with his policies (or you might agree, I don't judge) but there are some lessons we can learn from how he speaks and how he positions himself. 

Donald Trump's communication style has captivated audiences and redefined the modern political discourse. So here are four key techniques he uses to capture attention and rally his supporters

1. Repetition and Simplification

If you take a look at news articles or speeches he gives you'll notice that he uses Repetition to hammer home his key points, making the same point over and over even in different speeches. This makes his key points stand out in the mind of his listeners.

He also break's down his points to be as simple as possible using easy to understand language, ensuring his message is easily understood and memorable.

How you can use this technique:  Don't be afraid to repeat the same point during your speech, we worry that people will think we are being boring but in reality they won't really notice especially if we frame the same point in different ways.

You should also consider your audience, aiming to speak to and using language that everyone in the audience can understand.

2. Direct Audience Engagement

Trump truly excels at knowing his audience and then speaking directly to them. This is key as it creates a sense of intimacy with his audience building a strong connection with his supporters. He likes to speak in the second person using words like "you" and "your" which brings his listeners into the narrative of the story he is telling.

How you can use this technique:  Spend some time thinking about who is in your audience, who are you speaking to. Then craft your presentation speaking directly to them. Although you are speaking to a crowd try to use words that make them feel like you are speaking directly to them rather than the masses.

Grab the Attention of Your Listeners Immediately!
Get my Guide to Crafting "The Hook!"

3. Emotional Appeal

Donald Trump taps into the emotions of his listeners. He highlights themes of national pride, resilience and a strong vision for "making america great again!"

But he goes beyond this addressing the concerns of everyday citizens, positioning himself as the underdog and outsider who will challenge the establishment and taps into the concerns and hopes of his audience aiming to get them to rally behind him.

How you can use this technique:  We can similarly tap into the emotions of our audience. Stirring up emotion can be a strong way to capture the attention of the listener, keep them on board through our presentation and get them to take action.

Think carefully about the issues your audience may be facing on the topic your speaking about. What challenges do they face? What obstacles stand in the way of their goals? Speak with passion and emotion about how you can help them overcome their struggles and you will have appealed to their emotions,

4. Provocative Statements

President Trump repeatedly makes deliberate provocative statements, which are potentially inflammatory but feed into the emotion that we spoke about a moment ago. By using this sort of speech he divides his audience to him or away from him but either way he remains firmly in the center of the debate, normally one that he has created!

How you can use this technique:  A provocative manner when speaking can be very powerful. It can draw your audience in and hook them on what you have to say. But it can also repeal them causing them to stop listening. 

It is possible to speak in a provocative way and still capture your audience's attention. But like with Mr Trump you have to give careful thought to what you are going to say. For example you could use a bold statement or shocking statistic that challenges the listeners preconceived thinking, then back up this position by explaining why you believe what you have said.

Conclusion

These techniques combine to create a powerful communication strategy that energizes Trump's audience and keeps him at the center of public attention. While controversial, his approach has undeniably reshaped political discourse in the United States. 

Looking away from the politics we can see the techniques he uses to make his speeches, helps him remain in the memory of his listeners. By distilling down his techniques we can see how we can adapt them to help us captivate the audiences we are speaking too!