Methods & strategies: The “Believe it or not” approach Wow your audience! Robert Ripley was an American cartoonist. He created a famous cartoon strip, which was later turned into a successful TV series, called “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!”. Readers and viewers learned, for example, that a Mr. Forrester ran the 100 metres backwards in about 14 seconds in 1888, and that a moose’s antlers can grow an inch a day. Of course, the phrase “Believe it or not!” is well suited to introduce these facts. It suggests that a fascinating truth is about to be announced – and every speaker should try to wow their audience! This is why you should use the phrases below in your speeches and presentations. Make it clear to your listeners that you are covering the most exciting issues known to humankind. The following phrases can help you achieve this effect. Introducing particularly interesting or surprising facts ■■ Believe it or not, but the principle of supply and demand is one of the very few universally applicable economic concepts … ■■ Here’s a fact that may surprise you. There really is no … ■■ Google is known for its … but did you also know that … ■■ You may find this hard to believe, but it really was the first time in history a company ever managed to … ■■ What I am now going to tell you sounds improbable at first. It really does. ■■ Would you have believed that before her, only two other CEOs attempted to … ■■ To me, it’s almost incredible that this was only the second time … ■■ And here’s something that you probably didn’t expect. ■■ Doesn’t it strike you as absolutely mind-boggling1 that there were only a handful of … ■■ This is a feat2 that never ceases3 to amaze me: The only company that ever managed to beat Apple in this category was … (Please pronounce the word “cease” correctly 1 5.4!) ■■ It never fails to baffle me4 that … ■■ Difficult though this may be to believe, no company has ever come close to … (Please note the unusual word order!) Making facts appear especially interesting ■■ Using the phrases given above, present three to five facts about businesses and the corporate world in a way that makes them seem particularly interesting to your audience. Use 1 3.1 or the “Zooming out” section below, as well as your previous knowledge. Of course, you are more than welcome to do some additional research as well! ■■ In your talk, as well as in all other speeches and presentations, try to avoid overusing the words “interesting” and “important”. Use the words and structures from sections 1 3.6 to 1 3.8 instead. How-to [B] [J] 3.2 Phrases & structures [B] [J] 3.3 PLEASE NOTE Please do not forget to look at the people you are talking to when you are using these phrases! You should always make eye contact when addressing an audience, but in this case, it is particularly essential. To do [A] [B] [H] [J] 3.4 JUST FOR FUN My boss is very easy-going. He told me not to think of him as the boss, but rather as a friend who is never wrong. 1 mind-boggling: verrückt, die Vorstellungskraft übersteigend 2 feat: (Meister-)Leistung, Großtat 3 to cease: aufhören 4 it never fails to baffle me: es verblüfft mich jedes Mal aufs Neue Every speaker should try to wow their audience! 29 Key aspects Strategies Sample task 3 Companies & CSR Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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