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Ways to communicate big ideas.
5 June 2010
I wish I was better at speed reading.
Documents of all kinds seem to be getting longer. But I’ve less time to read them. Professor Michael Lesk tried to answer the question: How much information is there in the world? I didn’t quite make it to the end of his article.
What are the best ways to explain our big ideas? Are we using the right media? How important are the words we use? And, how on earth can we make them stand out?
My heart sinks every time someone sends me product information. User manuals confuse me. And, when I ask someone what they do, I usually can’t work it out from what they say.
Is that just me?
Some people communicate so well that I get their message instantly. That’s a great help if their message is important and I want to spread it.
Some people are ‘natural’ communicators. Luckily, the rest of us can learn what works and what doesn’t. Why not let us know your tips here?
3 comments to ‘Ways to communicate big ideas.’
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Sales and marketing to make your ideas
stick and spread.
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I find this a fascinating subject. Really we are completely bombarded with media. I believe we all have to mentally shift gears to get through stuff and use it as well as possible.
I’m poor at giving travel directions and I find many people are really poor at giving clear travel directions.
I was (mis)directed once with, “At the big round-a-bout you’ll see a big straight road in front of you.”
Perhaps this is why twitter is so addictive to many followers. Small bits of information with links to stories and stuff which interests me and awakens my imagination and creativity. I click on what I like. Follow only those who fill your mental or business interest map. Don’t read everything. For God’s sake, get up and stretch every now and again. Great communication should entice us back.
We have to be mentally turned on for different types of media. Be in the right gear, like for speed reading or opera music. Once you are moving, don’t get distracted by other stuff. Oh and make sure asap that what you are concentrating on is not a distraction!!!!
I really have to be in the proper mood to get through accounts. I actually find, new software programmes and help files interesting, if brief and accurate, which is rare. I am self taught in visual basic, the programming language behind MS Access because I love the functionality which can be achieved.
I had the awesome task for many years living in East Africa to learn and communicate through Kiswahili. It took me about a year to get comfortable and confident in Kiswahili despite an intensive course. It was a massive learning curve but I gained massive experience of improved gear shifting, listening and speaking well. Writing is quite a bit more difficult.
Filtering information is an art. It’s the whole new aspect of the semantic web. Developers are working out how to link and appropriately filter the increasing terabytes of media which is shooting at us daily.
I believe I listen to my own reactions as I watch, read or listen. Psychologists write notes of how they interact and react with the voice(s) of their clients and have to be constantly aware of their own inner voices reacting. It’s difficult, maybe impossible to turn this reacting off. Quietening the mind!?!
I like the tip about Twitter, Declan. I think that writing in 140 characters is a helpful discipline.
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it