Successful innovation is fascinating as it combines the best of intelligent thinking with expressing it in a way that emotionally “moves” others to action. This combination is often challenging, as many gifted technical innovators prefer to focus on ideas, software, and devices rather than people. Sales and marketing guys like to focus on the customer rather than the mechanics of what they’re selling. Very few seem to balance or handle both equally well. However, for those who do, for example: Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Larry Ellison, to name a few successful ones, the rewards can be very rich.
I have had the privilege of working with many organizations in the IT and Telecommunications areas, in terms of their leadership, sales and presentation skills. From that experience I can say that when technicians relax and are clear about the power and leverage available to consciously communicate using their body language, the magic begins to happen.
I’ve found that for innovators, the most common wake-up call comes when they are clear about how much information their bodies express. regardless of whether they are aware of it or not. Too often, a brilliant idea never makes it off the PowerPoint slide because your presentation upset or put your listeners to sleep. The content and delivery of your message must attract and inspire in order to get to the next step. You may have invented the perfect mousetrap, but if you can’t present it in a way that inspires and engages your listener, who are you really talking to? For example, an interesting thought to ponder is what the world would look like now if Leonardo Da Vinci had inspired himself and others to build some of his inventions while he was alive. Instead, it took 500 years to realize that most actually worked. Even though he appears to have been a student of self-expression (witness to Mona Lisa’s smile), could he practice more than he preached?
A critical skill for successful self-expression is the more conscious use of our most important communication tool, our own body. Here are some simple tips.
To be. If you insist on staying “in your head“When you speak, count on leaving your listeners behind. Learn to serve them (and ultimately yourself) by dancing here and now with your questions and addressing your worries. Your knowledge of your topic and how to present it will flourish when you hear, understand, and act on it. The key? Be here, now and serve!
Relax and be open. Can you catch more money and ideas with a tight fist or a relaxed open palm? Stress shortens your life, calm lengthens it.
The choice is yours.
Feel more. The key to being more present is feeling. After all, when is the only time you can feel something other than here and now? So if you feel some butterflies in your stomach, a pain in your neck, sadness, anger, joy or even fear … Congratulations, you are still alive! Take a deep, joyous breath and begin to focus your intellect and energy on the efficient delivery of your message.
Inspired. The word inspired comes from Latin and means “to breathe in spirit”. To make any innovation happen, you will need to inspire yourself and others to act. The easiest way to start is to breathe in more air. Watch what happens to the power and credibility of you and your message. We are all essentially wind instruments. Like a flute or tuba, the more air you use, the more power and feeling you can resonate with your listener.
React less / Respond more. React means “act again”, reply means “reply”. The first is an automatic process that is often triggered by an old, often forgotten pattern of behavior. The second can start with the exact same stimulus, but adding a bit of conscious reflection that you can respectfully replicate in a way that moves your conversation, and your possibility, toward your innovative goal.
Show respect. As Aikido master Yoshigosaki suggests, “treat your listeners in a way that shows you”Understand that you don’t understand who they are.“What kind of response and support will you get when you practice treating others with all the wonder and curiosity of a young child?
Could this higher level of respect inspire the knowledge and finance to further your cause?
to thank all contributions. You may think that what was said was the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard, especially when it comes to its brilliant innovation. However, what if that’s the best response the speaker could currently get? What if he / she is seeking your support and guidance to understand your message well enough to write you a big check?
The more you practice and incorporate these body language fundamentals, the more you can express, implement, and even monetize your great ideas.