Talk in Terms of Pictures

When presenting information to individuals and audiences, it is best to use illustrations that can paint a picture of what you are describing. Most people think in terms of pictures. When I say the word “car” you don’t see the letters c-a-r. Instead, you probably see an image of a car. Most likely it is the car or vehicle you are presently driving or would like to be driving. When I say the word “house”, you don’t see the letters h-o-u-s-e, but instead you probably see an image in your mind of a house. To demonstrate this point, when I do my training programs and workshops, I usually ask an audience member to stand and describe the house they see. They can get very specific and see it in their mind’s eye; the style of the house, the colors, and the walkway up to the front door, the shrubs and landscaping, all from one simple word, “house.” When you are able to illustrate your communication with visual examples, it can bring your message to life. People will see the vivid images you are describing, and you will retain their attention more effectively. This is one of the reasons people love to watch movies. They can actually be part of the experience as they relate to the images they see on the screen to their own past experiences.

Using images to get your ideas across cannot only help you be a more effective communicator but it can help you be a much more effective leader. If you are a business owner or a manager, it is critical that you are a person who can communicate clearly and effectively to your employees and customers. Much of your ability to convince others to your way of thinking, depends on your ability to capture and hold the interest of those people to whom you are speaking. If you practice using vivid and colorful illustrations when you are presenting, you will become an even better communicator. Tom Borg is president of Tom Borg Consulting, LLC. He is a business consultant, speaker, coach and author. He helps companies and organization become more profitable by increasing their value and lowering their costs through the professional development of their managers and employees. Please see more of his blogs at CommunicationsJobsBlog.net and view additional job postings at Nexxt