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Mar 15, 2010
Yes Jeff, that's my fear too.
Frankly - the backchannel (and backnoise) are really only present, if even dominant, in tech and social media conferences. Corporate audiences wouldn't know what we are talking about. And that's still 90% of the meeting/conference audience.
We're in for interesting times ahead in the communications and meeting business.
Bert
Brogan Battles Backnoise - and wins!
You may have heard of the backchannel when one is speaking, but have you heard of BackNoise? If not, it's time you do. As blog post reader Paul Freet stated: "Backnoise is like the hammer in the 1984 Apple commercial." Paul hit the nail on the head. BackNoise is the hammer being thro...
Thanks Tom. Whether they are given 30 minutes or 10 minutes, all speakers need to think of the experience they are creating for their audience. They are responsible.
BackNoise, or #hashtags, may or may not help - the speaker must handle it to fit the time frame.
Bert
Brogan Battles Backnoise - and wins!
You may have heard of the backchannel when one is speaking, but have you heard of BackNoise? If not, it's time you do. As blog post reader Paul Freet stated: "Backnoise is like the hammer in the 1984 Apple commercial." Paul hit the nail on the head. BackNoise is the hammer being thro...
Thanks for the comments Thom - they mean a lot coming from a forward leaner like you.
Bert
Where's Your Lean?
Years ago I co-produced the film "Robert Kennedy Remembered." One of my favorite lines in the narrative described when Robert Kennedy first came to Washington as Senator, “He hit the ground running, leaning forward.” Politicians know it. Executives know it too. Successful communicators...
Right on Liz. Communicating for action!
Bert
Where's Your Lean?
Years ago I co-produced the film "Robert Kennedy Remembered." One of my favorite lines in the narrative described when Robert Kennedy first came to Washington as Senator, “He hit the ground running, leaning forward.” Politicians know it. Executives know it too. Successful communicators...
I've been away, so haven't responded to the comments. And just reading them I wanted to respond to each one - either thanking (agreement!) or justifying (disagreements).
But then I just reread the blog, and it's all there and in the links.
Time will tell in within a year about Obama's longevity as a skillful communicator.
Bert
Obama, Teleprompters and Authenticity
President Obama is no longer the premier communicator - which is remarkable as he was elected largely because of his speaking ability. I even named him as #1 in my Top Ten Communicators of 2006. It's not about the words - he does have very good speech writers - it's about the authenticity. He...
Thanks Lisa. There are many Twitter helps, but few that really put forth the unique potential of the medium.
Using Twitter Well - Groups and more...
You build relationships through spontaneous, casual, open and 'dialogue' communications. This is primarily done in the communications medium of face-to-face and not in text - until Twitter. Twitter is powerful enough to use right now, but will become even more of a relationship builder as peop...
Lenny,
I think it would be useful, and also a lot of work.
People should always be looking for stories from their life. That is the best source - our lives are amazing if we see them through a story tellers eyes.
Stories come from experiences - and each of us have at least one if not several experiences a day that are worthy of amplification, drama, insight and meaning.
And think OPE, or Other People's Experiences. One should keep one's ears open to the interesting and meaningful stories, or anecdotes that can be expanded to story, of others.
Thanks for your comment. Let me know when you have a site up.
Bert
The Power of Story
At a recent speech the presenter before me started out with a story, followed by another, and another. All linked to points. Brilliant, and so rare in business presentations today. He warmed up the audience, and I was grateful. "Story" is the S of our SHARP principles, Story is also the prim...
Great post:
Yes, big win for Facebook. Twitter didn't lose exactly. Just helped the momentum for making the SocMed communication medium legitimate and an essential channel.
And I'll use Facebook a lot more actively.
@BertDecker and
http://www.facebook.com/BertDecker
4 Reasons Facebook Won Big Last Night
In case you were under a rock last night or away from the computer (which is unfortunately the same thing for many people) - what you missed what an online event that is now being called the "Facebook Landgrab." On Friday evening (or sometimes Saturday depending on where you were) - Facebook ...
Mike and Jonathan,
Appreciate your comments - and appreciate you taking the time to amplify the message of this post.
Thanks,
Bert
The Visual Dominates - Mehrabian Revisited
There's been a lot of unfortunate controversy among communication professionals about Professor Albert Mehrabian's oft quoted research (below). It's good to have discussion though, for his research has altered the communicating landscape and has helped to get people out of the 'curse of knowle...
Olivia, I am glad that you agree that emotional impact is important and that the way a speaker comes across has impact. It is the 'amount' of impact that we disagree on - I think it is profound.
You emphasize content - and it is of course the message we want to get across when speaking. Yet most people block believability in their content by their behavior. 30 years experience says so!
Best,
Bert
The Visual Dominates - Mehrabian Revisited
There's been a lot of unfortunate controversy among communication professionals about Professor Albert Mehrabian's oft quoted research (below). It's good to have discussion though, for his research has altered the communicating landscape and has helped to get people out of the 'curse of knowle...
Mehrabian's study is a STUDY that has to do with communication dynamics in many situations. And John, we're all public speaking all the time (except in our heads.)
Anyway, don't discount his essential finding, and don't just believe Wikipedia - made up by people who have biases. I have mine. See:
http://www.deckerblog.com
for a complete other opinion on Mehrabian's findings.
Mehrabian should not be debunked, but just interpreted correctly.
Bert
@BertDecker
Mehrabian's Rule and the Puzzle that is Presenting
Albert Mehrabian – You know him? If not, you can Google him, or Wikipedia (is that a verb?) him. He’s currently a professor of psychology at UCLA, and known best by his formula entitled the “7%-38%-55% Rule.” Simply put, his findings concluded that when we are communicating, 7% of our messa...
Hey Glenn - right on about Point Of View. (Did you think I'd say anything else?)
I'd add "What value am I giving to the Tweet reader."
Bert
How to Start Communicating on Twitter
Exploding - the word for Twitter, and Social Media for that matter. There's a lot of misunderstanding about Twitter, and particularly about getting started, so this post is JUST about that - and will be a little texty. Timely though, since I'm about to speak to a major Association's Managemen...
Hi Glenn,
Great comments.
1. Think of using Black Slides instead of the "B" key. (Search for "Black Slides" on blog for method.
2. I think the "speaking skills" in an interview has tremendous impact at the unconscious level.
Thanks,
Bert
But PowerPoints are NOT Your Presentation
With all the recent emphasis on the design of your PowerPoints (Keynote for the Mac), it's time to revisit the fact that your visuals are NOT your presentation. You and your Point of View are the centerpiece. I think that the emphasis on PowerPoints (we'll call them PP for brevity) is because ...
Harwinder,
There is a lot being written on live Twitter posts - most in the Twitterverse do not emphasize the distraction. There are a couple of posts here - search Twitter on this blog and you'll find them.
Bert
But PowerPoints are NOT Your Presentation
With all the recent emphasis on the design of your PowerPoints (Keynote for the Mac), it's time to revisit the fact that your visuals are NOT your presentation. You and your Point of View are the centerpiece. I think that the emphasis on PowerPoints (we'll call them PP for brevity) is because ...
Hi Brandon, Saw from your website and preaching that you 'get it' in communicating. May God bless your work.
Bert
@BertDecker
But PowerPoints are NOT Your Presentation
With all the recent emphasis on the design of your PowerPoints (Keynote for the Mac), it's time to revisit the fact that your visuals are NOT your presentation. You and your Point of View are the centerpiece. I think that the emphasis on PowerPoints (we'll call them PP for brevity) is because ...
Hi Allan,
Thanks for your comments - I searched for you but couldn't find much under MyllsWyck but found your name and blog. Good material, and I think you'd be interested in the "Black Slides" link above for your clients.
Bert
@BertDecker
But PowerPoints are NOT Your Presentation
With all the recent emphasis on the design of your PowerPoints (Keynote for the Mac), it's time to revisit the fact that your visuals are NOT your presentation. You and your Point of View are the centerpiece. I think that the emphasis on PowerPoints (we'll call them PP for brevity) is because ...
Good point Scott, and many realize it is fiction. My concern is that the majority will think it is fact.
What I do like is that it elevates the importance of behavior and body language in ALL our communications - and we all have to be more discerning. As Angie says, it makes us learn.
Bert
Lie To Me - is a lie!
Update September, 2009: Article in the San Francisco Chronicle with more in depth background on why you can ONLY take Lie To Me as gross fiction. As Paul Ekman says in the article, "They take liberties - the show is fiction." April, 2009: The Fox TV show that is surprisingly popular is based on...
Great. Glad to have you repost this - spread the word!
Bert
10 Steps to Make Your Meetings Better
Meetings - We all have 'em, can't live with 'em, and can't live without 'em. BNET did a video interview with me on some key points to communicate more effectively through meetings. Here are some additional tips we give to our clients at Decker Communications, Inc., where we train people ...
Good to hear from you Les (I'm still planning on that Mehrabian post - soon.) I'll look at bit torrent - but how is that show doing in Australia. Surprisingly it will be renewed here - but then the U.S. loves Hollywood!
Bert
Lie To Me - is a lie!
Update September, 2009: Article in the San Francisco Chronicle with more in depth background on why you can ONLY take Lie To Me as gross fiction. As Paul Ekman says in the article, "They take liberties - the show is fiction." April, 2009: The Fox TV show that is surprisingly popular is based on...
Thanks Gary, I'm looking at Lie To Me as I type, and am again aghast at how Hollywood techniques can convince people that this fiction can be truth. And I have the same view of Bill O'Reilly's expert - she is way off the mark. (He should have us on!)
People should make the unconscious conscious, but realize there are a lot of variables.
Bert
Lie To Me - is a lie!
Update September, 2009: Article in the San Francisco Chronicle with more in depth background on why you can ONLY take Lie To Me as gross fiction. As Paul Ekman says in the article, "They take liberties - the show is fiction." April, 2009: The Fox TV show that is surprisingly popular is based on...
Sure. Video can be embedded in PowerPoint, so it's easy. If that's what you mean.
Bert
Use Black Slides
Power points are great – used correctly. The problem is 95% of the time we run into PowerPoint Abuse. If you follow just ONE rule it can transform the way you can present information to influence using PowerPoints (or PPs - making them generic.) Definition: I'm using the term PowerPoints to ...
Jeff, Joan, DeAnna and Alan - thanks for adding to the conversation. Good thoughts.
This subject is important and I hunch will get lots of diverse opinion before it settles out (in a year or so...)
Obviously most important - speakers be intentional on what they want to accomplish, and be ABLE to engage their audience.
Bert
Four Voices from SXSW
Speaking and Twitter dominance The experience of South by South West (SXSW) in Austin is like the Wild West - it's the frontier of Social Media converging with traditional conference, dominated by Twitter. After experiencing it, I've modified my opinions since my last Twitter post here, and mo...
Good point Jeff, and you probably are in the minority OF TWITTERERS, but in the great majority of non twitter business folks. One web2.0 Twitter said he considers 2% of his actual audience, and 98% of his 'outside' audience. I wouldn't want to be in his real audience (and in this case not sure I want to see the tweets.)
More on this coming.
Thanks,
Bert
Four Voices from SXSW
Speaking and Twitter dominance The experience of South by South West (SXSW) in Austin is like the Wild West - it's the frontier of Social Media converging with traditional conference, dominated by Twitter. After experiencing it, I've modified my opinions since my last Twitter post here, and mo...
Good points Lindsey, and I'm going to add my recent experience that reflects much of what you say. But what's the "backtory angle?"
Bert
Speakers – Be Aware, Twitter is Coming
Business speakers (and leaders, keynoters, politicians, Pastors and, well, everyone…) need to be aware that like it or not, Twitter is coming to their speaking experience. Be Aware, and Beware! There's been a lot of buzz - and new insight - into what to do about people twittering while you ar...
More...
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