Friday, November 23, 2012

Say what you feel

When I sit down and think about what I really do (not Presentation Technique or Marketing Communication, but what it's REALLY all about),  I come to different conclusions all the time.
Sometimes it's about controlling a situation, affecting the thought process of an audience or just surviving your nerves.  Sometimes it's about persuading, sometimes about inspiring and almost always about convincing.

But the bottom line is really this: what I really love doing is getting people to THINK about what they FEEL. To turn emotions into logic and intentions into words. Because if you can do it that way, then you can surely reverse the process and make people feel something through your speech or actions.

Behind the best, hit-the-nail-right-on-the-head communication lies always great wisdom. The art of creating an effective slogan or a neat one-liner is to understand. To understand what it's really all about. The bottom line, the real point of the whole thing and the WHY of a product or service?

Of course, anyone interested in communication will confirm this in one way or another. I've been fairly obsessed about this process all my life. It's the question that's always hanging in the air. Why exactly does that feel the way it does? Why exactly was that funny, or inspiring? Why did that ad make me curious about the product?

I watch great speakers and contemplate every movement, every twitch of their faces and sweep of their hands. To look at the audience and see what happens when a new slide comes up. I think about what actually happened when someone loses attention, or never gains it in the first place. Try it yourself. It's quite revealing!

Monday, September 17, 2012

They say there are wolves in Dalarna

I'm sitting here contemplating the power of suggestion, not least after chatting to somebody about lunch restaurants and then finding myself back in the office eating up my entire biscuit supply…

It's fascinating, isn't it, the way that thoughts can be planted in our minds. Just a tiny seed, just one small word, and we're off on a new track. Even that track can be littered with associations and sidetracks and lead to the most amazing things. Maybe this is more a description of how my mind works than anything else, but anyway.

A case in point: last summer I happened to hear a number of reports about wolves in Sweden. There was also a fair bit of excitement about bears. I have for many years spent the summer cycling along forest roads in Dalarna and by "forest roads" I really mean Roads and Forest, end of story. No houses, no people and very few cars. Mile after mile. Never, before that summer, had I thought about wolves or bears yet I find myself halfway along the road between Leksand and SÃ¥gmyra becoming quite obsessive about the idea that wolves probably run faster than I can cycle and that I heard somewhere they selectively pick on women, the weaker sex. You see what I mean? Utterly ridiculous, no perspective whatsoever and doesn't even fit with my normal behaviour.

I can by the way recommend a very interesting book with the title "Risk, the science and politics of fear" by  Dan Gardner that will give you some tasty little insights into how human beings perceive things. You can only capitulate and agree that, yes, sure, I really am that illogical.

But I digress. It has been said by somebody that you cannot change people's minds, you can only change the contents of their minds. Combining the power of suggestion with a credible, trustworthy style produces powerful communication. Imagine the body language that would signal your total conviction and belief in what you're saying, I think it's quite easy.

Try for example this simple test. At the same time as making a positive statement of fact in front of an audience, nod in confirmation. Look around the room and I can guarantee you will see some people nodding back at you, mirroring your body language without probably even being aware of it. Interesting, isn't it?

If on the other hand you make a statement of truth but you don't dress it in a body language and behaviour that says that you completely believe it yourself then you're in trouble. People prefer to believe body language over words if they have to choose.

So, it's powerful stuff this learning how to convince and well worth thinking a little about. Even if all you want to do is avoid being influenced into thinking about wolves.

Monday, September 3, 2012

A quiz for sharp thinking folks


A glorious day in sunny Uppsala. Sitting in my usual chair and on my usual spot. But not so usual in actual fact as a small thing is missing. It's important but not anything you usually think about I must say, just as many similar such daily bits and bobs that build a patchwork for an ordinary day. You miss so many minor things which your brain is built to cut out, as Common or Normal or Always around. You’d go nuts if you didn't, don't you think? But I ask you, what is it that is not around just now? Can you work it out? It’s in front of you and highly obvious if you know, naturally!

Put it in a short mail if you can work it out. 

Friday, August 31, 2012

We're all poets but we don't know it


I just saw a definition of poetry (thanks John). "Poetry is that which arrives at the intellect by way of the heart". R.S. Thomas. What a wonderful definition! But I would be the first to stand behind changing the first word from Poetry to convincing communication, or something similar. The way I see it, you always have to go by way of the heart if you are to reach other people with any message that you would like to have accepted, understood and remembered.

Simple as that.

Monday, August 27, 2012

There's a hole in the wall and words are leaking out

I did a great thing last week! Okay, someone else actually made the suggestion but I'm so glad that I acted on it spontaneously and diligently. What I did? I simply went along to a workshop on writing for business, writing from the heart and writing to truly reach people. I just turned up there and as someone (Woody Allen?) once said, the greatest part of success is just turning up. After that I just did as I was told. The workshop leaders did the rest.  John Simmons and Jamie Jauncey from Dark Angels in the UK managed in one hour to do things for my interest in writing that about 30 years of my career have not, to put it simply.

Just to mention one exercise we did. We introduced ourselves to each other starting with the opening "I am from" but without completing the sentence in the usual way, by naming a place or any other expected follow-up. Suddenly an introduction actually says something about the person. It was wonderful for a quick assessment of what really makes the person. What are the most formative experiences that you have? Which are the directions you have taken and the motivation that always works? What aspects of your character are most typical?


Here's what I quickly put together, now in a different and better order:
I am from cosy Welsh villages and narrow country lanes.
I am from constant contacts and spontaneous chitchat in a village that's really a family.
I'm from hills and valleys and woods and fields, always either uphill or downhill. 
I'm from close horizons and distant mountaintops.
I'm from movement, and moving, new starts and new things.
I'm from outdoors, always outdoors.
I'm from a place quite far away and fairly different.
I'm from outside, always outside.
I'm from somewhere else but I'm right here right now.

I'm constantly amazed that, if you put me on a stage in front of a bunch of people I have no trouble whatsoever in being creative and open and spontaneous but give me a pen and paper and it's like the Great Wall of China suddenly sprouted up between mind and paper. Funny that. So I would just like, for the record, to say a special thanks to John and Jamie for making a Great Big Hole in the wall. I'll try to keep it open until I meet you again. 


Hasta la vista guys.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The art of words

Here's a master of putting words together. Not just the words but the delivery! Watch this without sound to see  the sheer precision that's involved. Imagine being able to deliver this many words with this precision. Maybe not a good speed if you want people to remember what you said,  but I'm willing to bet that a whole lot of this sticks anyway through the art of poetry and surprise.
No hesitation and "aaah"s, or "uuuuuh"s 'n stuff. Oh what bliss!

Check this out:

The art of coining a phrase

See how easily the phrase Lollipop moment comes about. And what a lot to pack into 6 minutes! The art of making something stick - and creating a new phrase that's loaded with meaning.
Check this out:

http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership.html

Friday, March 16, 2012

The many aspects of communication

Here's a whole story with emoticons. Another great Rives contribution, breaking down the barriers of communication.



Thursday, March 15, 2012

Variation is the spice of... Presentations

Sitting in the audience (for a change - nice) and experiencing a principle cause of losing the audience (so now they're sitting writing blog posts..). Whatever you do too long is bad. Doesn't matter that it's OK in itself, in isolation. Same tone of voice. Same slide visible. You lose the audience. Those of you who are sitting here right now can probably figure out which occasion this is. Maybe you have a different opinion?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Have a little courage

Something I talked about at the recent breakfast and lunch meetings has stuck in my mind. After I've already said it, it occurs to me that it's really quite important. It's this: you need a bit of courage to give a good presentation. If you're going to stick out and be remembered then, by definition, you can't take the safe road all the time. But what do people do? Because they're worried about being seen as a fool, they fall back on the most predictable path possibe - if  I do things exactly the way everyone else does them, then they can't criticise me for it, can they? One thousand bad PowerPoint slides can't be wrong...

But the irony of the thing is that by doing what's predicted and expected you will fall into the white noise of the background, never to be noticed or remembered. And that might be fine with you most of the time, but some day it will be really important to make a mark, and then you don't dare, or don't know how, or it's too unnatural and falls flat.

I heard a story about someone who dared to step outside the accepted norm, was crticised by co-workers and boss but did it anyway, and went on to win a prize for best presentation. Later they went back to the standard presentation style, never to emerge again. So it's tough! But everyone appreciates someone who does things differently and relieves the tedious flow of endless bullet points and incomprehensible graphs. We know that we remember what sticks out, but we just don't dare to do it ourselves.

Take a deep breath... dare to stick out, at least one time. Give it a try today!


Monday, February 27, 2012

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Seriously good ads Number 2

There's not really so much of number two about this one. Its probably my number one. Hard to beat.


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Seriously good ads: Number 1

Just for fun, here are one or two ads that I really like. There are some great examples of how to get your message to stick, but never mind the theory, just admire the result. More to follow later...


Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Change the world

It has been said that the only acceptable reason for standing up and giving a presentation is the wish to change the world. Not the whole world of course, all in one go, but some small part of it.

Be that as it may, here's something that comes one step before that:

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

Leo Tolstoy


Tuesday, February 14, 2012

From WHY to HOW

A wonderful example of communicating from "why" to "how". Here's the video I possibly won't have time to show in my talk 15 feb i Stockholm. I've put it up before, but it's well worth repeating.

Check this out!


Monday, February 13, 2012

The three best kept secrets of good presentations

These seem to be very well-kept secrets.

Think about this next time you prepare a presentation:

1. It's about being human, not a fact-producing machine
2. It's about sticking out and being different, not about doing what everyone else does in their presentations
3. It's about first explaining WHY, then what or how





Friday, February 10, 2012

"Make sure you finish speaking before your audience has finished listening."
Dorothy Sarnoff



Natti natti!

Monday, February 6, 2012

The power of authority


Authority is truly a powerful thing! Have you read Robert Cialdini's book, "Influence, the psychology of persuasion"? A classic, check it out. (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cialdini)

A figure of authority is such a powerful thing that, when presented with one, the higher functions of our brain that are responsible for decision-making simply stop functioning!

In one interesting experiment a man dressed in casual clothes standing at a pedestrian crossing crossed the road against a red light. Of course a few people followed him. Then he changed into a suit and tie, a dark overcoat glasses and briefcase so that he represented a much more authoritative figure. This time 350% more people followed him over the road, walking straight out into the traffic. There are many such examples (and if you want some references just contact me) and plenty of evidence of the power of authority. The classic way of course to demonstrate your authority when you give a presentation is to say something about your background and qualifications. One small problem I have with this however, is that this is what everyone does. In other words it's predictable, and doesn't help you stand out from the masses.

So, while I think it's perfectly okay of course to say something about your qualifications, it would be nice if you could find a slightly different way to do it. The best way, in my opinion, is to demonstrate your ability rather than just stand there and say something about it. In other words, talk about the subject as if you really do know what you're talking about! Sounds a bit strange maybe but it starts with being well-prepared and speaking fluently.

Imagine the speaker who is constantly consulting their notes, seems a little surprised by each new PowerPoint slide they show and who can't get through a whole sentence without stumbling and repeating themselves. Doesn't work does it? No matter how much of an expert they are.

Apart from being professional, you can also consider how a figure of authority in your world dresses. Sometimes it's a formal suit-and-tie style that is needed, other times it may be a T-shirt and old jeans. Whatever it takes.


More charisma


In my continued search for the perfect definition of charisma I came up with another thought. The idea wasn't particularly well formulated in words until I read a blog post from Nick Morgan. He managed to capture it perfectly with the words "charisma is focused emotion". Exactly!

The other aspects of my definition are: self-confidence (the belief you have something important to say and are worth listening to), positivity and enthusiasm, and presence (that you are completely present in the moment). Yeah, there's a bit more too but I'll leave it at that for the moment.