As trainers and facilitators, it’s easy to get overly concerned about what we’re presenting to our groups. But research, as well as our direct experience shows that the greatest impact of our communication occurs at the non-verbal level. That is our body language, emotional state, and subconscious intentions are picked up through visceral channels developed long before language.
In this week’s article, Be Your Material, we ask you to take a little time to clarify who it is that will be delivering this message that you’re so busy preparing. Because the message that gets delivered will be more than your simple words.
Steve,
I facilitate a second stage for a personal growth weekend and find myself in these situations repeatedly. Your points are well taken, especially when dealing with feelings and breaking through self-imposed limitations. I find that when I reveal who I am through several processes (yours is one, there are others) I can connect with people, give them a vision of something other than where they might be, and let them decide the course of their own growth. When we can give our participants that kind of snapshot, that kind of view into another world, it can be tremendously transformative.
Great stuff.
Best, Steven
Thanks for this, Steve. I absolutely agree that the most powerful messages are those which come from a deep core, not just an attitude we adopt for an hour.
The part I struggle with is when my inner demons come out and tell me I shouldn’t be sharing so much. I had a question recently to which I responded with a story about my personal devotion to my marriage. As I said it, I realized that others who were divorced might be turned off because it could be perceived that I was somehow putting them down.
Any thoughts you have on how to achieve the right balance of authenticity and sharing?
This is a terrific post and just what I’ve been working on. My anxiety as a speaker always stems from worries about having all my info loaded into my brain. I fear I’m not “expert” enough. But I continue to learn that even if the client expects me to change their staff in four hours–this isn’t possible. And my audience doesn’t want me to unload my brain on them. They mostly want me to listen to them.