And that happens, writes Mortimer Adler in “How to Speak, How to Listen”, by focusing on the same principles Aristotle outlined over 2,000 years ago. Always an academic, Adler outlines them as ethos, pathos, and logos -- but it’s simpler than the original Greek. Ethos is your image and credibility; pathos is an appeal to another’s emotions, and logos is an appeal to reason.
That’s effective communication, most of which is some form of sales. Without ethos, no one’s buying your widget, trusting you with their life savings, or taking that job you’ve just offered them. Without pathos, you’ll fail to connect with customers and employees on a meaningful, personal level. Without logos, you’ll fail to make the nuts and bolts of a conversation resonate.
Can you think of a relationship in your business that doesn’t depend on the smart execution of all three? Probably not, and same with your personal life.
You’re likely better at one element than the others. We all are. Is ethos your thing because you teem with credibility? Are you known for nailing the pathos and connecting on a deeper level with the people around you? Or are you that logos person others turn to when they need the straight, objective truth?
It leans academic, but it hits our reality square in the face. How do you usually communicate? Which of those three aspects do you need to pay more attention to? What’s natural for you, and what requires a bit of extra effort?
Like those public speaking classes, it may not be easy or wildly exciting, but answering those questions and working to improve are some of the most useful things we’ll ever do if we’re serious about communicating -- and it’s been that way since the 4th century BC.