This is your NEW Brain on Technology

This previous post got the conversation started on the new reality of communicating in the 21st century. Now let's look at research that supports how communication is changing because of the way our brains are being rewired.

Research shows that 10 years ago, a person's attention span was on average 12 minutes long and now, attention spans are only 5 seconds long! Other interesting stats highlighted in the Infographic "How Social Media is Ruining our Minds:"

• The average office worker checks their email inbox 30-40 times an hour which equates to nearly every 1.5 minutes  
• 25% of people surveyed forgot names of close friends and even relatives and 7% forgot their own birthdays from time-to-time
• A ULCA Study showed that just 5 hours of internet surfing can change the way our brains work

This article also highlights that our brains are being rewired to the point that some brains now compare to the brains of those who have addictions. We experience symptoms like anxiety over FOMO (fear of missing out.. it really is a diagnosed symptom now!); we have phantom vibration syndrome because of our phones; we can't sleep; we can't remember things nearly as well as we used too; and we have worse impulse control than ever before.

 

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And while research actually supports that internet can boost brain function it is of course important to remember... all in moderation. It is important as a communicator (using your passionate voice to influence those around you!) to recognize just how much our brains have changed due to technology. Because communicating in today's world is different than it was 10 years ago, knowing this can be very powerful knowledge in helping you re-adjust your communication techniques when approaching people and situations.

How much do you think your brain has changed due to use of technology?

21st Century Communicating: the Reality

Do you speak and use words to string together sentences? If you said yes, then you are a communicator. 

You don't have to do communications for a living or be a communications specialist to officially be a communicator. Every human who speaks, uses hand signals or body language gestures is communicating in one way or another.

So why should everyone care about HOW they communicate? 

Because it speaks VOLUMES about who you are. As a leader. As a Manager. As a volunteer. As a significant other in a relationship. As a friend. Really, as a person. Speaking-- the art of not only WHAT you say but HOW you say it defines who you are.

When giving workshops and presentations, I always remind people that communication is THE most important skill we will use as human beings while on earth. If you can't get an idea expressed clearly and concisely to those you are talking too, then how can you get anything done or simply have anyone understand you?

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The Reality of Communicating in the 21st Century

What is hard teaching people of different generations on how to communicate is that each generation has their own style of speaking and "language" and what is acceptable. Speaking in abbreviations, for example, was not common for baby boomers but has become 'the norm' and acceptable for people belonging to Generation Y.

The reality is we are experiencing a time in society where many generations of people are communicating in very different styles and all at the same time. With the introduction of internet and social media, it is simply changing the way our brains are wired. How we understand and process information and then communicate it outward is simply different than previous generations.

More to come on the science of how our brains are actually being rewired and some techniques on how to combat this reality on the new way of communicating.

The 'Old School' Way of Communicating ... Talking!

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It is incredible to see how communication has transformed throughout time, especially within the last  20 years. It is hard to believe that mailing letters and awaiting responses for weeks, if not months, was once considered the 'norm.' People in today's fast-paced society now find it hard to even wait the business etiquette "24 hour" time period for a response. Add on top of that, the introduction of social media, where interactions are instantaneous and people expect responses within a matter of minutes. There certainly are advantages and benefits to having this instant engagement (when you want it of course!) and when it is convenient for both parties involved in the conversation.

What is becoming more apparent though is just how valuable of an asset being able to speak and speak well is becoming. It seems like a novelty to hear someone who articulates, uses proper diction and grammar, and commands an audiences attention while sounding smart, engaging and enthusiastic. 

While technology has its many advantages, everyone can agree it has also made us lazy as a society. It is easy for people to make comments behind a computer screen yet not have the backbone or talent to say what they need to effectively in front of an audience in-person. Technology has made acronyms the 'norm' as we try and squeeze every bit of space we can out of 140-characters. This has led to improper use of the English language.. and really, what is grammar anymore? We now are use to seeing people write and even talk in slang leading for akward interactions face-to-face when we are speaking in business settings.

If there is one thing to learn, its just how rare it is to have the ability to speak well, have presence and effectively communicate both IN-PERSON and ONLINE.

Articulating your ideas and commanding an audience's attention are extremely rare skills that will become even more valuable to have as we become more reliant on technology and farther distanced from in-person interactions. Think of the people whom you've recently had interactions with.. which people left you with a favourable impression that resonated with you? What one skill did they have?

It was most likely the ability to translate their ideas from their head (or from paper, email or online) to create an impression on you face-to-face. And that, is extremely rare to find now a days!

The time and effort behind Being a good speaker

A lot of people believe that being a good speaker requires a lot of talent, time and energy. In instances where professionals want to be a paid speaker or have to do speaking on a full-time basis as required by their job, public speaking does require a great deal of practice and time to be the best at their craft.

BUT...

The idea of being a great speaker in your everyday job or on committees/teams you serve on does not required much time and talent to be great. What is required though is the conscious effort to try and be a good speaker whenever you open your mouth. Perhaps because of our more casual and relaxed society we now live in, we culturally 'speak' and 'talk' in a lot more casual manner than ever before. Online acronyms and sayings (like LOL and YOLO standing for 'Laugh out Loud' and 'You Only Live Once') seem to creep into our vocabulary and emails more than they should. People don't take the same pride in what they sound like when speaking to people in everyday life.

When speaking to anyone in any work-life ventures, keep in mind these 5 simple tips that will help you increase your presence when speaking with people...and with minimal time and effort.

1. Keep eye contact. Don't be shy. Stare into the person's soul and maintain eye contact. It will show confidence in what you are saying.
2. Speak with clarity and conviction. Tone is everything. By simply stating what you are saying with authority and by speaking firmly, it removes doubt from your voice and adds confidence in what you are saying. Never end sentences with questions or trail off with what you are saying.
3. Use language that asserts yourself. Words like "I think", "what if" "maybe" "perhaps" add doubt to what you're saying.
4. Posture can single-handily change the way someone sees you, both favourbly and unfavourably. Shoulders back, back straightly-aligned, chin down, and a relaxed/calming look on your face will take you miles. Body language speaks volumes about you as a person.
5. Don't waiver in what you are saying. Always think before you say something so you don't regret what you said and the way in which you said it. The best speakers are extremely crafted in what they say.. that is half the battle... knowing what is the right thing to say, at the right time, and in the right manner/tone for the intended audience.

SHORT & SWEET: THE RULE OF '3'

By the time you get to the end of this blog post, you will already be thinking about the next blog post you are going to read. I won't take it personally, because I don't necessarily believe its the content that has uninterested you (I hope anyways!). It is most likely because we as humans now have an attention span of only 8 seconds long! Wild, isn't it?!

Its Official-- there actually IS a Rule of 3

We wouldn't think it, but there actually is a method to the madness of why many memorable sayings, stories, and people are comprised or made up of threes, which helps people with short attention spans to remember what was said! This is officially known as the "Rule of 3."

Think of things such as the three pigs; the three mice; the three wise men; the three stooges; "beginning, middle, end"; "Sex, drugs, and Rock N Roll;" or trilogies. All of these relate back to the idea of "three."

Why only three?

The theory behind the "Rule of 3" is that people understand and are more able to remember and memorize things in three's. Its just the way our brains are wired. This can be extremely powerful to know in preparing in advance of speaking so you know how you can properly develop your script, speech, or presentation to ensure you attract the short attention spans of your audience.

How to Apply the Rule of 3

If you clearly and logically outline what you are going to say under three main ideas, headings or themes, then your audience or whomever you are speaking to/with, with be able to easily comprehend and remember what you said. Recapping at the end of a speech what those three important messages are helps your audience to remember your "take home message." And this idea can be applied to more than just speech writing/presenting-- speaking to your colleague; trying to win an argument; or emails. Really, whenever you communicate, you really should always remember and try to apply the "Rule of 3."

On the note of short attention spans and how the internet (most likely) is helping to shorten our attention span, the following is a funny video I thought perfectly depicts just how short we've become with our attention spans. I'm happy to report that I may not be the only person that ends up surfing something on the internet, wondering afterwards how I even got there in the first place.

P.S. Did you notice the "Rule of 3" applied to this blog post? :) Hope you followed along until the end!

THE 5 W'S OF SPEAKING WELL

For Public Relations professionals who are the spokesperson for their company/brand, they know they have to be on call 24/7. Today's communications industry consists of a social media beast that like Toronto and New York, never sleeps.

There is one industry though, that like public relations, never sleeps.. and that is agriculture.

Food never sleeps and neither do the stories (both good and bad!) that are associated within the industry. It is the reality of the industry and the beast that is producing food for a world of 7 billion people.

Because of my experience as a dairy farmer's daughter and my time in the communications field, I understand first-hand the PR wins and losses that can take place in the AG industry each and every day. When I think of how "on call" agriculture has to be at all times, it brings forward the importance of having your "voice" properly honed in and trained and ready to go at any time.

The AG industry is trying to move from a more REACTIVE to PROACTIVE way of communicating so farmers and industry professionals aren't always spending their efforts on putting out fires and  while losing vision and momentum on sharing the positives of the industry. When I am speaking to producer groups in agriculture, I always share the idea, "Why let others tell your farming stories when who better to tell them... then you?!"

If there is an important lesson that other industries, businesses or people can learn from agriculture, it is that you must always be on guard to have your "speaking notes" ready or in this case, your speaking voice ready. "Don't be caught with your pants down" as the saying goes. Here are the 5 W's to ensure your pants are always on in case you get called upon to SPEAK UP and SPEAK WELL about what you do, regardless of what industry/profession you are in.

• WHAT will you say: Elevator Pitch/Speaking Notes. Always have 3 points memorized about who you are; what you do; and the industry/group/business/passion you are involved in. People memorize information in 3's (Three blind mice, three piglets, three stooges, you get the point.. more to come on this idea!) 
• WHO will be listening: Know your audience before you speak and ASK who they will be. Are they consumers? Are they from the industry? How much do they know about what you do? Ask who your audience will be so you can tailor the message.
• WHEN should you be ready: At ALL TIMES! If you are the type of person and/or business that wants to be seen as a leader in what they do and wants to be called upon for information/speaking, you ALWAYS have to be prepared and be ON to speak or give information at any time. You just never know when you will get the call!
•  WHERE should you be ready to share your ideas: Through Every Medium. Be proactive in wanting to speak up. NEVER turn down an interview, phone call, or request for information. Have confidence that you KNOW what you are talking about. Don't let the story pass on by to someone else. Try and be a proactive speaker in all mediums (in person; on the phone;  through email; and on social media).
• WHY should you speak up? The question really is, WHY NOT?! In working with clients, I am often surprised at how many people don't want to take the lead in speaking up. This is something I come across often in the AG industry. Sometimes it is because of humility; other times its because of confidence on the mic; or being to shy to say something, what they believe is controversial, on social media platforms. Whatever the reason, know that we NEED more people speaking up. We also need more people speaking up properly in public venues and online through social media platforms. That is what the Passionate Voice is all about-- helping you to harness your passionate voice and leverage it where you need too, whether it is in person, on the phone for an interview, or on social media.

SPEAK UP: The Startling Truth of Women Leaning In

I recently sat surrounded by a room full of engaged and passionate women who, for an 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning start, were extremely passionate about the topic of the day: women in politics. The event held in Peterborough, hosted by the YWCA, was the first of its kind to address women entering the world of politics. Startling stats were shared as we kick-started the morning on the prevalence of women in politics in Canada. Women sadly represent only 24.7% of seats in Canadian government and we rank 46th in the world for the number of women in our country's three levels of government. The agenda addressed concerns of local women as to why women don't run in politics; how the local media works in addressing politics; the financial and audit aspects of what it takes to run; and actual training and role playing of what it would be like to run in politics or help support someone in running their campaign.

It was a truly amazing day to say the least and being surrounded by that much positive energy from other women of all ages was simply incredible and truly inspiring. 

BUT, while I left feeling inspired and hopeful that many more women would be entering the political area in the near future, it also became apparent to me as to why women aren't running in politics and taking a stab at making change for our local communities, provinces, or country. 

Along the lines of Sheryl Sanberg's book "Lean In" I believe women aren't "Speaking Up" like they should be and like they can. Hearing women of all ages that day at the event, address the same concerns of "sensitivity, "caring what others thought," "not thinking their opinions were valid enough," "thinking what they have to say doesn't matter"... it made me realize that we as women are our biggest challenge, obstacle, and barrier to getting involved and making a difference!

WE as WOMEN hold ourselves back!

We as women aren't allowing ourselves to stand out, speak up, and take our turn to "lean in!" While YES, we balance different priorities and responsibilities then our counterparts on the home front; YES we have different biological responsibilities; and YES some may argue that women aren't given the same opportunities as men because of gender inequality, the reality is at the end of the day, BUT we all have the same opportunity at least we're fortunate enough in Canada, to SPEAK UP, to say what we want to say, and make a difference!

It is time for women alike, of all ages and generations, of all ethnicity and backgrounds in Canada to stop being our own worse enemies and SPEAK UP when you believe you have something to say! It might just surprise us all who will listen. I'm not saying it is going to be easy (nothing worthwhile ever doing is!) and I'm not saying we aren't going to face different challenges than our counterparts who will run against us; but at least knowing that by SPEAKING UP,  you are taking the first step in the right direction in overcoming what is holding us back as women: ourselves. 

The Recipe for What Makes You a Memorable Speaker

There are people out there who believe just because they open their mouth that they can speak well. The reality is that only a select few people are ACTUALLY great at speaking in front of people or large audiences. Like being good at a sport or the art of writing or drawing... it is a craft. Not everyone is a naturally-gifted speaker and while you certainly can learn to become a great speaker; it takes time, practice, patience, and self awareness to become a memorable speaker.

I often get asked after I speak, just what are the elements of being a good speaker that I've either learned or applied to my craft. There isn't a "one shoe fits all" recipe or formula that works for everyone and its not like you can go to school to major in speech training or public speaking! BUT there certainly are elements that all great speakers seem to have. Here are the 10 ingredients needed if you want to speak influentially to anyone, whether it be in person one-on-one or publicly in front of a crowd:

The Recipe for Being a Memorable Speaker

1. Voice tone and pitch. Some speakers just naturally have soothing voices to listen too. Their pitch isn't high and they are able to vary their tone to make what their saying extremely interesting. Speaker's voices are their calling card.. as soon as you hear their voice you should want to stop and listen because you are engaged. Some people have extremely recognizable voices that people always enjoy listening too and can easily identify. Recognize this well-known actor/ narrator in this commercial?
2. Body language. As I blogged about last week, impressions are influenced by 93% non-verbal communication. What are you saying with your actions (or what aren't you saying?) Do you animate how you speak by using hand motions to engage your audience? You must in order to add another element to keep your audience listening and to make it fun!
3. Storytelling. Your ability to "tell" the story will be one, if not the most important factor in being a memorable speaker. You can have the best content but if you can't deliver, you've failed! The selection of words, how you say those words, and the way you tell/explain your story or idea is vital to how much people will enjoy you.
4. Content. The other half of the public speaking equation to complement delivery is content. This is probably the most challenging part of speaking (at least for me anyways). How do you tailor your content to your specific audience so you aren't talking too high-level or too in-depth for them. How do you talk about something serious but make it interesting (and sometimes funny) for those listening. It takes years of practice to hone in the skill of creating killer content when speaking!
5. Humour. Nothing is better when a speaker makes fun of themselves or make jokes (that don't seem too placed!) that put the audience at ease. It not only relaxes the audience but it relaxes the speaker too, making them seem more confident in what they're sharing. And of course, its always enjoyable to watch someone who looks like they're having fun :)
6. Authenticity. The best part about listening to someone speak is hearing about who they are and how unique they are whether in their background or their ideas. Speakers should never "model" themselves after anyone else. Back to my idea that I shared with the Aggie graduates, don't be cookie cutter. Always be aware of who you are; how unique your story is.. that is what people want to hear.. YOUR story!
7. Eye-Appealing. Speaking is about the total package. I'm sure you'd be shocked if someone with a fantastic voice didn't have the rest of the package to match. This includes having the total package of dressing appropriately, using body language, and having presence so you really own and command the stage.
8. Thought-Provoking. The best speakers challenge the audience to think differently than they thought before coming into the speech or presentation. No one said speaking was easy...the best speakers are the ones that say what everyone is thinking, but in a very politic and constructive way (for the most part anyways!)
9. Organized & Prepared. There is no other rule more simple for a speaker to follow then to be organized and prepared. Organized in knowing your content/powerpoint slides and knowing where you're going to take the presentation with the audience in tow. Of course, the other part to being "prepared" as a speaker is being able to handle all the things that come your way unexpected and unplanned. Handle these situations calmly and your audience will notice!
   
10. Value. And the end of the day, when people listen to a speaker, they want to have a take away message that they learned from you. Whether it is 1 piece of information or 3 key messages, leave your audience with something valuable so they see you as a memorable speaker! I guarantee you will be asked to speak again if your audience continues to see and get value from what you're saying.

What other ingredients do you believe are needed for the recipe of a memorable speaker?

Think Your Voice is the Only Thing that Speaks Volumes About You?

Communicating today is completely different from how our parents and other generations used to communicate. With the increased use of social media, digital media, and smartphone devices, it appears that "social etiquette" has gone completely out the window. The days of properly greeting people; speaking politely; and speaking properly are gone. Partly the reason why The Passionate Voice was founded!

If you've ever heard of the 93% nonverbal communication rule as pioneered by Professor Albert Mehrabian, it states that when you speak to someone, it isn't only the words that you say that are impacting how someone formulates an opinion about you! Mehrabian's research found that impressions are formulated in the following breakdown: 7% is by the words spoken; 38% is the way in which someone says words; and the remaining 55% is body language... meaning that the way people make an impression on you is 93% based on non-verbal communication!

When I am in professional settings where body language would seem the most important to make a lasting impression, it seems only a small percentage of people actually pay attention to how their body language impacts their overall presence. Now that I am aware of how heavily body language shapes how we influence people's opinions when presenting and public speaking, I always sure to include training on body language in my leadership and public speaking workshops.

Speaking and influencing others is about selling the entire package of who you are. If you have a fantastic voice and message but don't look or act the part, you won't make the impression necessary for those to take you seriously or want to hear from you again.

Here is an interesting TED talk on body language from doctor and professor Amy Cuddy who speaks about how research supports that body language shapes who we are.

 

10 Career Lessons from an Aggie

In my world during my academic years, I was one of many "Aggies" at the University of Guelph. "Aggie" refers to students who are studying Agriculture at University. Being an "Aggie" and being a part of a larger family at the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) was something I was extremely proud of and I still remain actively involved as an alumnus.

Last year I was honoured to be the Guest Speaker at the 2013 OAC Goodtimes Banquet which takes place annually every January. I remember feeling humbled and proud to return to an event that I attended just a few short years ago, but this time in a different capacity. As the person who could help share insight and thoughts to those students who soon will be graduating.

It is one year ago today that I shared my thoughts with the large audience and I thought today it would be fitting to share my speech in hopes to inspire any other twenty-somethings out there who are on their road to discovering what their true passion is with 10 helpful career lessons that I have learned since graduating.

10 Career Lessons from an Aggie (for Aggies)

10. Be a Sponge. Like a sponge, soak up everything around you. Take it all in: learn and grow!

9. Work for free. Some of the best real-life experiences (and maybe been potential job opportunities!) will come from times when you offered your services for free. You do get noticed!  

8. Leverage your resources-- get mentors. Seek out people who you aspire to be professionally and personally and don't be afraid to reach out and ask them how they go to where they are. They'll be happy to share.

7. There is no excuse to NOT network. There are simply no excuses to not network now that everyone is so well connected through online mediums and social media.

6. Roll with the punches. The best learning experiences you will have will be when $hit goes wrong and was unexpected/unplanned. People (including yourself!) get to truly know who you are as a person when you're under pressure.

5. Know who you are to give your best self. It makes everything easier when you know what your core values and beliefs are. These are the foundation to everything you do. Be strong in what you believe in and select a job that aligns with these.

4. Don't be a cookie cutter. The world would be a boring place if we all did/said the same thing. Stand out and don't be afraid to stand out to be different.

3. You can do anything, but you can't do everything. A tough life lesson to learn but true. At some point in time, you must choose what your "niche" or "passion"  is and once you do, run with it!

2. Live your passion. Love your passion. Be a passion. Share your passion. Relating to #2, once you find what you are best at and what you love to do, make a career out of it and become the expert in that field.

1. Always be an agricultural advocate everywhere you go. No matter where you go or what job you pursue and whether it is in agriculture or not, always take your ag roots with you and wear them with pride. We owe it to give back to the industry that gives us so much as Aggies!

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Helpful Tips: Speech Writing Development

I recently visited my alma mater at the University of Guelph to attend a class that I took while I was a University student... but this time, as a Guest Speaker. It was a surreal feeling to be returning to a class to share advice and tips on public speaking writing and delivery knowing that years ago I was sitting in those same exact seats. This class in particular really helped me develop and enhance my communication skills and helped me realized the importance of communicating at the most basic levels. It also led me to realize that the communications field was what I wanted to pursue post-graduation.

The students I visited were extremely keen and had many great, loaded questions to ask to help them prepare for their upcoming speech writing/giving exercise that the prof had tasked them with. I returned to share tips and pointers since I did this exact same exercise only a few short years ago, going on to win the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition with the speech I had been asked to write and deliver in class. The CYSA competition is a national public speaking competition; providing a fantastic platform for youth in agriculture wanting to share their views.. I am still to this day extremely honoured to have won the competition.

The biggest lesson I shared with the class during my time spent on content and speech development was "don't write a speech with content that you believe the audience wants to hear.. write something that you believe the audience NEEDS to hear!"

With this in mind, I broke down the speech writing process into to the following 10 pointers to help them begin to build their speeches:

1. Choose a topic that you can easily speak on and that you are extremely passionate about.. that sets the foundation for a fantastic speech. It makes the entire process easier.
2. Start your speech with a strong and dramatic introduction.
3. Be sure to address the judges/audience/crowd/honoured guests depending on what type of speech you are giving.
4. Outline 3 strong arguments to support your speech topic.
5. Make sure to be realistic in bringing forward the truth surrounding your topic. If there are problems/issues relating to your topic, bring them forward, BUT counter-balance those with SOLUTIONS to those problems if there are any. 
6. Make sure to add your personal touch by adding personal thoughts, feelings, opinions, and stories relating you to the topic. These type of stories are what will resonate the most with the audience.
7. Close to the end of your speech, be sure to wrap up the ideas you talked about and sum up the arguments you brought forward.
8. End with an extremely strong finish/conclusion by leaving the crowd with a call to action or making them feel as though they want to be a part of your movement by going out and making a difference. At least arm the audience with ideas in your speech about HOW they could get involved in your cause to make a difference.
9. Be sure to say thank you at the conclusion of your speech so you can show your sincere appreciation for the audience being attentative.
10. Once you have a fantastic speech written, now it is all about practicing DELIVERY so you can ensure you deliver the best written speech ever. Now go on and practice!