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.
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
Use language that asserts yourself. Words like "I think", "what if" "maybe" "perhaps" add doubt to what you're saying.
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.
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.
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!
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.
