In 2015, public speaking guru David JP Phillips gave a wildly popular TED Talk on an apparently self-serving subject: inducing dopamine and oxytocin in audiences. But what about the role these neurochemicals play in the brain of the speaker?
Dopamine, aka “ the pleasure molecule”, is a key player in the reward and motivation game played on us by our brains. It’s what gives us goosebumps. Deployed correctly, it’ll make the people in your audience sit on the edge of their seats and hang on your every word.
But it’s also the stuff that primes us to be vigilant when our prefrontal cortex (the bit that regulates thoughts, actions and emotions) detects danger, or, in the case of public speaking, sweaty palms and stage fright.
Oxytocin, also known as “the love hormone”, is a powerful antidote. Acting as a natural stress reliever, it reduces anxiety and stress. Together, dopamine and oxytocin are the catalysts for strong memory creation.
Striking the right balance between dopamine and oxytocin within yourself will translate to your audience, and make your presentation that much more memorable.
Practice makes dopamine:
The more you practice, the better you get, the more dopamine you release. That’s because you’re reinforcing the brain’s reward circuitry, making public speaking a rewarding experience. The increase in motivation encourages you to take risks, explore new ideas like employing humor and delivering messages with conviction. But it also might make you come off as overconfident, and no one likes a showoff. That’s where the oxytocin comes in.
Harnessing authenticity, vulnerability, and empathy will stimulate oxytocin release in you, and, ergo, in your audience. By sharing personal stories and peppering your presentation with just the right amount of humility, you’ll establish trust, create an emotional connection and deepen engagement.