How does success as a communicator depend on being compelling?

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jun 27
3 min read

How does success as a communicator depend on being compelling? Let’s take a look…

In last week’s post, we discussed the importance of being credible for success as a communicator. As Chapter 2 in Communicating Nutrition: The Authoritative Guide puts it, “Credibility is critical for success, but alone it is not enough. In order for communicators to be highly successful, they must be compelling.”

What does it mean to be compelling?

The dictionary defines compelling as evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.

Chapter 2 agrees:

Compelling communicators are able to capture an audience’s attention amid competing messages. They are more than interesting; they are captivating and inspiring. Being compelling does not require a show-business persona or mastery of sales techniques. A compelling communicator is genuine and authentic, demonstrating perspective and empathy, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude.

What characteristics make a communicator more compelling?

The Chapter 2 quote above lists them as follows… A compelling communicator is genuine and authentic, demonstrating perspective and empathy, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude.

Let’s look at how each of these characteristics contributes to being a compelling communicator.

A compelling communicator is genuine and authentic.

In other words, be yourself. You don’t need to mimic a popular influencer to be compelling. Be your best self: genuine, authentic, sincerely you. Audiences can smell a fake and find authenticity appealing.

Audiences more readily connect with communicators who aren’t afraid to be themselves, flaws and all. You are compelling when your audience finds you relatable.

A compelling communicator demonstrates perspective and empathy.

These characteristics display emotional intelligence, which includes being able to self-regulate one’s emotions and respond appropriately to the needs and emotions of others.

Compelling communicators can suspend personal perspectives and viewpoints and gain insights into the viewpoints of their audiences without bias.

Audience members find communicators compelling when they demonstrate empathy and listen actively and responsively. You are compelling when your audience feels seen, heard, and understood.

A compelling communicator demonstrates enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm shows an audience that the communicator cares – cares about the audience and cares about the topic of communication. It demonstrates a commitment to the audience’s well-being.

Demonstrating enthusiasm makes what is communicated of greater importance and value. It fosters trust and strengthens credibility.

A compelling communicator demonstrates positivity.

When communicators express positive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, their positivity is contagious. Audiences are more compelled to follow positive role models than negative ones.

Positivity enables us to see the bigger picture, build stronger relationships, be creative and innovative, and thrive even in challenging situations. Positivity is compelling.

Compelling communicators consistently create compelling content.

What makes communication compelling?

Creating compelling content has been featured in previous posts:

In 3 steps to creating compelling content, we discuss how compelling content is achievable when your message speaks to the whole person. Compelling content accounts for what your audience thinks, feels, and does.
In What makes a message compelling? we discuss the characteristics and qualities of compelling messages.
In 10 steps to creating compelling communication, we outline the communication creation process from start to finish.