The term rhetoric comes from the ancient Greek (rhetoriké) and means "art of speaking". It fundamentally describes the ability to use verbal and non-verbal means for effective oral expression. It is important to understand that while speaking alone is a natural human trait, rhetoric is an art that needs to be learnt.

Although the term oratory may initially suggest otherwise, it is not limited to the content of speech alone. In fact, non-verbal components, such as the use of body language and one's own appearance, make a far greater contribution to the performance of interpersonal communication. Through the use of oratory, the audience can be emotionally activated in conversations, captivated by the content and ultimately convinced.

If you have mastered rhetoric, you can present yourself more confidently in both private and professional situations and better represent your point of view:

• Avoid misunderstandings: If you can express your ideas and thoughts clearly and unambiguously, you avoid your counterpart taking the content the wrong way.
• Convince: You can influence and convince others with a logical and emotional presentation of your own arguments and points of view.
• Strengthen self-confidence: People often perceive the ability to speak as a sign of self-confidence. Those who present themselves convincingly are directly perceived as more professional by their counterparts, which in turn can increase their own self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Improve career opportunities: Persuasiveness is particularly important in sales. If you have the ability to speak and are able to inspire other people, it will open doors to exciting professional challenges.
• Personal development: If you work intensively on your own fluency, you not only train your communication skills, but also practise critical thinking and the ability to reflect. This can transform potential weaknesses into strengths.

The origins

The origins of rhetoric can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. Well-known Greek scholars devoted themselves extensively to the study and teaching of the art of oratory and published the first writings on this discipline. Rhetoric was understood as a technique on the basis of which expressive monologues were formulated and delivered. Other great thinkers, politicians and educated citizens also made use of rhetoric to argue convincingly in popular assemblies and court speeches, to win over the majority and thus achieve their social or political goals. Rhetoric was thus consciously learnt in theory and applied in practice.

Convincing in theology

At the end of antiquity, the importance of rhetoric changed significantly. Although the theory continued to be taught in schools, in practice it was almost exclusively used in a religious context. Priests utilised the discipline to persuade the faithful in sermons and to defend their own point of view in theological discussions, and rhetoric was now also used in writing.

Rhetoric today

To date, theoretical rhetoric has become less and less important. Even though we still make use of the rhetoric system today - sometimes subconsciously - both in presentations and now also in dialogues - and learn from an early age how best to present, learning the theory of "rhetoric" is limited to the use of stylistic devices.

There are many models relating to this subject area. For centuries, scholars and scientists have been studying the art of oratory and constantly developing it further. Even if the methods of various ancient Greek academics are now only encountered in the context of special study programmes and further training courses, they still show the way in practice. The 5 pillar model is particularly popular:

• Voice: Speak clearly and distinctly.
• Body: Use your body language for a confident appearance.
• Emotion: Appear authentic and committed.
• Speech style: Structure your speech and formulate it purposefully.
• Audience : Understand your target group and respond to your audience.

Adjust your pitch, volume, and speaking speed

It's not what you say, it's how you say it. This also applies when you're speaking in front of people rather than to them. In a professional context, for example, you want to come across as serious and confident so that you are taken seriously and seen as competent. A strong, confident voice emphasizes what you are saying, while a quiet, trembling voice tends to convey uncertainty. Those who sound either bored or overly enthusiastic will also be less successful than those who speak in a friendly but firm manner. With the right voice control, an appropriate speaking volume, and a pleasant speaking speed, you will not only be understood, but you will also exude self-confidence. The audience will be able to follow your presentation and, ideally, hang on your every word.

Rhetorical stylistic devices: convincing with metaphors, comparisons and hyperboles

Giving expression to your arguments is an essential part of rhetoric. Choosing the right words plays a major role in presenting arguments convincingly to the audience. Clichés should be avoided. Instead, the use of stylistic devices is particularly helpful. These include, for example

• Metaphors
• series of words
• repetitions
• hyperboles
• antithesis

Linguistic means can be used to effectively embellish statements. Conjure up images in the minds of your audience - for more impact with your words and to grab their attention.

Using pauses to make assertions workTalk

is silver, silence is golden. In rhetoric, a healthy mixture of the two applies. In order to be convincing, it is important that the speaker can follow the content. Speakers should include meaningful pauses in their speeches so that they do not lose the thread during the oral presentation because too much information is delivered at once. In addition to a logical structure with an introduction, main section and conclusion, care should be taken when practising to leave room for pauses.

Gestures, facial expressions, and posture: Use body language

While rhetoric mainly refers to linguistic factors, body language is also important. As a speaker, you are not only convincing with your content and voice, but also with your posture, gestures, and facial expressions. Give your statements more meaning and yourself a more confident and professional appearance by adopting an open posture and standing upright and calmly. Also pay attention to your facial expressions and maintain eye contact. This will help you connect with your audience and emphasize your autonomy.

Good preparation is everything

To counteract stage fright, not to lose the thread of the conversation or to present as fluently as possible, you should practise for your speech or upcoming meetings. Use the 5 phases of a speech to help you!

Even though rhetoric today is no longer a rigid construct whose rules must be followed in order to be able to speak successfully, taking the ancient Greek phases of a speech into account can certainly help with the organisation. Even today, it makes sense to approach speeches in a structured way and to consciously organise them in order to engage the listener or the other person.

Dispositio

Once the content of the speech has been worked out, the next step is to organise it. A logical structure and a coherent sequence of arguments help to gradually win over the audience. For example, it is advisable to start with the weakest argument and gradually work your way up to the strongest argument. It is also advisable not to include too much information in a presentation. If there is too much input or the length of the discussion gets out of hand, the audience's ability to concentrate quickly diminishes and they stop listening actively.

Elocutio

In the elocutio phase, the prepared speech is provided with linguistic means and packaged appropriately. The factual arguments can be emotionalised using stylistic devices such as comparisons, metaphors etc. so that they arouse the other person's interest. However, these should not be used too excessively in order to maintain naturalness and authenticity.

Memoria

The memoria phase is used to internalise the speech and learn it by heart. The less a speaker has to look at their cheat sheet, the more competent they appear to the audience and the more professional they radiate. However, as it is quite possible to be thrown off course or lose the thread in a presentation situation, writing notes and taking them with you, for example on index cards, can be helpful.

Actio

The final phase of a convincing speech is the actio. This is where the speaker practises reinforcing the content of their speech with their own body language. This phase should not be underestimated. Stage fright and nervousness often cause the voice to tremble or the stance to be unsteady. If speakers consciously look at their body language beforehand and practise it in front of a mirror, for example, they can control it better even in tense situations.

Yes, with the help of exercises, self-reflection and feedback from outsiders, you can improve your speaking skills. We cover all these points in our training events and provide you with professional support.

The concept of rhetoric is firmly rooted in history and has stood the test of time. Based on the findings of many well-known personalities from ancient Greece and Rome, as well as scientists from later eras, we still utilise the ability to speak today. People who have had a good education in public speaking can present themselves confidently and use their speeches to persuade their counterparts of the merits of their arguments. Their ability to speak in both private and professional contexts can help them to achieve their goals efficiently. In addition to the content and linguistic structure of their arguments, aspects such as tone of voice, body language and the use of pauses also play an important role. In order to show users the way to a successful speech, the 5 phases of a speech are still used today.