I knew a young lady who had always struggled with creating visuals to accompany her presentations. As a wordsmith like myself, she could craft eloquent sentences and engaging stories, but she struggled when it came to adding pictures or graphics. It wasn’t until she attended a workshop on visual communication that she learned a simple trick: using metaphors and a little theatrics to paint a picture in the audience’s mind.
Suddenly, she could describe complex concepts that were not only understandable but memorable. She no longer feared presenting, knowing that she had a powerful tool to communicate her message effectively.
Figure that coming from a salty turnip! READ MORE ON HER STORY.
Here’s an atomic chart on how the figures of speech work so that people can see what you’re saying while still conveying your message. (find metaphor’s spot)
We’re living in an “over-consumed-communicated” society. Consumers are on information overload. That’s what marketing gurus, Al Ries and Jack Trout, told us 30+ years ago. And that was before the Internet, Smart Devices, and Podcasts.
So how can you grab the attention of your audience?
May I suggest the practice of understanding reciprocity?
Here’s a great case study found on Reciprocity: Considering Mutuality, Risks, and Respect in Relationships
I suggest digging deep to find the color in the things that interest you. I gave the example of one of my mentees, who had to give a pitch about her brand started under the same name as her corporation, to a round table of professional contractors and investors. By finding the story of her childhood experiences she could connect to the audience and add color to an otherwise dry pitch deck.
I would also recommend that if you can’t find the “color of your words” on your own, it’s helpful to ask a friend to interview you or even hire a coach.
I have helped many people: find their voice, choose their words, and turn black and white into color, using their words as paintbrushes.
Seeing Your Words,
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DC JAMES, CEP “The Head Coach”, a marketing and communications mentor among such, offers advice on how to create a visual when you speak so that people can see what you’re saying. He emphasizes the importance of finding the color in your words and stories so that you stand out from the “black and white” crowd.
With a mission to help people create visual stories that Leap Forward! DC JAMES helps people make an impact in the over-communicated production-polluted PENDEMIC world.
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