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The art of public speaking is the key to engage and spur audiences in to action. Many people are natural public speakers and some have learnt the art because they were forced to. One such example is Pastor Joel Osteen from Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Joel Osteen’s 17 year journey in public speaking as a Pastor can only be termed as phenomenal.
He took over the role of Pastor since his father passed away. Joel had not background in preaching or public speaking. But he had to take up this role once his father was no more. The church had around 6,000 patrons, who needed support and solace. Today, he is one of the most famous speakers, with TV shows and conducts mass events with more than 50,000 people. Let us analyze the three pillars of Ethos, Pathos and Logos as it pertains to Joel Osteen.
Ethos. Ethos refers to the credibility of the speaker. The audience begins to build perceptions even before a speaker starts speaking. Credibility is established over time and it is done by the knowledge and expertise that the speaker possesses. It is also a function of the speaker’s reputation in the industry, field of study and goodwill. Language plays a key role – formal language builds credibility. In the case of Joel Osteen, although the initial days were difficult for him, he soon gained credibility as a good Pastor due to his keen knowledge on the subject. His father was a well-known Pastor and had a following. Joel had to face these challenges, learn quickly about the bible and religion to make a positive impact on the members of his church and global TV audiences. Joel Osteen’s presence and his command of the subject earned him immediate respect. He speaks with authority about the subject in a very emotive manner. The audience therefore begins to trust him and this has helped him build credibility and Ethos over the years.
Pathos. Every good public speaker must be able to evoke strong emotions in the audience. Joel Osteen does this well with many of his story-telling techniques. He speaks on one topic in one session, but talks about it in a way that the audience relates to. He will provide the audience with examples and learning from his own life and from the life of people known to him. He describes the stories vividly with lot of humor and anecdotes. He begins every speech with a joke and manages to quickly connect with the audience emotionally. The topics are carefully chosen and reflect the prevalent environment. For example, if there is an economic recession, he will choose the topic of how to handle stress related to job losses. He will provide examples of how others have managed the challenge and how religion can help to keep the faith. With the qualities of story-telling, humor, empathy and humility, he demonstrates Pathos.
Logos. One of the key pillars of persuasion according to Aristotle is Logos. It refers to the art of argument and putting up a case to demonstrate its truth. Joel Osteen’s speeches have this quality. He demonstrates logic and persuades people by stories and also by inviting special guests, who have been through and faced those challenges. He will make them sit in the front row and showcase them and their situation to the audience. He will provide ample evidence from history, quotes from the Bible, figures and facts. He makes sure that the audience is convinced about the topic he is speaking on. He speaks clearly, without a break and holds his audience captive.
Joel Osteen is one great example of how all the 3 pillars of Ethos, Pathos and Logos come together to make him one of the best speakers in America and the world.
References
Gallo, Carmine. Joel Osteen: Train Your Brain To Be A Public-Speaking Rock Star. Forbes.com.
Web. 19 March 2016. http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2014/09/23/joel-osteen-interview-train-your-brain-to-be-a-public-speaking-rock-star/#e4bdbbe5a30e
Jackson, Cathryn. Ethos, Pathos, and Logos: Importance in Public Speaking. Study.com. Web.
19 March 2016. http://study.com/academy/lesson/ethos-pathos-and-logos.html
