PRAGUE-EU-POLITICS-PIRATE-PARTIES

Very simple answer: the attraction of simplicity. “Reduce to the max” could be the code-word for all the three examples. The memorability lies in the absolute purposefulness of delivery.

The equation of effective communication (= communication that attracts attention) goes like this:

SIMPLICITY + PURPOSEFULNESS = ATTRACTION & MEMORABILITY

The mentioned examples could not be more diverse – and still, they follow the same script. (Note: the mentioned examples serve as methodological examples only – not as ideological examples. They show the power of simplicity, hoping that this power will be used by the people who want to drive positive change – and who have solutions beyond their simple messages).

Here is no time and space to go into detailed analysis, but just a few thoughts to explain what I mean:

Example Pirates Party: they are gaining votes everywhere with just one core-message: FREEDOM. There are no solutions regarding how that freedom should be financed. The program is free from absolutely everything which destracts from the core-message. The message itself and the “barrier-free” way it is delivered is enough to attract all those who are sick of the inaccessibility of the ruling political and economical systems.

Example James Bond in “Quantum of Solace”: more than in any earlier James Bond the whole story is presented along very clear “codes” (action is just action – not interrupted by discussion and similar, when people are speaking they are set in a clean environment not distracting from the interaction, Good and Bad are characterized by distinctive colour schemes,…) in order to reinforce the character of the hero. The hero himself acts in a very clean environment – lots of white, cold colouring – his clothes are black and white always, his statements reduced to the absolute necessary, his mimics quite motionless - there is absolutely nothing superfluous in his words nor in his actions. Everything has a purpose and everybody interacting with him feels that there is no other path to follow than his.

Example “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Walk off the Earth: a video which has been watched more than 90 million times. Watch it yourself and try to forget it…

Learn to use the POWER OF SIMPLICITY in my workshops: check out the EVENT CALENDAR.

I chose Benjamin Zanders article as he is one of the most inspiring speakers I have ever seen – very similar, I dare to say, to one of our new speakers who will be presented to you after Easter. This is my last Blog-post for the next two weeks. I will be indulging in the luxury of living without my computer. The next blog will be online on 16th of April. Have a great time and speaking with Benjamin Zander: Practice the language of possiblity!

BENJAMIN ZANDER: The Art of Possibility (from: World Business Forum, Executive Summary, page 14)

“…The new world is the most exciting in human history. To take advantage of it you have to get away from the language of the downward spiral and the habit of constant comparing and measuring. A voice in the mind drowns out the “music” of possibilities and prevents organizations and people from taking the risks necssary to radically expand their opportunities.

The secrets to success:

1. Visualize your role as a leader, not as the central figure of control, but getting players to explore the possibilities. When you make a mistake, or others do, respond with “How fascinating!” and don’t place blame.”

Read the whole article:Ben Zander Executive_Summary_WBF2011

It’s directly connected with this weeks’ Monday blog on how to become a change-leader. Whether you want to drive change in your business or community or whether you “just” want to set yourself apart in your business world – it’s all about knowing what makes you unique and outstanding. 

Jody presents her selection of 5 ways to discover your strongest qualities and how to put them to work in business and life.

To start reading, click here: Fast Company Magazine: 5 Ways to Discover Your Unique Strengths

Beatrice Achaleke at the evening reception of EDIC 2012

Hardly ever I’ve had so much fun at a business conference. So THAT must be “Diversity” – when life is showing itself in its’ fullest range of colours in the business world. You get a feeling of that “something more” that you could reach, of those new ideas and solutions you could develop, just because you finally see and feel that there are no limits to lifes’ possibilities. The only thing you need to do is to OPEN UP in order to SEE.

The EUROPEAN DIVERSITY & BUSINESS CONGRESS, organized by our charismatic top-speaker BEATRICE ACHALEKE, is running its’ second day and I am encouraging all of you to follow the twitter feeds on: https://twitter.com/#!/EDIC2012.

In Austria “DIVERSITY” is still treated like an additional “nice to have”. Few companies recognise that the more they embrace diversity as a mind set and make it a living value of their coporate culture the more they will be able to reach out to customers in a more and more divers world. And this is not only true for multinational companies – which have learned to live at least ethnic diversity since a long time just because of their international structure – but for companies belonging to the so-called “Mittelstand”:

Recent interviews with Beatrice Achaleke on that topic (unfortuntaly only in German):

• TV: ZiB 24 - LIVE Interview with Beatrice Achaleke
• WIENER ZEITUNG (print): “The more divers the more productive”
• die wirtschaft (print): “Diversity is something you can learn”

STAY TUNED FOR MORE TO FOLLOW. This is only the start!

Presenting for Change

This was a really good week – I have been given a lot and so I’d like to give back and offer to all subscribers of this blog my 22 pages eBook for free. It is an abstract of the most important things to remember when preparing for a presentation. It does not substitute further reading and most of all: lots of practical training, but it contains many usefull exercises and checklists for presenting with impact.

Always do remember:

Presenting to an audience is not just an act of conveying information – it is an act of getting somebody engaged in a topic and helping people to make decisions on a more substantial basis of knowledge. This means: PRESENTATION SKILLS – in connection with the ability to use presentation techniques – is one of the most important factors in creating a successful career path and on of the crucial leadership skills.

Subscribers will find their eBook in their mailboxes. For all readers who are interested in effective communication but are no subscribers yet, here a preview:

Content:

1. Why Presentation Matters
2. Preparation: What’s the message?
3. The Tools of Communication:
1. Power Message: improving your targeting skills
2. Power Voice: improving your vocal quality
3. Power Image: improving your non-verbal skills
4. Different Kinds of Presentations
5. Using Power Point et.al.
6. 10 Steps to Success
7. Checklists

Only yesterday I got another example for the fact that very good speakers often lack impact just because of their low voice quality. This is why I’d like to share a part of Chapter 3. B: Power Voice:

PITCH: Pitch refers to how low or high your voice sounds and is determined by how fast or slowly your vocal folds vibrate. The more tension you put on your vocal folds, the faster they vibrate and the higher the pitch becomes. This explains why your pitch tends to rise whenever you get exited. When you are relaxed, your pitch will become somewhat lower due to less tension on the vocal folds and throat muscles.

Stereotypes or prejudices often exist regarding pitch, and these tend to influence how other people perceive you.

Exercise: Relaxation techniques for your vocal folds and throat muscles:

• Lie down on your back.
• Lay your hands on your belly and close your eyes.
• Inhale and exhale now 15 – 20 times deeply – deep means your belly goes up and down.
• Press, while exhaling, all air out of your body.
• This leads to abdominal breathing.
• If you use relaxing music with this exercise, you can increase the effect of abdominal breathing.

Go on reading in the PRESENTING FOR CHANGE – eBook! Subscribe today!

"The" Woman?

This is a blog dedicated to “speakers for change” and all who want to drive change in their part of the world. One topic which should interest us all is therefore how men and women found their roles in this world – or how they have come to play them.

This time I would like to simply recommend the following documentary, unfortunately only in German or French, but as a lot of interviews are done with US experts, there is also plenty material in English:

http://videos.arte.tv/de/videos/und_hollywood_erschuf_die_frau-6393552.html (German with French option)

It shows how different types of women are represented and shaped through movie culture, how the definition of their roles developed over the last years in American film and how it shaped and still shapes female behaviors – and male looks.

“Branding” is about creating an image in the eyes and in the mind of the viewers.  A female expert is always checked twice – first as “the” woman and only second as an expert. The question is how YOU – as a man or a as woman – are dealing with that and how aware are you of that bias? Only if we are aware of who we really could be – beyond whatever role or stereotype – we (men and women) can create those individual images which are truely reflecting ourselves.

Attention! the movie is online only for a few days!

Tools & Concepts

For all who are like me using at least part of their weekends for studying and learning new things, here comes the new FRIDAY-issue of the Business Church Blog, dedicated to interesting stuff from the world of EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION FOR LEADERS.

Today I’d like to present you with a set of rules provided by Dr. Frank Luntz, “language architect and public opinion guru”, in his 2007 book “Words That Work: It’s Not What You say, It’s What People Hear”:

TEN RULES FOR SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION

Rule 1: Simplicity – Use Small Words

The most effective language clarifies rather than obscures. It makes ideas clear rather than clouding them. The more simply and plainly an idea is presented, the more understandable it is – and therefore the more credible it will be.

Rule 2: Brevity – Use Short Sentences

“I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long instead.” (Mark Twain). Yes, preparation for being clear and concise instead of being long and confusing takes time.

But for the sake of your speaking success: Be as brief as possible. Never use four words when three will do.

Rule 3: Credibility Is As Important As Philosophy

As Lincoln said, you cant fool all of the people all of the time. If your words lack sincerity, if they contradict accepted facts, circumstances, or perceptions, they will lack impact. – The words you use become you – and you become the words you use.

In a simple sentence: Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Rule 4: Consistency Matters

Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. Good language is like the Energizer Bunny. It keeps going… and going… and going.

Rule 5: Novelty – Offer Something New

The combination of surprise and intrigue – based on a sound personal (or corporate) identity creates a compelling message.

Rule 6: Sound and Texture Matter

Words and phrases have a rhythm in themselves. In order to enhance the sound of a sentence it is sometimes necessary to go against grammar or change words – like in McD’s slogan “I’m lovin’ it”, it’s so easy to pronounce, it’s basically melting in your mouth. Or think of the rhythmic master piece “I Have a Dream”: It’s like a piece of music – and if you can make your speech sound like good music, you’ve got the perfect speech.

Rule 7: Speak Aspirationally

People don’t want to hear about topics they don’t care about. In his book “The Political Brain”, Drew Westen pointed out very profoundly that people make decisions based on emotions – and that means that you have to touch their deepest fears, dreams and hopes if you want to reach out for their “Yes” (be it a “Yes” to your political plans, corporate strategies or just your new product – it doesn’t matter: you always want to get a YES in the end)

Rule 8: Visualize

Images are strong because they directly connect to our emotions. And as we have heard before, emotions are the basic elements of decision, not rational arguments. Also refer to an earlier post: “The Art of Story-Telling: Let them see the field” (http://www.international-business-speakers.com/business-church-blog/the-art-of-story-telling-let-them-see-the-field/).

Rule 9: Ask a Qustion

You maybe know that quote “Who asks leads”. Why? Because questions drive thoughts.

Rule 10: Provide Context and Explain Relevance

This rule referrs to another earlier post on Jacques Derrida, the master of deconstructivism and his paradigma (http://www.international-business-speakers.com/business-church-blog/what-have-the-artist-and-philosopher-jacques-derrida-in-common-a-learning-recommendation/) : nothing exists outside of context.

You have to create the “frame” first in order to make your words become relevant to your audience.

For further reading go to the source: WORDS THAT WORK – It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear”, Dr. Frank Luntz, 2007 ( Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Words-That-Work-What-People/dp/1401302599/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329476166&sr=8-1)

For further learning attend the seminar: CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP. Details & Registration: http://www.international-business-speakers.com/en/events/16 

Jacques Derrida

Last Friday THE ARTIST came out and as we have been speaking a lot about the importance of non-verbal communication and of music as the messenger and creator of feelings it is clear that I had to see it.

THE ARTIST is a masterpiece not only of poetic cinematography but also a didactic play for all interested in the art of communication.

But how does philosopher JACQUES DERRIDA come into play? He is the developer of the critical theory known as “deconstructionism” (or “deconstruction”) which is very often summed up by the famous quote “there is nothing outside the text“, meaning, “there is nothing OUTSIDE CON-TEXT“. Very often Derrida is interpreted as one of the advocats of the ”power of the word”  and of language as such (and this is in fact a very interesting part of his writings, as he challenges us to take a closer look at the real meaning of each word within and without the respective context), but in fact, he also stated that there is something BEFORE language. When some commentators suggest that according to Derrida there is no “experience of reality outside of language” he counters

“I take great interest in questions of language and rhetoric, and I think they deserve enormous consideration; but there is a point where the authority of final jurisdiction is neither rhetorical nor linguistic, nor even discursive…” (for an introduction and overview see: Jacques Derrida)   

So why I am mixing up JACQUES DERRIDA and THE ARTIST? Because…

1. the movie is a perfect piece of another kind of deconstruction:  the deconstruction of the artificial personality of THE STAR of the silent movie era into a real human being in all his emotional and physical states and his re-construction into a new, authentic actor in modern talkies – and this without words. The main question of this film is “WHO AM I?” What is the core of the personality inside and outside of its’ respective context – is there anything at all outside the context?
2. the (more or less) complete lack of (spoken) language proves that words are actually determined by the context – because the viewer HEARS the words even though unspoken.

WORDS COME SECOND PLACE. FIRST IS THE MEANING.

This is also why knowing Jacques Derrida and the method of deconstruction is useful when working on the effectiveness of communication. It helps us to become aware of what we really mean BEFORE we start speaking. It helps us to make our communication really important and powerful. 

The short trailer is a perfect snapshot of the before mentioned.

Go and watch THE ARTIST and while you are diving into the depth of the story try to keep the analysts’ position on the meta-level and consciously take note of:

• how words can be read through non-verbal expressions
• how non-verbal expression changes with context
• how the music influences your emotional status and how the latter evolves with it
• how the main character is deconstructed and reconstructed (very interesting to note: in most successful movies the main character is the only one to evolve but due to the limited communication channels used in THE ARTIST, this sole evolution is even more astute than in “normal” movies in which words very often distract from the core message)

Enjoy!

The Art of Acting

“Die Sinnlichkeit der Wahrnehmung lebt vom genauen Hinschauen.” Wenn Sie Menschen begeistern wollen, motivieren wollen, dann muss es Ihnen gelingen, sie das sehen zu lassen, was Sie selbst sehen.

Dazu ist es zunächst notwendig, dass Sie selbst ein klares Bild vor Augen haben. Das klare Bild wird Ihren Worten Energie verleihen, wird Sie die Worte finden lassen, die wirklich erreichen, die den eigentlichen Sinn treffen, und keine abstrakten Begriffe die nur Ihre Intelligenz unter Beweis stellen.

Ich arbeite mit einer Übung, die diese beiden Aspekte - Vorstellungskraft und deren Kommunikation – trainiert. Die Anregung für diese Übung kommt von Stella Adler, („Stella Adler ist die Königin der Schauspielausbildung“ THE NEW YORK TIMES ). Im Laufe meiner Unterrichtspraxis habe ich diese Übung ausgebaut, weil ich entdecken konnte, wie ergiebig diese Quelle ist.

Die Aufgabenstellung:

Ich nenne verschiedene Räume unter denen die Teilnehmer wählen können, und fordere sie auf, das Publikum auf einen Rundgang mitzunehmen. Sie können zum Beispiel wählen zwischen:

1. Frisiersalon Brigitte
2. Ein Souvenirladen in Bad Tölz
3. Ein Fischimbiss in Schanghai

Die Schülerin A hat sich für den Souvenirladen in Bad Tölz entschieden. Sie beginnt mit den Worten: „Ich stehe also in diesem Laden. Er ist total vollgestopft mit allen möglichen Sachen“ . Spielleiterin: „Schau genauer hin, was siehst du genau vor dir?“ A: „So einen Korb mit kleinen Holzbrettern, die man sich an die Wand hängen kann.“ Spielleiterin: „Nimm eines heraus. Was siehst du?“ A: „Da sind so Sprüche drauf“ Spielleiterin: „Lies vor“. A: „Lebst gsund stirbst, lebst ned gsund stirbst a!“ (Gelächter beim Publikum – auf einmal blitzte eine Vorstellung , ein Bild von dem Geschäft auf).

Immer wieder während der Übung stößt man auf die gleichen Phänomene: B: „…da steht ein rechteckiger Tisch.“ Spielleiterin: „Das ist eine neutrale Bestandsaufnahme. Du musst genauer hinsehen. Woraus ist der Tisch gemacht. Was ist das besondere an diesem Tisch?“ A: „Es ist so ein Tisch zum Zusammenklappen, wie man ihn im Garten verwendet.“ Spielleiterin: „Wie sieht die Tischplatte aus?“ B: „Da ist ein Plastiktischtuch drauf mit Weintrauben und Schnörkel drauf.“ Spielleiterin: „Geh näher hin.“ B (tastet das imaginierte Tischtuch ab): „Das ist unter der Tischplatte mit Reißnägeln festgemacht.“

Bei der Übung entdeckt man, dass man konkret werden muss, um Bilder entstehen zu lassen, um physische Wirklichkeit zu schaffen. Die Sinnlichkeit der Wahrnehmung lebt vom genauen Hinschauen, von der persönlichen Auswahl und Entscheidung, dass man eben diesen Tisch sieht – und nicht irgendeinen. Sobald es zu allgemein wird, bleibt es uninteressant. Es begeistert weder den Erzähler noch das Publikum.

Mit der Zeit gelingt es dann immer besser ein Bild zu schaffen, und die anderen dieses Bild sehen zu lassen. Durch diese Übung bekommt man ein Gefühl dafür, welche Bilder meinen Worten Energie verleihen. Sehr schnell spürt man selbst, ob es „zündet“ , oder ob ich nur vor mich hin rede,ob ich mich mitteilen kann, oder ob das Publikum „draußen“ bleibt.

Überprüfen Sie anhand dieses Beispiels, wie “sinnlich” Ihre Kommunikation ist! Trainieren Sie Ihr Vorstellungsvermögen und bekommen Sie ein Gefühl dafür, wie Sie andere an Ihrer Vorstellung teilhaben lassen – dem Wesen von Kommunikation.

Frei reden zu lernen ist auch ein machtvolles Instrument, um sich selbst zu entwickeln.

(This time the post is a special service to our German speaking readers as it concerns German material).

In dieser Ausgabe des Business Church Blogs stelle ich Ihnen einen Artikel der aktuellen Ausgabe des Magazins managerSeminare zum freien Download zur Verfügung, um Sie wieder einen Schritt weit auf Ihrem Weg zum mitreissenden Vortragenden/ zur charismatischen Rednerin zu begleiten. Hans-Uwe L. Köhler bringt die Dinge wirklich auf den Punkt, um die es beim “Perfekten Reden” geht – nicht um die Perfektion nämlich, an die Sie vielleicht zunächst denken.

Lesen Sie hier ein paar Merksätze daraus, bevor Sie zum Download gehen:

MERKMALE DER PERFEKTEN REDE

Damit eine Rede den höchsten Ansprüchen genügt, sollten die folgenden Voraussetzungen erfüllt sein:

• Die Rede wird frei gehalten. Kein Manuskript, allenfalls kleine Stichwortzettel sind erlaubt. Das Rednerpult, sofern vorhanden, wird gemieden
• Der Inhalt ist dem Redner in Fleisch und Blut übergegangen
• Es gibt keinen Zahlensalat und keine Faktentürme
• Durch die Rede wachsen der Redner und die Zuhörer. Es muss immer ein MEHR übrig bleiben, sonst war alles nur plakativer Unsinn.
• Die Aussagen und Absichten sind klar.
• Die Worte und der Ausdruck klingen angenehm und lassen den Alltag vergessen.
• Auf Tricks und negative Manipulation wird verzichtet.
• Die Rede lässt die Persönlichkeit des Redners zur Wirkung kommen.
• Die Rede begeistert. Sie motiviert die Zuhörer genau dazu, wozu der Redner motivieren wollte.

Lesen Sie den ganzen Artikel hier: Die Perfekte Rede_managerSeminare_Januar 2012

SEMINAR-HINWEIS: Charismatische Führung/ Charismatische Kommunikation, 1. – 2. März 2012, Wien

Details und Anmeldung: CHARISMATISCHE FÜHRUNG