Actually this isn't an orginal idea of mine but a borrowed one that I expanded.
As a talk show host of a live radio show in Fairfax, Virginia, our two top objectives while in "live" mode is to remember to describe things using all the five senses -- or at least as many as possible. What does it smell like or similar to? What taste does it leave in your mouth? Is there any sound to it? What is the visual effect -- colors and textures.
I found this tough. In business and in social events, I learned to keep it short and sweet and allow others to talk.
When sitting in the radio studio with no one in the sound proof room but my thoughts and fears this isn't so easy. Not even when I have my stuffed wizard toy a client gave me to keep me company. And it's just as bad when giving a speech or presentation and the faces look blank back at you.
The second objective for talk show hosts is to remove boring guests or to change the direction of the conversation when you get bored. It's a fact that if you are bored so are the listeners. I'm not going to discuss this second one today, let me save it for another conversation.
However, I do want to return to the descriptive expansion required on the radio to keep listeners intrigued, curious, and listening. Yet, this objective isn't just for radio hosts, it is also a necessity for writers to use in their writing. And let's not forget your presentations -- whatever or wherever you give them. Let's not also forget that if you are professional speaker, or use speaking to market your business, using this exercise will expand your story telling skills.
In order to build your descriptive skills in live radio, talk show hosts or co-hosts, learn and practice the following exercise.
If you want to have more colorful conversations, whether on the radio, on dates, at social events, during presentations or speaking of any kind, or in your writing, begin by practicing more colorful descriptive language during your everyday conversations.
Even if you are talking to your sweetie on the cell phone. Describe the surroundings, share what type of person just flicked you off (joking but boy didn't that bring up a visual). Become a conversational entertainer. This doesn't mean you need to be a Jerry Seinfeld.
Create play time with friends. Maybe at a dinner party, or a casual two-some at a cafe on the side of some road you came across some Sunday morning while exploring new places. Maybe you are reading the paper, you find an article that turns you on, or off, and you exaggerate it in descriptive language that adds the five senses.
Be imaginative with this because it requires this power to capture listeners. It may even be a way to capture the full you or even the full content of what you want to say.
Slow down when responding to emails. Expand your fun. Write e-mails using the five senses. People love to read pieces that are entertaining. Well, maybe not all correspondence is appropriate. But...but...but you never know. Even at work, use descriptive language, in meetings and e-mails.
Sharing with others what you are trying to do is fun too. Let them do the same.
This isn't too different than learning a new word a day and purposefully using it during the day in any form of communication in order to expand your language skills.
One client of mine enjoyed this idea and ran with it. Nervous at first because the corporate environment she worked in didn't have any flair. Everything was short whether to the point or not. Think back on how many emails you responded to asking for clarity. She tried one. Then two and then a few more over a period of a week. What she discovered was that people read all of what she wrote. They talked to her more in casual conversations. Her inner circle expanded rapidly. More people wanted to be around her.
Now, there is a balance here. The time, person, and amount of descriptive language requires a discretionary balance. On the other hand, it takes courage to put the first few out there as well. You will learn where the off switch is to this light bulb. But not before you have practiced it a bit.
When practicing a story that I want to use in my presentations, I talk to myself in the car. Yes, I'm the one that looks like I'm singing when were side by side at a light. I take the orginal story, which I have normally written down earlier. Then while driving, normally alone but not necessarily so, I talk through the original story and build on it in descriptive language. Since I do this exercise playfully it passes the driving time quickly. And it does work.
If there is someone else in the car I make it a game. I tell the store and then let them take the story and explain it using their imagination. Anything goes. This allows my mind to expands. Then I take the story and build on it again. Back and forth it can go. No bars placed.
I can't imagine this working in a car pool but then again why wouldn't it. If someone reads this and tries it in their car pool, come back and let us know how it goes.
Colorful language, and I'm not talking about the dark side of colorful language, is entertaining. It takes time to travel from the habit of short and to the point to entertaining. I guarantee it will not happen over night. But I do guarantee you that if you just try this a few times it will change you. Chuckle, it may even be a habit after awhile.
You will find by doing so...
* You will find more people flocking around you.
* More people want to listen to what you have to say.
* It will probably bring in new friendships and other relationships.
And the bottom line, it is definitely going to bring about more charismatic vibrations from inside out.
Have fun with it. Play with it. Use this in any form that could possibly help you with your objectives. Whether you are writing a book, adding words to your blog or e-newsletter, or writing e-mails to friends or even the boss. You can't taste letters on an e-mail but you can get people engaged in what you have to say.
As the 7 year old boy Mikie used to say while standing at the front door of the home of his girl playmate in the television commercial back in the mid 1990s, "Try it you might like it."
And don't forget to laugh along the way.
Your learning coach,
Catherine
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