Passion! Making an emotional connection with your audience.

Luanne PaynickPosted by Luanne Paynick on March 9th, 2010 | 1 Comment

I recently had the opportunity to attend an open house at theInternational Culinary Arts & Sciences Institue (ICASI) in Chesterland, Ohio. It was a horrible night–snow, snow and more snow, made worse by wind gusts of over thirty mile per hour. In a word, it was nasty! The last thing I wanted to do was venture out on a weeknight in such lousy weather.

I’m here to say, the evening was worth the discomfort for one reason alone. Passion! I was able to experience passion on many levels that evening; the passion the staff and chefs at the institute had for their work and their students, my daughter’s passion for the possibilities of becoming a baker (not to mention a Food Network star), and my passion for the phenomenal flourless chocolate cake that was set in front of me and that I gobbled down with gusto.

It was easy to understand the zeal with which I attacked the cake. And I know of my daughter’s passion to enter this work because of the long talks we’ve had and the excitement with which she has shared her hopes and dreams. But how did I recognize the passion of the staff? After all, I hadn’t met them before. For all I knew this was just a job to them. They had been forced to brave the weather, just as I had. And surely, after all the times they had been through this exercise, their ardor would have cooled.

Not so. With every word, with every move, and with every interaction they had with the students and with the audience, their exuberance rang out loud and clear. Their voices were strong and vibrant. Their faces lit up with a light that can only come from the inside. They were alive physically, their movements sure, and their gestures open and genuine. I could easily picture everything they described. They made a strong personal connection with everyone in the audience, willing to share their passion with all who were willing to listen. The result? I want my daughter to experience what they have to offer. And, even more important, my daughter wants what they have to offer (and she is NOT an easy sell)!

When we speak of passion at VoicePro®, we refer to the many implications it has on the effectiveness of our communication with other people – conveying genuine authenticity, making an emotional connection with the audience, being able to “ditch” the script and have a real conversation, helping others experience what you want them to experience because you see it as real – in your head and most importantly, in your heart.

The next time you go before a group of people to speak, find the passion for your subject within you. Take the time to connect with it. Ditch the script, Speak from your heart and, like the staff and chefs at ICASI, inspire your audience to join you in your pursuit, whatever it may be.

Image by segismundoart
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Shhh….do I hear your body talking?

Leslie DicksonPosted by Leslie Dickson on March 4th, 2010 | 0 Comments

Did you watch the Tiger Woods apology press conference?  Did his posture and eye contact tell you more than his words did?  How about looking at photos of the Health Care Summit?  At any given click of the camera, you could see which politicians were winning and which were losing by a captured facial expression and a frozen hand gesture.  I challenge you to watch your favorite news panel or talk show tonight with the sound turned down.  Chance are, you’ll be able to provide your own narration and “keep score” simply based on what you see.

Body language is powerful, isn’t it?  There’s an old saying that your action speak so loudly I can’t hear what you’re saying. In fact, studies show that, in a personal interaction, 55 percent of what the other people take in and process is visual. That is, they’re responding to your physical actions. Only seven percent is based on what you say.  So if your facial expressions, hand gestures and posture say something different from your words, guess what people will remember. 

I’m not suggesting you learn to hide all your feelings — the appropriate sharing of emotions can be a powerful leadership tool.  However, sometimes anxiety, anger or distractedness can interfere with keeping your body and words in sync.  Here are a few suggestions to help you be sure you’re conveying your intended message:

  • Remember to keep your body open, not slumped and huddled or cross-armed and hunched.  That says you’re energetic, confident and ready to engage — not frightened or defensive.  Remember to breathe deeply — that will help.
  • Watch your hands.  A case of nerves can lead to flighty fingers.  And you’d be surprised how often anger shows up as clinched fists. Relax your hands in your lap or on the table.
  • Make eye contact.  Whether you’re speaking or listening, eye contact lets people know you’re focused on them and that you care about this interaction.   Remember to smile or acknowledge the speaker in other ways.  Here’s a tip for meetings. Be wary of shifting too much of your focus to note-taking. It looks like you’re disinterested, uncomfortable or avoiding the situation.

Here’s one more idea. Learn to pay attention to the body language of others.  It will give you new insight into your team and how it works together.  If you see gestures that are out of sync with words or a lack of eye contact, something is likely amiss.  Is it fear? Disapproval? Confusion?  When you understand the truths behind the words, the result is better communication. That’s the first step to more effective teams and more successful outcomes.

Want to know more?  Watch the this video as Luanne talks about the importance of body language. It’ll help you say what you mean — in word and deed.

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Getting Your Ducks in a Row–The Art of Facilitation

Carolyn DicksonPosted by Carolyn Dickson on March 3rd, 2010 | 0 Comments

America’s eyes and ears were on the health care summit that took place in Washington last week (Thursday, February 25, 2010). Political affiliation aside, I believe President Obama did a heroic job of facilitating the day-long session, as he struggled to bring two incredibly polarized groups together in some kind of consensus.

While the outcomes of the summit, and its ramifications for the country, won’t become clear for a long time, I also believe it has given us a great opportunity to review the principles of facilitation. At one time or another, almost all of us find ourselves charged with facilitating a group session, and it can be a wonderful experience. At the same time, it requires a clear understanding of your role and a willingness to go out on a limb to assure a satisfying conclusion for everyone involved.

As the facilitator of a group you are more than the guardian of an agenda. You are the coordinator and the director of the discussion. You are the keeper of the process. You must make clear what’s expected of each individual and make sure everything proceeds as planned. Even though you will be working with a diverse group of personalities, it is up to you to keep the group focused so that objectives are met. In short, it’s your job to keep your ducks in a row–everything and everyone on track.

Getting Things Started

Your opening remarks provide you with an opportunity to set an energetic and positive tone. Build rapport with the group by stating your own objectivity; you’ll sabotage the whole affair if they think you have an axe to grind. 

Here are some guidelines for getting off to a good start:

  • Announce the topic of discussion is and explain why it’s important.
  • State the goal of the session: We’re here to determine whether or not to go forward. Or: When we’re finished here, we’ll have a new contract. Or: By the end of today, we’ll know what we agree on and what we don’t. Ask for agreement on the goal; watch for nods that signal acceptance.
  • Lay out the framework and ground rules. Explain how you will make sure the rules are followed and that it’s your responsibility to do so. 

During the Meeting

To put it mildly, our legislators at the health care summit didn’t enter into the discussion in a neutral frame of mind. Rarely does anyone come into a facilitated session totally impartial. People come with their energy, expectations, interests, perceptions, concerns, and emotions on the line. Drawing such disparate individuals into a cohesive group allows the facilitator to draw on the collective diversity of each member.  For a cooperative and highly interactive environment that yields successful results:

  • Involve everyone. Recognize their diversity, value it, and encourage open communication.
  • Establish listening as an important part of everyone’s responsibility. To keep the process moving smoothly, it’s important to reinforce the fact that points of view can (and usually will) differ. At the same time, recognizing and respecting the other person’s view does not require you to agree with it.
  • If something is unclear, ask for clarification, then occasional summaries of what has been said.
  • When it seems you have agreement on a topic, test for consensus.
  • Recognize and manage disruptive behaviors by not permitting excessive examples, time domination, digression to personal agendas, interruptions or intimidation.

Keep Your Eye on the Prize.

If things get tense and emotions erupt, keep your cool. Sit back, relax your shoulders, and breathe. Remind the group what they’re working for and the value a good outcome will have for everyone. It sometimes becomes evident the stated goal won’t be reached in this meeting. If that’s the case, stop, regroup, and set a new goal—one that’s more realistic and can be achieved. At the end of the session, summarize succinctly, indicate next steps, and thank everyone for his or her respectful participation.

The strength of your leadership can be a huge influence on the success of a high-stakes facilitated session. By keeping your eye on the prize, you can mold and shape a process that leads to outcomes beneficial to everyone involved.

 I’d love to hear your stories. Keep me posted.

Image by Jocelyne H
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