Communication Effectiveness: Ripple Effect – ARTiculate: Real&Clear

Choose one thing. In order to be more effective, authentic, and aligned, choose one simple adjustment, new practice, or habit to create or replace. Consistently practice this one simple adjustment, and then let the ripple effect work its magic.Ride the Ripple Effect

Adjust your posture. Stand up tall. You are perceived to be more confident. You feel more confident. When you feel more confident, you communicate more clearly and with more authority. Physically, when you are sitting upright, your voice works more efficiently, which in turn often comes across as more authentic. When people respond to your authority and authenticity you feel respected… and you feel more confident. You are perceived and received as more competent. You relax and you breathe more deeply. Your ideas flow more clearly. They love the idea. They have confidence in you. You smile. They believe in you more and you receive a promotion.

For the insertion of good posture, a promotion was had!

Trust the ripple effect; the chain reaction; the snowball effect or the butterfly effect…when a slight adjustment has a greater impact than we could have imagined.

The ripple effect, for good or bad, for better or for worse*, of our voice, non-verbals and message is extremely profound. It ripples out into how we feel, how we are perceived, and thus how others feel about us. It’s a volley back and forth, building up and up – from your action to their perception, resulting in their action, and your perception into your next action.

So don’t think you’re doing too little, or not enough. If you adjust one thing, the chain reaction will impact all of your communication and your executive presence. So make that first step. Don’t think you have 10 things to work on. Choose one thing and let it ripple out.

  • Adjust your posture to be open and upright
  • Use affirming language – practice “YES, and…”
  • Let your full voice be heard
  • Stand
  • Smile

*Warning: The ripple effect works in both directions and you can end up devolving a fabulous first impression.

Poor posture, lacking eye contact, or a tight voice and the resulting rippling story can lead to us being unheard and assumed unavailable – and even incompetent.

If I don’t make eye contact, inside I feel safer but also disconnected. When I feel disconnected, I feel distant and not a part of the group. And I may not deliver my message in a way that can be heard. Then I feel like I’ve miscommunicated, I feel misunderstood, isolated and on and on. On the receiving end, if I didn’t make eye contact, they think I’m rude. I lose the connection and the opportunity!

For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For the want of a horse the rider was lost,
For the want of a rider the battle was lost,
For the want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe-nail.
-Benjamin Franklin

The lazy days of summer; the ease of August; the calm before the storm…you may not feel like doing a lot, so don’t. Choose one thing and ripple on.

elevate executive presence

Hilary Blair is a leadership keynote speaker based out of Denver, CO, and is the co-founder of ARTiculate: Real & Clear. She is also a highly regarded, actor, improviser, facilitator, voice-over artist, and voice expert coach. Contact us today to learn more.

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