Listener Awareness

by Carolyn Finch

Whether you are speaking to one or 1000, there is very little you might know about how the brains of your listener and audience members are functioning. When we are speaking to large audiences we know that we will not get through to everyone. Therefore we need to inject a lot of emotion for them to understand what we are really saying. That is why expression, change of voice, taking on an accent or using visuals and props helps the listener function better, We do know that men and women tend do think differently.Yes my friends it is true. They also hear and see differently..

Women tend to use communication from both sides of their brain and have more visual, verbal and emotional responses. Men tend to favor the left side of their brain and prefer numbers, facts, cerebral reasoning and they like to see movement. No matter whether male or female the brain could be damaged enough to know that there is catch up time needed when speaking from a platform. There is a distance in feet and yards and body noises and speech that are accompanied by gestures and body movement take a few delayed seconds to be seen.  When someone is close and the conversation tends to be one on one most of the communication is understood.

The picture above is one that is used in diagnosing a language disorder by a Speech Pathologist. In my Speech Pathology days I would use this to visibly see where there would be some brain damage and how there can be a weakness on one side of the brain. That is what we call left sided neglect, or a left side of the body weakness in perception. Many people in our audiences and network groups may have a weakness like this. Therefore when you are speaking in front of an audience whether a small group seated around a table or a large auditorium at a conference center, be aware of the left and right sides of your listeners bodies and the room.

Do your best to turn your body ever so slightly toward the group on the left and right when speaking from a platform and focus your attention with the one on one conversation by standing eye to eye and belly to belly. Pause to focus on listeners and this will also help you keep your own focus too.

The Speaker with a Spark!

Teacher-Coach to Medical-Financial-Legal Professionals & Associations 

Call or E-mail to set up YOUR programs for 2016-17-18 or to get to know us better.

203-405-3972        carolyn@carolynfinch.com     WWW.Carolynfinch.com

Less is more. I’d been confused by that statement on more than one occasion. Every time I think I really do ‘get it’ another opportunity comes along so that I can ‘get it’ at a more significant level. This has a lot of meaning to a lot of different people. I have a friend that contemplates her own mortality now that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and had procedures. To her it means having less stuff to keep, clean, care for and moving of said stuff which equals more living to be had.

Wiki tells me that simplicity is preferable to complexity. I myself have found that often too many words complicate a description or explanation. Fewer words equal more understanding or at the least less chance for confusion. I’ve also seen it used to describe interior decoration and architecture design. Less clutter equals more aesthetically pleasing rooms and lines. Less time equals more focus. Less restriction equals more freedom. What does it mean to you?

In which ways could you change things in your life from less to more? Would you use fewer words? Would you unclutter your space? Perhaps you would pass on some of your belongings. What would you have less of and how would that produce more for you?

I’d love to engage with you on this subject. Please add to the comments or reach out to me personally through my website.

Lucinda Smith

Coach ~ Speaker

Life Transformationalist
Soulutions for Living

www.lucindasmith.com

Nicholas to Santa Clause

It started with a child, in Greece over 2,000 years ago

When he had lost his parents to illness

So to his uncle he did go.

His uncle was a bishop in a far away land

And this young lad grew up with love of god and man

His head was shaved with a halo of hair

He was proud of that with his head partly bare

He studied religion with his uncle and others

And soon became one of the Catholic Church brothers.

From plain Nick to Nicholas the Wonderworker he grew

For the marvelous miracles and things he could do.
He had a reputation for his creative giving of a gift

For those who put their shoes by their door they got a little lift!

Coins were left in the shoes and would help those in need

Soon clothes and food, what a wonderful deed!
And Then Bishop Nickolas thought it would be great

If ordinary people could begin to relate,

To the secret happenings they could not see.

Trust, faith and prayer that would be their new key!

And remembering that great evening when the star shone so bright

One can reflect on the trinity and the birth of Christ that night.

And so through the ages’ everyone on earth

Has come to know about Saint Nicolas, Santa Claus and the Christ child’s birth

We now celebrate this season with gifts and great relief

That we can have what we will need if first have belief.

During this Christmas season with lights and gifts galore

Remember the coins in the shoes that were put outside the door.

And if you can be giving to those who need more than you

Think about Saint Nicholas and all that he could do.

Whether it is coins or clothing or some food to eat.

Give to those unknowing ……that will be their Christmas treat.

And as you hear the Christmas music and celebrate with joy

Be sure to see the happiness and glee with every girl and boy.

For they too are believing in something still unseen

And this is their beginning of a life that is serene.

There’s a wish for you for a Merry Christmas and a New Year blessed with health

For believing and achieving is an amazing gift of wealth

Carolyn Finch
Speaker - Author

www.carolynfinch.com        Carolyn @carolynfinch.com              bodylanguagexpert@gmail.com

203 405 3972      cell: 203 512 4798      Coach at  Live Your Way Thin    18 Mill Plain Rd. Danbury, CT 06811