Category listings for Musings

Brogan Battles Backnoise – and wins!

	Posted by Bert Decker \| September 30th, 2009 \| 7 Comments \| Tweet This

Posted by Bert Decker | September 30th, 2009 | 7 Comments | Tweet This

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 thrown into the theater of public speaking.

In my blog post “Speakers – Be Aware, Twitter is Coming,” I affirmed that in any conference, event or speech setting where the speaker has a point-of-view and a message to deliver, the speaker is responsible for the experience. Twitter, BackNoise and other backchannel tools challenge speakers to step up their game in maintaining responsibility for their communications experience. Backchannel conversations compete for an audience’s attention. Presenters need to master the art of engaging their audiences more than ever if they’re going to be successful communicators of the future.

Unlike Twitter, BackNoise is an isolated conversation backchannel tool, centered around a single topic (or rather a single conversation name). Created by Keith McGreggor of Atlanta, BackNoise lets anyone establish these topical conversations quickly and easily, allowing those who know the name of the conversation to join in. These virtual conversations can occur during meetings, lectures, presentations and speeches – anywhere YOU may be presenting your message to your audience – whether you like it or not.

There have been many recent blog posts on BackNoise, (several listed at the end of this post) – most of which reference what transpired at the New Media Atlanta conference on September 25, 2009. My daughter attended that conference and had this to say about her experience:

I’ve read about the BackNoise chatter at the conference changing the tone of the conference from excitement and enthusiasm in the morning to a negative, disheartened mood in the afternoon. I didn’t experience that because I wasn’t online to view it. (The BackNoise conversation wasn’t displayed publicly, but taking place on laptops throughout the auditorium – much like kids talking in class, uninterested in learning.)

Oblivious to the negativity spreading throughout the day on BackNoise, I first experienced BackNoise when the main speaker, Chris Brogan, took the stage and put BackNoise up on the screen behind him. Curious (because it was on the screen), I read some of the comments and found what I read to be mostly silly, boring, off-topic, uninteresting and frankly stupid. When Chris took the stage and began rapping, my eyes immediately shifted from reading comments of no interest to me on BackNoise to checking out what the heck this guy was doing. What I witnessed as Chris’ presentation continued was a personable, down-to-earth and confident presenter connecting with his audience, sharing a valuable message in a way that engaged his listeners. While I continued to see BackNoise comments scrolling on the screen behind him, I paid no attention to them because they couldn’t compete with him. I was so interested in what he was saying that BackNoise was just that – noise in the back that I tuned out because I wanted to participate in his communications experience.

I’ve watched the video of Chris’ presentation (and you can too on Chris Brogan’s blog). My daughter is right. Chris is an excellent communicator. He masterfully created, facilitated and led an effective communications experience for his audience. Realizing the effect of BackNoise in the shadows of laptop screens, Chris yanked the furtive chatter out of the laptops and threw it on the screen for all to see and for him to confront and control – which he did, artfully. Chris has demonstrated in Atlanta how communicators can tame the lion of backchannel distractions. (A more in depth review of how Chris Brogan tamed the lion is the material of a forthcoming blog post.)

What we can learn from the New Media Atlanta experience with BackNoise is this:

You (as speaker) are responsible for your communications experience.
Backchannel conversations are here to stay; embrace them as your competition.
Now, more than ever, you need to sharpen your skills to connect with and engage your audience — you need to be BETTER than your competition (distractions in general, but particularly backchannel chatter).
BackNoise (unlike Twitter) is a unique backchannel tool that you can establish, encourage and control as you use it to create a more interactive communications experience between you and your audience.

You’ll be hearing a lot more about BackNoise in the world of mainstream speeches and presentations. Don’t fear it, face it.

Some of the recent blog posts about BackNoise:

Unexpected Learnings: Backnoise Can Be Toxic

Backnoise Is The New Listening Channel

How To Present While People are Twittering

Backnoise: You’re Not Ready for This, or Are You?

Don’t Blame Backnoise

Categories: Communication Skills, Musings, Twitter and Social Media, Web/Tech
Tags: back channel, BackNoise, Chris Brogan

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Using Twitter Well – Groups and more…

	Posted by Bert Decker \| August 13th, 2009 \| 5 Comments \| Tweet This

Posted by Bert Decker | August 13th, 2009 | 5 Comments | Tweet This

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 people use the ‘group’ function. That means you can talk to the world, but gather people in your community (or in Seth Godin’s view ‘Tribes‘) of interests to dialogue and influence.

Last weekend we had our great annual conference of Speakers Roundtable, (my Master Mind group, among other things), and I urged everyone to use Twitter well – which means giving value and ‘grouping.’ There was lots of interest and questions, so rather than just an email to my small group I thought I’d give my suggestions here on my blog – with links – on how to start, how to give value, and then how to use Twitter powerfully by grouping.

Twitter 101: Some aren’t yet engaged, so…

Here’s how to start communicating on Twitter
Some additional tips from my early experiences: The How and Why of Twitter
From @MichaelHyatt on Beginning on Twitter – and he’s a great person to follow
When you’ve read/done some of these things, be sure you are using Tweetdeck or Seesmic. (more later on those.)
You can be good and active on Twitter for 10-15 minutes a day, or a lot more. The more you put in, the more you get out. (Unless you get addicted, when the ROI will fall but still be very healthy. And a new fun hobby…)

Twitter 201:

Twitter can’t be explained very well (here’s one effort) – it needs to be experienced. But once you’ve given a few dozen updates and are following a few dozen people or more and have been at it a couple of weeks, you’ll begin to see the value in building: relationships, community, influence, information, traffic… and more (that’s just my list.)
Twitter is NOT about “What are you doing?” but ‘what is of interest and value to your communities’
Here are several great ideas from @ChrisBrogan on how to give value on Twitter. (Chris is also great to follow, but realize his ‘giving value’ post is set up ‘tongue in cheek.’) As you’ll see, giving value is the only effective way to really build followers, and community. And influence. Happily, on Twitter there are many different ways go about it.

Twitter 301:

To manage your growing stream of followers, you need to segment them into groups. To follow news events or conferences or topics you need to be able to segment them. To make sure you follow certain people you need to have a way to aggregate. That’s why you need to use Tweetdeck or Seesmic.
I prefer Seesmic right now, but these two User Interfaces, and several others, both work similarly in easily putting people into groups. You can have any number of groups (I have an A Group; family, company, must read. B Group – friends, good info, try to read. C and D groups – get to if I can. Many Tweets – here I put good people, but they just tweet so much they clutter my other streams. etc.)
I’m starting a purely Speakers Roundtable Group (the motivation for all this) and urging them all to do the same, and I’ll encourage them in the process as I’ll be following all of them.

Twitter 401:

This could go on forever, but by now you have the idea. Take one step at a time. Go slow or fast. Have fun with it.
There are 1,001 blogs and posts on how to use twitter, and tools for twitter. Follow your preferences – there are no rules for Twitter.
Here is one of many good places to go for Twitter (and tech) info – from @Mashable

And if you didn’t see this elsewhere on my blog, follow me at @BertDecker – tweet me as I’d love to help you get going in groups.

Categories: Musings, Twitter and Social Media

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Simple. Natural. Downright perfect.

	Posted by Bert Decker \| August 5th, 2009 \| 3 Comments \| Tweet This

Posted by Bert Decker | August 5th, 2009 | 3 Comments | Tweet This

Simply Lemonade 2

Simple. Natural. Downright perfect.

This slogan for Coca-Cola’s brand “Simply Lemonade” captures desirable traits not only for products we consume, but also for how we express our ideas. In particular, these words describe an effective communicator.

As communicators, we want our ideas to not just be understood, but to be remembered. Our goal is to impact our audience, making a lasting impression. This can only be achieved by keeping the message simple and focused. In their book, Made To Stick (which we previously reviewed), Chip and Dan Heath emphasize the importance of making ideas stick with “Simplicity” (represented by the first letter of their acronym “SUCCES”). The Heath’s explain:

To strip an idea down to its core, we must be masters of exclusion. We must relentlessly prioritize. Saying something short is not the mission — sound bites are not the ideal. Proverbs are the ideal. We must create ideas that are both simple and profound.

All communication – whether written or verbal – is most effectively communicated when undiluted by extraneous matter. This is especially true in public speaking.

“I hear and I forget.” – Confucius

The more complicated, cluttered and crammed a speech, the less likely an audience is going to hear and remember, much less be responsive and motivated to action. A recent example of this is Gov. Sarah Palin’s resignation speech.

Her speech was neither simple nor natural. Her core message was buried in rambling.

So how do we make our speeches simple, natural and downright perfect?

Identify your point of view (POV). This is the meat of your message. This is why you’re speaking – the driving force behind the presentation.
Design your speech around your POV, using the rule of three to organize your message.
Deliver your speech from these main talking points, allowing your communication to flow naturally from the structure you’ve created. NEVER read or memorize a speech. The only way to communicate naturally is from the heart and mind, using key points to keep your message organized and on track.

The Decker Grid System™ is an excellent tool for designing a simple, natural and downright perfect speech. In Creating Messages that Motivate, the Decker Grid System™ is explained in detail, providing the steps to create a clear and effective speech.

Simple

Keep your message focused on the POV- the core of your message.

Natural.

Communicate naturally, from talking points

(using Decker Grid System™ )

Downright perfect.

Your audience will hear and remember.

Categories: Communication Skills, Musings, Public Speaking

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The Green Light Approach

	Posted by Bert Decker \| June 12th, 2009 \| 2 Comments \| Tweet This

Posted by Bert Decker | June 12th, 2009 | 2 Comments | Tweet This

The Green Light Approach

Most successful people have a 'forward lean.'

In
our Communicate To Influence program we draw a parallel to the Ready Position, a
posture that comes from all types of athletics, where you are on the
balls of your feet. You can't be back on your heels and be "ready" -
ready to move fast in tennis, basketball, skiing – any sport. You have to always
be fast on your feet to move in any direction.

In speaking, when you are habitually in the Ready Position you are physically and psychologically forward. You WANT to get out there and talk, and convince and influence – you can move!

My
friend Ben Sottile has been CEO of several companies, and coined
another name for moving forward that I've found very useful. He calls
it the Green Light Approach. We all operate under one of the three traffic lights, and he advocates Green.

Those who are ruled by the red light stop themselves – or never get started.
Those who always see yellow are very cautious about making a move.
But
those who go for the green light are staunch advocates of their
positions and DO move forward. While they certainly slow down if they
see yellow – and stop at the red signals – they see life as a green
light. Moving forward unless directed otherwise.

Same
in communicating. Business would be vital and vibrant if more people
had a forward lean and looked at communicating, much like life, as a
green light.

Categories: Leadership and Communications, Musings, Short Bits
Tags: Ben Sottile, Green Light Approach, Ready Position

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How to Start Communicating on Twitter

	Posted by Bert Decker \| May 5th, 2009 \| 6 Comments \| Tweet This

Posted by Bert Decker | May 5th, 2009 | 6 Comments | Tweet This

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 Management Team on finding "The Melody In Noise," and have found most do not know the Twitter basics – I want to point them here. (If you know the basics, go to this post on the Why and How of Twitter.)

Twitter is useful and a good ROI on your time if you don’t overdo it.
(I do but you don’t have to…, you could spend a half hour a day and get
a lot of value for yourself and your business.)

So I encourage it, and here are the beginning steps I’d recommend:

1. Sign up at www.Twitter.com. Use your real name, or as close as you can get.

2. Begin with a post (affectionately called Tweets), as simple as “I’m starting at Twitter.”

3. Fill out your profile in the upper right. Use a good close-up
picture of yourself, and put in a url (ideally your blog, or your
company blog or website), and be interesting and somewhat open in your
profile. Twitter is about transparency. People want to quickly ‘get’ who you are if they are going to
follow you. I strongly recommend you do NOT check the "Protect my updates" box. Not transparent – and actually, why be on Twitter if you don't want to communicate rapidly, spontaneously and personally. I don't follow blocked updates. Fill in your location – your city is best – I'm not sure why some people put in 'everywhere' or a cell phone location – doesn't tell much.

4. Follow me @BertDecker and I’ll help you get followers, and be glad to help you along. Give me an @ or DM message (which is a Reply or Direct Message) or email me (see below.)

5. Write another post, and another. You can start with what you are
doing but that’s pretty useless (who cares), so maybe reply to a
follower, or ReTweet. Move to give value as soon as you can. But get
some posts up.

6. Then get followers (see below), and from that most will follow you. There are
many ways to get followers, but just start by clicking on the ID’s and
follow anybody to start. After you get 10 or 20 you’ll get the gist of
it and begin to use the apps like www.twannabe.com and others.

7. Here are some people to start following from Decker Communications and other good people who will probably follow you back:

@KellyDecker @DeckerBen @KhoriWhitaker @Allisoncds @DeckerComm @MatthewNault @Guy_Baker @DruScottDecker @SamDecker @ChrisSpagnuolo @Jeff_Bailey @OliviaMitchell @GuyKawasaki

8. As soon as you can, get the great application www.TweetDeck.com so you can begin grouping your
followers (friends or associates is a better name actually) and really use
Twitter for both giving value, gaining value, and expanding your
horizons as well as your friendships.

9. Caution! There is a learning curve. Expect it to take a week or so… if you have given value, you will see the value.

10. For further justification and next steps and good tips, now go to: The Why and How of Twitter

And Twitter me @BertDecker , or email me with any questions at Bert@decker.com

"The effectiveness of your communication determines the effectiveness of your life.”

Categories: Musings, Twitter and Social Media, Web/Tech
Tags: How to Twitter, Starting Twitter, Twitter for beginners

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Lie To Me – is a lie!

	Posted by Bert Decker \| April 29th, 2009 \| 11 Comments \| Tweet This

Posted by Bert Decker | April 29th, 2009 | 11 Comments | Tweet This

The Fox TV show that is surprisingly popular is based on a lie. Ironically, it is called "Lie To Me."

The primary reason I'm compelled to write this is because the producers use the credibility of communications giant Paul Ekman to promote an untruth – that you can tell whether people are lying. You can't!

I have great respect for Paul Ekman, one of the foremost researchers and experts in facial expression. Heck, I have a signed copy of his book "Unmasking The Face" that I reference in my book "You've Got To Be Believed To Be Heard," and have read and follow his research. I was surprised that he lent his name to the show as the "expert" because he knows you cannot tell when people are lying.

And that's what the show would have us believe. Lightman, the hero and expert who always walks around with his head cocked to one side peering intently into 'suspects' eyes, will say "You're lying" to someone, and of course they immediately crumble. That's fiction. Or Lightman will glance at someone and say who is angry, hostile, repressed, etc. All Hollywood.

In one segment Lightman sees one of his subjects rub his eye with his middle finger, plays it back magnified to his cohorts and says, "There, see the repressed anger." Then there are three quick cuts of Obama, Bill Clinton and John McCain all shown with their middle fingers rubbing their lips or face as if they are all showing the same emotion. Compelling, but inaccurate.

Here is a promo that shows an interpretation as truth, which is specious at best. Crows feet MIGHT mean a full smile – they might also be wrinkles.

The show is well done, highly produced, and is entertainment if you like that sort of thing. But my concern is that people will give a LOT more credence in reading facial expression and body language with a CERTAINTY than is actually the truth.

You can become expert at discernment, and when trained you can tell when someone is nervous or lacks confidence or is 'shifty' etc. Even untrained you'll have a pretty good feeling – but it can very often be wrong. Video feedback is a marvelous tool for learning more about reading ourselves and others – and that's our business of course. And having been in this business and the film making business for 30 years, I've learned something about real behavior, deception and theatrics. But personally, I cannot tell with a certainty a lie or even a half truth. Neither can Paul Ekman. And neither can Lightman – the actor.

I've been meaning for weeks to write this post, and I have Tivo the show planning to cut clips to show my points, but it's on tonight (Obama couldn't preempt Fox I just found out) so it's timely now. Watch the show if you haven't, and treat it as the fiction that it is. Unfortunately, I continue to watch it with a stomach churning emotion that too many people will treat this fiction as fact.

Categories: Musings, Public Speaking, Special Event

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A New Level of Communicating Habits

	Posted by Bert Decker \| March 27th, 2009 \| Leave a Comment \| Tweet This

Posted by Bert Decker | March 27th, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Tweet This

Maxwell Maltz said it takes 21 days to change a habit. In training over 300,000 people over the last 30 years our company has found that to be precisely true (give or take a week or two!)

Our communications behavior is made up of literally dozens of
habits, which we need to know first (through video feedback), and then practice to
modify, improve or change. (Remembering 'Perfect practice makes perfect.') Maltz
proved this in his self help classic Psychocybernetics.

How we think is also a matter of habit, so in our workshops we teach people new ways to look at their content – to focus, have a Point Of View, and avoid data dumps. And with the advent of new technology (ie. Twitter) we ALL have to look at modifying our habits in our approach to our audiences. (More to come on how to handle this challenge, and opportunity.)

In our coaching and consulting, the biggest obstacle we encounter is clients who just don't want to practice. If you don't like to practice either, think of what Malcolm Gladwell found in his research for "Outliers." The people with the most success in ALL fields were those who had either 10,000 hours of practice, or 10 years of experience (give or take an hour or year or so.)

We are all communicators. Gain mastery in this most important skill where you influence others every day at several important touch points. And those who have mastery and leverage in those formal speaking opportunities with large groups are those who know their habits, and practice at them.

Categories: Communication Skills, Musings, Short Bits
Tags: habits, Maxwell Maltz, Presentation skills, Psychocybernetics

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