Of Mice and Men and Time
Researchers working with mice have recently confirmed what we already knew: time flies when you’re having fun! What the scientists discovered is that highly-stimulated mice had greater neural activity in the part of the brain which plays a role in processing the passage of time, making the mice underestimate the amount of time which had passed. And, of course, the opposite is true– bored mice had lesser neural activity. Test this concept next time you’re caught in gridlock.
So, what does this have to do with being an effective communicator? Simply this: an audience which is highly engaged will not notice the passage of time as much as an audience which is not engaged. Recall your professor who, for ninety minutes, read his notes in a monotone. Seemed like a month, didn’t it?
The powerful communicator knows how to engage an audience and keep the listeners highly stimulated. He also knows how to watch faces, eyes and body gestures, all of which signal engagement. When listeners starts to wander (as they surely will), the great communicator must know how to win them back.
Have a great and successful Communication Week!