communication

i was reading an article in real simple which led me to another article. anyway, i loved what this second one had to say about winning people over. this is an important topic to me as a teacher - i feel it's important i am able to capture my students' attention. i liked what this article said so much i'm blogging it so i can easily find it again when i need to remember it and so maybe any of you can get something valuable out of it.

"...Shift your attention from yourself to your audience.” Now, that’s probably one of the most important things my dad taught me about winning people over, and it works anytime you’re trying to make a positive impression. Don’t think, How am I doing? Do they like me? but How are they? What do they need? Look out, not in. Great acting or great speaking — or just plain great communicating — is, at the risk of sounding corny, about love. That’s how my father put it: You’ve got to love the audience so much that you’ll do anything to get your idea or your message across. When they feel that, they’ll love you right back. “And don’t forget,” he added. “Show ’em your passion.”