“Verbal expression is the mirror of the mind. Clear thoughts become clear statements, whereas ambiguous ideas transform into vacant ramblings.”
Clarity in communication is deceptively difficult. The world is complex, and forming truly lucid thoughts requires focused mental effort. Until that clarity is reached, Mark Twain’s timeless advice remains true:
Simplicity isn’t where we begin—it’s the result of careful thinking and refinement.
Continue reading
When you’re having an interaction, or are a participant in a meeting, or are pitching to the leadership team et al – do you suffer from verbal diarrhoea?…
Do you talk because you are uncomfortable with silence?…or talk because you’ve don’t know how to stop talking . . . or talk because you’re in love with the sound of your voice?
I believe I first heard the following technique a number of years ago from a Salesforce client of mine, who was a participant in a workshop I was conducting.
The technique is WAIT? that stands for: ‘Why Am I Talking?
Continue reading
A number of years ago I conducted an interview with master speaker, and former NSW Premier Bob Carr, for a product titled Choice Voice. Lessons from great speaking voices.
Here’s a portion of Carr’s response to a request during the interview”
Michael Kelly
**Give us an example or two of how your voice helped in achieving your success you’ve had in public life and business life.
Bob Carr
“Well, you have to be heard in the Parliament, so when I was a young Minister I took a lot of trouble to give performances at Question time in the New South Wales Parliament as impressive as I could make them.
Colin Powell, former United States four star general and Secretary of State, lists 15 lessons on handling the media on pages 132-133 of his book, It worked for me. He shared these Lessons with a person named Cal, whom he was mentoring.
Many of the techniques can be applied to other-under pressure situations.
Media handling techniques:
For many years one of my body language research methods is as follows:
During weekdays in the Sydney CBD, when the opportunity arises, I stop at a cafe that has a view of an entrance to an office tower.
This vantage point allows me to observe how business people present themselves through their face, body and movement – as the enter and exit the tower, and while buying their flat whites and lattes.
Continue reading