Why communication goes wrong...and how to fix it | Tim Pollard | TEDxBillings

Summary

The speaker explores the fascinating yet often flawed world of communication, highlighting the paradox of ineffective presentations despite awareness of their shortcomings. They identify three 'sirens' that mislead communicators: an over-reliance on slides, a focus on style over substance, and a misunderstanding of what constitutes success in communication. The speaker introduces the 'Pyramid of Planned Outcome' as a practical tool to combat these issues, emphasizing the importance of crafting a compelling narrative that is both impactful and easily retellable, ultimately aiming to transform the audience into effective communicators.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Communication is a powerful tool that can influence ideas, decisions, and actions, as demonstrated by historical figures like Steve Jobs, Winston Churchill, and Adolf Hitler.
• 📊 Despite its importance, effective communication is often lacking, with studies showing that less than 30% of business presentations are considered good or better.
• 💡 The speaker introduces the concept of 'three deceptions' or 'sirens' that lead to poor communication: reliance on slides, an overemphasis on style, and a misunderstanding of what constitutes success in communication.
• 📑 The 'Siren of Slides' refers to the common but misguided belief that presentations must be filled with slides, which can lead to information overload and disengagement.
• 🎨 The 'Siren of Style' critiques the focus on superficial aspects like body language and eye contact, which can distract from the substance of the message.
• 🏆 The 'Siren of Success' highlights the misconception that a successful presentation is one that impresses the audience immediately, rather than one that is easily retellable and influences decisions made later.
• 📍 The speaker emphasizes 'retailability' as the key to effective communication, meaning the ability of the audience to convey the message accurately to others.
• 🛠️ The 'Pyramid of Planned Outcome' is introduced as a practical tool to structure presentations effectively, focusing on desired actions, necessary beliefs, and supporting ideas.
• 🔑 The pyramid starts with identifying the desired action from the audience, followed by determining the beliefs they must hold to take that action, and finally, the facts or data that support those beliefs.
• 🌟 A real-life example of a fundraising presentation for a homeless shelter illustrates how the pyramid can be applied to craft a compelling and impactful message.
• 🚀 The takeaway encourages commitment to becoming a world-class communicator by being aware of the three sirens, focusing on retailability, and utilizing the pyramid as a guiding tool.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the speaker's presentation?

The main topic is the importance of effective communication, the common pitfalls people encounter, and how to improve it.

Why does the speaker describe PowerPoint presentations as 'awful'?

The speaker describes them as 'awful' because they often contain too many slides and bullet points, which can lead to ineffective communication and a disengaged audience.

According to the speaker, what is the most important tool a human can have?

The speaker believes that communication is the most important and powerful tool a human can have.

What historical figures are mentioned as examples of great communicators?

Steve Jobs, Winston Churchill, and Adolf Hitler are mentioned as examples of great communicators, with Hitler being used as an example of the dark side of communication power.

What is the speaker's view on the effectiveness of business presentations?

The speaker believes that most business presentations are ineffective, with less than 30% deemed good or better, and two-thirds being mediocre or worse.

What does the speaker refer to as the 'three sirens' of communication?

The 'three sirens' are the siren of slides, the siren of style, and the siren of success, which the speaker believes lead people astray from effective communication.

Why does the speaker compare PowerPoint to tequila?

The comparison is made because, like tequila, PowerPoint can lead to poor decisions and actions when misused, despite not being inherently bad.

What is the main problem with focusing too much on style in presentations, according to the speaker?

Focusing too much on style can lead to neglecting the substance of the message, resulting in failed communication even if the presenter checks all the traditional style boxes.

What does the speaker introduce as the 'single most important word in communications'?

The speaker introduces 'retailability' or 'representability' as the single most important word in communications, emphasizing the ability of a message to be effectively retold.

What tool does the speaker recommend to improve communication?

The speaker recommends the 'Pyramid of Planned Outcome' as a tool to improve communication by focusing on the desired action, beliefs, and supporting ideas.

How does the speaker illustrate the effectiveness of the 'Pyramid of Planned Outcome'?

The speaker illustrates its effectiveness by using a real-life example of a fundraising banquet for a homeless shelter, showing how the tool can create a compelling and retellable narrative.