Posted on 08/27/2022 5:48:58 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Did you start public speaking because you became a subject matter expert? If so, you are probably a fabulous speaker because autistic people have no problem speaking at length about subjects they have mastered. I would love to hear you speak because I know I would learn something.
I’ve done public speaking (been paid for it, too) on community association governance and applicable statutes. I’ve been jokingly referred to as the Rain Man of Texas Property Code (even though I am a woman), but I take it as a compliment.
I was a debater in high school and college—including off topic debating (where we debated nonsense and the topic was not known in advance).
So—I can talk persuasively in public on things about which I know little (most stuff :-) ) as well as those where I am an expert.
When in the business world I spent a lot of time training others—because I had the knack of breaking down complex ideas into bite sized easily understandable pieces—and a speaking style that kept people’s attention.
I learned early on to watch the audience very carefully—and to change my approach at the slightest hint they were losing interest.
It is also critical to know your audience—what their education is, what their belief system is, what their prejudices are—and tailor the talk to fit in their “comfort zone”. If you get people hostile they will not listen to you.
:-)
Another trick I learned was speaking slowly with short sentences with clear emphasis on specific words—it allows people to digest what is being said.
Communication is not what you say—it is what your audience understands.
Most speakers fail to effectively communicate their ideas when they fail to use these techniques.
I love it.
I’m doing something similar for my team now as an professional refresher on property code. I’m distilling several hundred pages down to the most important elements that they will use frequently and exposing them to others (not deep in depth, but enough that it will trigger them to look into it before moving forward).
All of these tips will be invaluable. Thank you for sharing them!
Shouldn't a person prone to being "hyper-focussed" actually thrive on charting all of his friends' and relatives' birthdays, personal gift preferences, etc.? I should think that people of that ilk who also possess a certain degree of technical savvy might even devise some sort of "software application" that issues "30-day reminders of upcoming birthdays," lists what gift you gave last time, whether you received a thank-you note, and such.
Being "hyper-focussed" (or however you choose to call it) shouldn't preclude being an absolute gentleman (or lady) - always courteous and considerate, always adhering to prevailing codes and norms pertaining to social interactions and customs.
In my case, I've elaborated a giant Excel table, listing all the relevant information. And so when a sibling doesn't send a thank-you note for the third year in a row, I'm able to dash off a letter of rebuke to him that gently but neatly enumerates his failures.
In my "heart of hearts," I don't "care" about the tax code, either - but that certainly doesn't mean that I am unable to assiduously adhere to it - if only in a mechanical fashion.
Regards,
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4088849/posts
It used to be known as your personality—with an understanding that many people feel uncomfortable in social situations and that they somehow don’t “fit in”.
Yes, I agree🙂
I always do my best to explain any acronyms I use by spelling them out the first time - or else I just don’t use them, especially if they are particularly obscure.
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