Nick Wright
  • Home
  • About
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
    • Other related topics
  • Interviews
    • How did I get here
  • Blog
  • Audio
  • News
  • Resources
  • Testimonies
  • Contact

More than meets the eye

26/10/2011

10 Comments

 
My daughter is studying media and we had a chat today about communication principles, particularly about working with large groups, e.g. presenting at meetings or conferences. On the face of it, I explained, it’s as simple as ABC: (a) having clear intention, (b) knowing your audience and (c) using effective media.

Having clear intention

What do you want your audience to leave thinking? Do you want them to have fresh information, knowledge, questions, understanding? If so, what is the focus? If you were to meet with each person present one week later, what are the three key things you hope they would remember from this meeting?

What do you want your audience to leave feeling? Do you want them to feel encouraged, inspired, confident, challenged? What do you want your audience to do as a result of this encounter? Do you have specific actions in mind? If so, is the audience clear what you want them to do – what, how and when?

Knowing your audience

This is tricky in large meetings, especially if open meetings. It’s about finding out as much as you can beforehand. Why are these people here? What are their core interests? What kind of language, metaphors and concepts do they tend to use? What would make this meeting worthwhile from their point of view?
 
It’s worth assuming a mix of theorists (who will want to know that what you’re saying is well founded), reflectors (who will want space and time to think it through), pragmatists (who will want to know there is some practical purpose to it) and activists (who will want to get on and do something).

Also a mix of thinkers (like to know the rationale), feelers (want to feel an emotional connection), big picture people (like to know overall vision and concepts), data people (want to know the key details), organised people (like structure) and emergent people (enjoy fluidity).

Using effective media

The choice of media falls out of intention and audience and what kind of facilities and equipment are available. Some people have a visual preference (engage with what they see) some auditory (engage with what they hear) and some kinaesthetic (engage by doing something practical).

Using a range of media, therefore, that involve seeing, hearing and doing can be most engaging for a large mixed group. This often demands creative thought and planning beforehand. ‘What could be the most creative and engaging way to do this?’ ‘How can we best use a diverse mix of media in the same meeting?’
 
It’s worth thinking about who to involve too. It would be one thing for a team to present on its own work, what it does. It would be another thing for a different team to present on what that team’s efforts have enabled them to do. It can help to involve a range of people, to hear different, unexpected voices.

Building trust

Intention, audience and media are important. I’ve learned over time, however, that authenticity and trust are equally, if not more, important. Covey comments, ‘When the trust account is high, communication is easy, instant, and effective’. When trust is low, even the most simple communications can feel strained.
 
I often encourage speakers to consider beforehand, ‘As you look out on this sea of faces, what do you really believe? Do you genuinely love these people? Do you believe they are worthy of trust and respect? Is what you want to communicate real and true? Are you really open to listen and invite challenge?’

These are the more subtle aspects of communication, the character and values dimensions that can easily be missed, lost or ignored whilst focusing on technical messages, methods and techniques. It's passionate conviction, quiet humility and determined integrity that often make the difference.
10 Comments
eye laser surgery sydney link
30/4/2012 11:24:25 pm

Good read you help with good communication skills . Love to read more from you.

Reply
Nick Wright
17/5/2012 06:25:49 am

Hi and thanks for the encouraging feedback! With best wishes. Nick

Reply
blepharoplasty melbourne link
16/9/2012 03:58:06 pm

A fantastic blog with a lot of useful information. I would love to get updates from you. Keep blogging. All the best.

Reply
Nick Wright
29/10/2012 09:24:44 pm

Hi blepharoplasty and thanks for your encouraging feedback. Unfortunately, the website software package I use doesn't have a facility to subscribe or sent out auto-updates. I hope you will visit future blogs and feel free to add your own thoughts and ideas too. With best wishes. Nick

eye doctor Vancouver link
19/9/2012 06:29:29 pm

You’re certainly a great writer.Your post provided me with many helpful pieces of information.

Reply
Nick Wright
29/10/2012 09:30:28 pm

Many thanks eye doctor. I'm pleased you found the blog helpful. With best wishes. Nick

thc urine drug test link
14/5/2012 06:04:02 pm

Good post i wanted to know more about this topic we need to understand how this effect our body and how to deal with them.

Reply
Nick Wright
29/10/2012 09:35:22 pm

Hi and thanks for the feedback. Could you say more about 'effects on the body and how to deal with them'? Were you thinking of, for example, physical stress people can experience when leading presentations? With best wishes. Nick

Reply
eyewear Vancouver link
29/8/2012 10:02:10 pm

Excellent post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I'm impressed! Very helpful info specially the last phase I handle such info much. I used to be looking for this particular info for a long time. Thanks and best of luck.

Reply
Nick Wright
29/10/2012 09:33:10 pm

Many thanks for such encouraging feedback, eyewear. I'm very pleased you found the blog helpful. With best wishes. Nick

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    ​Author

    ​Nick is a psychological coach, OD consultant and trainer, specialising in developing critical reflective practice.​

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    ​Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    Abc
    Accountability
    Act
    Action Learning
    Advent
    Adventure
    Ambiguity
    Angle
    Anxiety
    Appraisal
    Appreciation
    Appreciative
    Appreciative Inquiry
    Approach
    Argyris
    Asia
    Assumptions
    Attachment
    Attention
    Attitude
    Audience
    Authenticity
    Autonomy
    Avoidance
    Awareness
    Behaviour
    Being
    Belief
    Beliefs
    Bible
    Body Language
    Boundaries
    Brainstorming
    Brand
    Calling
    Care
    Censorship
    Challenge
    Change
    Charity
    Child
    Choice
    Christ
    Christian
    Christmas
    Client
    Climate
    Coach
    Coaching
    Coactive
    Cognition
    Cognitive
    Cognitive Behavioural
    Commitment
    Communication
    Compassion
    Competence
    Complexity
    Concepts
    Conflict
    Congruence
    Consciousness
    Construct
    Constructs
    Consultancy
    Contact
    Content
    Context
    Contracting
    Contribution
    Control
    Conversation
    Counselling
    Counterintiution
    Counterintuition
    Countertransference
    Courage
    Craziness
    Creativity
    Critical Thinking
    Critique
    Cross
    Cross Culture
    Cross-culture
    Culture
    Curiosity
    Customer Care
    Customers
    Decision
    Deconstruction
    Defence
    Defences
    Definition
    Delusion
    Democracy
    Depression
    Discernment
    Discovery
    Disruptive
    Dissent
    Dissonance
    Distinctiveness
    Distortion
    Diversity
    Dream
    Dynamic
    Dynamics
    Easter
    Ecology
    Edge
    Education
    Effectiveness
    Efficiency
    Ego State
    Emergence
    Emotion
    Emotional
    Emotional Intelligence
    Empathy
    Encouragement
    Energy
    Engagement
    Environment
    Eternity
    Evaluation
    Evidence
    Existential
    Existentialism
    Expectation
    Expectations
    Experience
    Experiment
    Experimentation
    Exploration
    Explore
    Exposure
    Facilitation
    Faith
    Fear
    Feedback
    Feeling
    Figure
    Filter
    Focus
    Forgiveness
    Framework
    Freud
    Fun
    Gestalt
    Goal
    Goals
    God
    Gospel
    Grace
    Grief
    Ground
    Group
    Guidance
    Healing
    Hear
    Heidegger
    Hero
    Hope
    Human Givens
    Humanity
    Human Resources
    Humility
    Ideation
    Identity
    Image
    Imagination
    Impact
    Impostor
    Influence
    Initiative
    Injustice
    Innovation
    Inquiry
    Insight
    Inspiration
    Integrity
    Intention
    Interdependence
    Interference
    Interpretation
    Intimacy
    Intuition
    Jesus
    Journey
    Justice
    Knowing
    Labels
    Language
    Lateral Thinking
    Leader
    Leadership
    Learning
    Lesson
    Life
    Light
    Listening
    Logic
    Loss
    Love
    Management
    Manager
    Marathon
    Matrix
    Mbti
    Meaning
    Media
    Mediation
    Meetings
    Memory
    Mentoring
    Merit
    Metaphor
    Metaphysic
    Mindfulness
    Mirroring
    Mission
    Mode
    Motivation
    Narrative
    Need
    Negotiation
    Networking
    Norm
    Norms
    Noticing
    Operations
    Opportunity
    Oppression
    Organisation
    Organisation Develoment
    Organisation Development
    Origin
    Pace
    Panic
    Paradigm
    Paradox
    Partnership
    Pastoral
    Pattern Matching
    Peace
    People
    Perception
    Perfectionism
    Performance
    Personal Constructs
    Person Centred
    Perspective
    Phenomenology
    Phenomenon
    Philippines
    Philosophy
    Physicality
    Plan
    Plans
    Plato
    Play
    Polarity
    Politics
    Poor
    Positive
    Positive Psychology
    Posture
    Potential
    Potential#
    Practice
    Praxis
    Prayer
    Preference
    Prepare
    Presence
    Priorities
    Proactivity
    Problem Solving
    Process
    Professional
    Projection
    Prompt
    Providence
    Psychoanalysis
    Psychodynamic
    Psychodynamics
    Psychology
    Psychometrics
    Psychotherapy
    Purpose
    Quality
    Questions
    Rational
    Rationalisation
    Rationality
    Reality
    Reasoning
    Reconciliation
    Reflect
    Reflection
    Reflective Practice
    Reflexivity
    Reframing
    Relationship
    Relationships
    Release
    Religion
    Representation
    Rescue
    Research
    Resilience
    Resourcefulness
    Responsibility
    Revelation
    Risk
    Role
    Role Model
    Rosabeth Moss-kanter
    Rules
    Sabbath
    Satnav
    Schemata
    School
    Science
    Security
    Self
    Sense Making
    Senses
    Sensitivity
    Servant
    Shadow
    Significance
    Silence
    Sin
    Social Construct
    Social Construction
    Social Constructionism
    Social Media
    Social Psychology
    Socrates
    Solution Focused
    Solutions
    Solutions Focus
    Solutions-focus
    Space
    Speed
    Spirit
    Spirituality
    Stance
    Stereotypes
    Story
    Strategic
    Strategy
    Strengths
    Stress
    Stretch
    Structure
    Stuck
    Style
    Subconscious
    Subjectivity
    Supervision
    Support
    Sustainability
    Symbol
    Symbolism
    Systems
    Systems Thinking
    TA
    Tactics
    Talent
    Teaching
    Team
    Theology
    Theory
    Therapy
    Thinking
    Thought
    Time
    Touch
    Training
    Transactional Analysis
    Transference
    Transformation
    Transition
    Transitional Object
    Trust
    Truth
    Uncertainty
    Unexpected
    Value
    Values
    Violence
    Vision
    Voice
    VUCA
    Vulnerability
    Weird
    Will
    Window
    Wisdom
    Wonder

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
    • Other related topics
  • Interviews
    • How did I get here
  • Blog
  • Audio
  • News
  • Resources
  • Testimonies
  • Contact