subject: No Red Flags - Minimizing Mixed Messages [print this page] What's your natural reaction when you see a red flag? To stop. That's exactly what your audience does. They stop connecting with you.
We communicate through three channels - verbal (our words) vocal (quality and sound of our voice) and visual (non-verbal messages).
Our audience experiences a 'red flag' when we send a mixed message. For example, the words you are saying are not consistent with your body language. As a result our audience is confused by contradictory information.
This apparent contradiction can raise questions about our credibility and integrity and reduce our communication effectiveness with our audience.
Here is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind. Your words ('verbal') tell the audience what you're thinking. Your actions ('vocal' and 'visual') express to the audience how you're feeling.
Conventional wisdom tells us to downplay or ignore our emotions. As a result we often find ourselves trying to match our feelings to our words and act accordingly.
Entertainers learn the opposite. The best way to project an authentic persona is to be aware of your feelings and that this 'emotional intelligence' enables you to express genuine and consistent messages through all three channels.
The S.O.S. System As an entertainer most of my 'red flags' occur on stage in responding to incidents that presented an obstacle, problem or challenge.
The S.O.S. system is a series of question I've developed to provide a more objective framework to assess performance situations and help me connect more consistently and genuinely with my audience.
S - Self-Awareness
How was I feeling prior to the incident?
What emotions did the incident trigger?
Did the incident change my feelings?
If so, is this change appropriate or justified?
How do I want to feel moving forward?
O - Objective Focused
What was my objective prior to the incident?
Has the situation changed my objective?
Is this change in objective appropriate or justified?
What is my objective moving forward?
S - Situational Awareness
What was the situation prior to the incident?
Did the incident negatively change the situation?
If so, how can I minimize this change?
What situation do I want moving forward?
Answering these questions help me better understand and proactively manage my role in the communications process.
This process provides a more objective understanding of the situation and helps minimize emotionally driven knee-jerk reactions.
It helps me better understand the audience and their needs.
It keeps me focused on achieving the desired objective.
