Hi. We're Decker Communications.
We consult and train businesses in communications, in what they say and how they say it. We love what we do because our programs are transformational - we see more focus, confidence and effectiveness every day. We hope these posts will provide some insight on communications, increase your awareness and even boost your impact too.
  Learn more about us
Introducing our newest program!
Introducing our newest program!A hands-on experience to boost the stickiness of your ideas... and your impact.
  Learn more
  Register

Posts Tagged With: "habits"

A New Level of Communicating Habits

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

Habits
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.)

Bad HabitsIn 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: , , ,

Tweet This  |  Permalink  |  Leave a Comment



Stuffing Habits

Posted by Bert Decker   |   July 22nd, 2008   |   2 Comments   |  Tweet This

Habits
"It takes 21 days to change a habit,"
according to Maxwell Maltz - and I think he’s about right, give or take a week or two.

But this past weekend we saw habit change at a high level happen in a couple of days at our Speakers’ Roundtable meeting – and there’s a great learning principle in this story.

Too many leaders, and speakers talk about "stuff" , as in "The group liked my stuff," or "I gave them my best stuff. We generically and lazily categorize specific concepts or details or material as "stuff." So Patricia Fripp, renowned public speaker, coach and sister of King Crimson’s Robert Fripp, decided to put a learning principle in place and stop this ‘stuff’ at our three day meeting this past weekend. (She calls it a crime against credibility.) Every time anyone would say "stuff" the person would have to put a $1 in a paper bag.

What happened?

Read the rest of this entry »


Categories: Communication Skills, Musings, Short Bits
Tags: , , , ,

Tweet This  |  Permalink  |  2 Comments