In the last post, we defined the difference between a wicked message (which requires more mental effort on the part of the listener) and a tame message (which is clear and easy to follow). To get a response, you need a tame message. So here’s how to do it How do you make your…
A few years ago, a Systems Engineer at USC Berkeley wanted to understand how we could put a man on the moon, yet couldn’t do things that seemed straightforward – like designing buildings that functioned properly, agreeing on where to build freeways, etc. He identified that some problems were wicked, while other problems were tame. This concept…
I like to rollerblade and thought the skate park would be fun. Here’s what I learned… Firstly, the straight ramps are very different to the curved ramps. After 15 minutes of sensibly building my confidence on the straight ramps I jumped down a curved ramp. About a minute later I woke up face down on…
Q: “How can I answer questions more briefly at the end of my presentation? During the Q & A session of a major presentation I answered questions to death!” A: Sacrifice… …It’s human nature to try to demonstrate how much we know about a subject – to show we have a right to speak about…
Last week my wife attended a party hosted by Richard Branson. He is a genius at getting the media to come to him so he can deliver messages about his business. In this case, the party was to launch new flights between Australia and South Africa. And Sir Richard doesn’t disappoint the media. By…
As promised at the end of my last post, ‘Steve Jobs– structure helps engage’, here are the reasons I think Steve Jobs missed his message with the launch of the iPad… The iPad launch on January 27 2010 was not greeted with the positive reviews that Steve Jobs might have come to expect from major…
Over-efforting is an interesting principle. Many of us have been taught the ‘no pain, no gain’ philosophy but, in many situations, the more pressure we apply, the more resistance we experience. When sportspeople are tense, they wear their bodies out faster. Tennis champ Roger Federer is an example of using a minimum amount of effort…
Q: “How do I stop racing through presentations? I always find myself rushing. What’s the best way to pace myself?” This is a common thing when public speaking. The question is WHY are you rushing through your presentations? Is it because you are nervous and want it to be over now? Is it because…