COMMUNICATING NON-VERBALLY: ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?
June has provided unexpectedly rich opportunities for learning. I’m still buzzing from attending a ‘train the trainer’ course on Brain Friendly Learning with Kaizen. It came about when a client sent me an excellent article written by lead trainer, Kimberley Hare, sharing her own approach as a trainer. I was so taken with it that I signed up at once for one of her courses – how’s that for effective influence! If you want to read the article, let me know and I will email you the pdf.
On 25th June I’m off to see one of my favourite authors, Malcolm Gladwell, speak at Birmingham Town Hall. Gladwell wrote The Tipping Point, Blink and the more recent Outliers. Blink, which explores how we make snap judgements in the moment without necessarily knowing why, has inspired the theme for this month’s newsletter, that of non-verbal communication.
Sit back and enjoy the new format of bite-sized thoughts, fun and ideas.
With my very best wishes, Helen
FEATURED ARTICLE
Our 10 year-old son was lying face-up in the bath this morning with his hair and ears under the water, pretending not to hear my pleas for him to get dressed so we could leave for school in 10 minutes. Could he hear my words? Possibly not. Did he get understand what I was saying? Oh yes! When we communicate, it’s about much more than just the words, yet often we fail to pay attention to the non-verbal messages we are transmitting and receiving .... (read more)
PHOTO DIALOGUE - HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE VISUAL
I’ve been keeping a regular eye on Photo-Dialogue, an inspiring web log from Steve Marshall. Steve combines a rigorously academic approach to leadership and organizational change with a tremendous talent for photography. His unique creative approach, utilising imagery as a means of providing feedback and provoking dialogue, brings a new dimension to coaching.
Expect to hear more about Steve and Photo-Dialogue in future newsletters!
YOU’VE GOT TO SEE THIS! TORN ...
For a light hearted take on non-verbal communication, check out this amusing and somewhat irreverent take on Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn – it certainly made me chuckle!
TONIGHT MATTHEW, I’M GOING TO BE ... FREDDIE MERCURY
Late into the evenings you will find me trawling You Tube in search of the best footage of the late, great Freddie Mercury. I’m on a mission to discover the (non-verbal) gestures and movements that epitomise Freddie.
Why? Because next Monday evening at our boys’ school family music evening, The Krags will be performing I Want to Break Free by Queen. Whilst our 11 year-old, Alex, toils for musical perfection on his guitar (Brian May is both a genius and a hard task-master with his chord structures), I am reliant on providing more of a physical ‘caricature’ to get the message across. If you’ve got any ideas or suggestions, do please share them with me!
STOP PRESS - AGILE AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
This really is hot off the press! As of this morning, Agile is a Skills Development Partner for the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce. In a new initiative, the Chamber is partnering with a handful of selected providers to offer value add skills development for over 2000 member organizations.
The initiative will be launched via the July issue of the Chamber’s own Business Voice magazine. We’re so proud to be a part of it!!
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