Very Busy People

Everyone is allotted the same 24 hours in a day. Mother Teresa managed to minister to the poor, the sick, the orphaned and the dying during her 24 hours. Leonardo da Vinci made due with his 24 hours while dabbling in math, science, engineering, botany, anatomy, painting, sculpting, writing and playing music...just to name a few. And yet today, most people cannot manage to return a phone call or answer an email within a 24 hour period. 

There are those who are too busy to listen or read, and then there are those who make the effort, but do not have the time to pay attention to the details. These are the people who reply to specific questions with non-responsive answers. For example, yesterday I emailed a very busy person to confirm our appointment and to ask for the street address where we were to meet. The email was answered in a timely fashion, but failed to answer my question: "Thanks, I look forward to seeing you, too!" was the response I received. That's swell, but I'm still going to need that address.

Non-responsive answers used to be limited to witnesses being cross-examined by a lawyer:
Q: "Did you have a conversation with Mr. Jones about his plans to embezzle the money?"

A: "I spoke to Mr. Jones on many occasions."

Or to politicians: 

Q: Do you support higher taxes for the middle-class?

A: I think that's an important issue that needs to be discussed.

Or to husbands

Q: Does this skirt make me look fat?

A: I love you.

And now it seems that non-responsive answers are all the rage amongst busy people, as well.

Busy people wear their busyness like a badge of honor. It's become a competition amongst busy people to prove that they are, in fact, the very busiest. This is a problem if you are the person who has to communicate with Mr. or Ms. Busy because communicating is more than talking or presenting information - it requires listening, interpreting and processing. Being an effective communicator means checking your emails for typos as well as making sure that you answered all of the questions and addressed all of the concerns. And busy people don't seem to have time for that kind of Tom Foolery.

I could go on and on and on, but I just don't have the time.

If you need help navigating the ins and outs of effective communication - take a minute out of your hectic schedule and give Ty Boyd Communications & Coaching a call...we always have time for you.

George Jetson's Got Nothing on Us

Do you remember the video phone in The Jetsons cartoon that George used to let his wife Jane know that he would be working late? Back in the early '60s when George starred in Hanna-Barbera's animated television comedy, the idea of a video phone seemed preposterous. But today the Jetsons' array of gizmos and gadgets are not all that far-fetched. Ok, Rosie the humanoid robot maid is still a stretch, but video chat platforms are as common in today's world as flying cars and jet packs were in George's day.

Skype allows its users to video chat on a phone, a computer or even a TV while it's competition, Apple's FaceTime, delivers an equally fantastic video experience between Apple-to-Apple calls. Regardless of the video chat platform that you choose, the technology allows you to hold meetings with colleagues in a different country, share a birthday wish with a friend in a different state, or hold coaching sessions with a client across town. Communicating with people all over the world - just like George Jetson used to do - is as easy as pie. 

But, this way of communicating does have its minor drawback. Gone are the days when working at home meant that you could don your pajamas, with a bad case of bedhead, and a poppy seed from your breakfast bagel wedged between your teeth while talking to clients on the phone. That no longer works since people can see as well as hear you. So, comb your hair, brush your teeth and get out of your sleeping shirt because the way we dress not only demonstrates how we view ourselves, it becomes a way of respecting or disrespecting our audience....and this applies whether you are in front of a live audience or on a video conference call.

And there are other things to think about if you are making a video call from home. Be aware of the distractions - make sure that Fido is in another room and your child is occupied. The name of the game is respect. Behave the same way - that is, like a professional - as you would if you and your audience were in the same room. You may be alone, but you are being watched, so be aware of your facial expressions. And if you think for a minute that your audience can't see you texting on your phone - think again.

Eye contact is just as important when you are chatting over the Internet as it is when you are chatting face to face. Because most cameras are embedded on the top of a computer monitor, you are not actually making eye contact if you are looking at the screen. It feels awkward, but if you want to look into the face of the person you are speaking with, you really need to look up at the camera. So, chin up. And speaking of chins - the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that chin augmentation grew by 71 percent in 2011. That's more than breast augmentation, Botox and liposuction - combined. According to ASPS president, Malcolm Z. Roth, "As more people see themselves on video chat technology, they may notice that their jawline is not as sharp as they want it to be. Chin implants can make a dramatic difference." A strong jaw line might convey sense of power and authority, but nothing says respect, interest, appreciation and understanding like good old-fashion eye contact.

Bottom line: Your messenger skills are essential to creating a connection with your clients and colleagues whether you are talking in person or chatting like George Jetson.

Have You Opened Your Toolbox?

At the end of our two and a half day Excellence in Speaking course, our students walk away more confident, more capable and more powerful because they have learned how to communicate effectively. We leave our graduates with this thought, "You are now able to change what people think by what you do. Have you got the courage to open your toolbox?" 

That is, of course, the key. 

We provide an action plan for growth, but to be of value, the new skills must be put into practice and used. We encourage our clients to pull out the tools, one by one, and use them every chance that they can. Practice them. Hone them. Become proficient in their use. The best way to improve communication skills, is to try new techniques, incorporate new technologies, listen to other speakers to see what is working for them, and watch audiences to see how they respond. Don't be afraid to experiment with new ideas that might improve your skills, your timing, your connection, your effectiveness and your confidence. 

So, have you been opening your toolbox? Be honest....

It takes effort to be on your A-game; if you've fallen off the wagon, it's time to climb back on. Here is a list of things that you can try to shake things up and get you refocused. Pick one (or a couple) and over the next month or so commit to shining up some of those tools in your toolbox whether you are in a meeting, giving a presentation, on a sales call or talking one on one.

1. Try adding humor
2. Tell more stories
3. Introduce props into your presentations
4. Concentrate on your opening and closing
5. Videotape your presentations, then watch and self coach
6. Focus on connecting with your audience
7. If you're only speaking with your voice, try sending your message with gestures
8. Pay attention to your breathing
9. Invest more time in practicing your speech
10. Strive for the best that you can be - not perfection
11. Put the audience center stage
12. Tolerate silences
13. Create opportunities to speak
14. Listen with your ears...and your eyes
15. Be organized - the time you spend preparing is an investment in power

And then drop us a line and let us know how it's going.