Connect the brain friendly way liz guthridge april 2012

1 l © 2012 Connect Consulting Group LLC.

Communicate the Brain-friendly Way: Tips to Engage, Not Upset, People You Want to Influence

Liz Guthridge

April 2012


Topics

• What?• So what? • Now what?

@lizguthridge


What’s going on?—Caveat

I’m not a doctor, neither in RL nor played on TV.

Instead, I’m a Results coach and consultant with brain-friendly training.

By Dave Elfanbaum


What’s going on?—Work trends

Working (and playing) from anywhere

More project-based work with more diverse teams

Increase in work quantity

Faster pace

More global orientation


What’s going on? —Work trends

Demanding bite-sized information for our snack culture

Using “weapons of mass distraction” that are connecting

and merging

“Asking and engaging,” not “telling and selling”


What’s going on?—Communication

Data dumps

Big bangs


What’s going on?—Scientific research

Neuroscience research shows the brain:

Tires quickly

Is unique

Is more emotional,

less rational

Is a connection

machine

Hardwires everything, yet easy to

rewire


What’s going on?

DisconnectWhat science knows

What business does


So what?

1. Improve clarity

7 ways to communicate in a brain-friendly way

Name things

Be positive Be C³

Be visual Use metaphors

Set deadlines

Slow down

ClearConciseCompelling


So what?

Name things:• Emotions• Programs • Goalsto help the pre‐frontal cortex conserve energy for other tasks.

Infinite Possibilities

Goal: Answer to “My trusted

advisor”

Anxious


So what?

Be positive without sugarcoating….

to avoid “fight or flight” and help us be more open and curious to new things.

Silent, Sugarcoated Moose®


So what? Be C³• Clear• Concise• Compelling to help us grasp and remember.

“Wow, he’s handsome! He looks like a young George Clooney in a dog’s body!”


So what?

Be visualto get our attention and help us remember because the brain pays more attention to visuals than to sounds, even for audio‐based learners.

cloud computing


So what?

Use metaphorsExplain that “A is B” to help us connect the abstract to the concrete.

“Assumptions are the termites of relationships,”‐‐ Henry Winkler


So what?

Set deadlinesto give us a sense of certainty, which the brain craves.

• DUE BY FRIDAY EOB

• ACTION REQUIRED BY 3/15

• Deadline: April 15


So what?

Slow down…and reduce external stimulus to help us tap into our unconsciousness.

Sleep

Exercise

Unplug

About 90% of our brain processing is unconscious, which works on problems, makes connections and creates ah-ha moments.


Now what?

Embrace the science

Pause and ponder

First try 1 – 3 ideas


Now what?

• Try 1‐3 on your own

Actions

• Test and refine

Discipline• Learn more• Join me

Resources


Now what?

• Try 1‐3 on your own

Actions

• Be clear on intent.• Provide specifics.• Use Word readability stats:

• Passive sentences: less than 20%

• Flesch reading ease: 40% or more

• Flesch-Kincaid grade level: 10 or lower

• Structure as WIIFM• Have call to action

For example, C³: clear, concise and compelling


Now what? ResourcesFor all resources

http://connectconsultinggroup.com/hrdotcom/


Now what? Stay in touch

7 mistakes leaders make when introducing change

Connect:www.linkedin.com/in/lizguthridge

E-mail:[email protected]

Participate: http://connectconsultinggroup.com/strategicactiongroup/

Business

Connect the brain friendly way liz guthridge april 2012