4 Emotional Ways to Create Connection

January 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment

When creating an online class or interacting with others there is no connection with an emotional connection.  It’s been proven that when someone smiles directly at another person, their instinct is to return the smile.  That is more than just a physical reaction, it is a reflection of an emotional connection.

When creating your online class, be intentional about the emotional connection you wish to make with your audience.  In fact, think about what your emotional connection is with them already.

Maybe your audience connects with you because of a sense of excitement and adventure.  Or maybe they feel a sense of calm and safety when they engage with you.

Either way, the questions becomes- how can you deepen that sense of connection?  What can you do intentionally to build a deeper, richer connection with the group of people that you serve.

For example,  Let’s say your audience connects with you as a trusted leader.  What are some ways to deepen that connection?

  • Share results of years of research
  • Provide consistent, thorough content
  • Your materials and handouts reflect a conservative flair vs. loud and vibrant coloring.
  • Nothing unexpected or spontaneous within the class
  • Communicate in a professional manner

You may write blog posts, or have audio training, or be a live speaker, or a combination of all three.  But the one thing to keep in mind is the emotional connection you audience has with you.

If you have an exciting, adventurous emotional connection yet your blog posts are chock full of statistics and charts, you are creating a dis-connect with your audience instead of a deeper connection.

These emotional connections are felt not just in your online class, but in your website color choices, the community your build within your site, the persona you share with your audience, and the personal convictions and values you share with them.

 

Exciting – playful, fun, adventurous, escape, return to child-like sense of wonder, spontaneous, joy-filled, laughter.

Calm- trust, intimacy, sincerity, bonded,

Passion &Action- full of conviction and passion, ready to take on the world, common beliefs unite them, strength, grit, hardiness, bold, unconventional, forward moving.

Trusted leader- sense of distinction, revered, analytical, detailed, well-researched, consistent, conservative in style not necessarily in politics.  Proven over time.

You might be wondering if it’s possible to have more than one type of emotional connection.  And the answer is yes.

We all have each of these emotions within us, but there will be one style that rises to the surface most often for you, and the others are secondary.

So the next time you’re writing a blog post, or crafting a social media post, or opening your next event- remember the emotion your audience expects from you and deliver an amazing connection.

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Communication Cycle

January 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment
  • Attention
  • Interest
  • Desire
  • Action

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 All communication, whether you are talking to your child, your husband, your best friend, or your audience at an event- it all begins with attention.

If you don’t get the other person’s attention, you’re done from hello!

You can share the best advice, your deepest fears, your creative idea, but if you don’t have their attention - you could just as soon be talking to a wall.  And sometimes it may feel that way! Ha!

After you have their attention, you must gain their interest.

This is HUGE!!

It will change the way you communicate with others.

Let’s say you want to share something interesting you discovered today with your husband.  You learned that your neighbors house is on the market and you want to go to the open house to see what improvements they’ve done to get some cool ideas.

If you say to your husband - “ I want to go to the open house and look around.”  His answer may be quick and simple, no  thanks- I like my house, I’m not interested in buying another one.

What do you think would happen if you created interest in him first?

Instead of your first approach, you tap into something that matters to him.  For my husband it’s finances and return on investment.

So I might say - “ Hey honey, I noticed the neighbors house is on the market.  It’s similar in size to our house and built almost the same year.  If they get their listing price, that could mean that our house has increased in value.”

“One thing I’m curious about though is whether they made some improvements on the inside that we can’t see, and that is why they may have more value.  On Sunday there is an open house.  Let’s go over and check out the house.  Maybe we can get some simple ideas that increase our homes’ value as well.”

What did I do differently?

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Do you feel like quitting?

January 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment

I had just met Jennie , and one of the first things she said to me was- “ I want to quit!”

She was serious.

This was not some false humility moment here, she meant every word.

The irony was, here we were about to start a 2 day film shoot.  She was about to teach a Bible study, like a boat-load of sessions, to a room full of women, and the first thing she said was....” I want to quit”.

I knew at that moment, I liked her.

Can you relate?

Let’s look at the outside.  Here she was a published author, filming on this gorgeous film set, being attended to by a personal make-up artist and hairstylist, and she would rather not, thank- you very much.

Not because she didn’t care about the women in the room.

Not because she didn’t appreciate the opportunity before her.

Not because she was lazy, or any other thing other than the cold hard truth……... obeying God requires a lot from us. No, not a lot- our EVERYTHING!

We can sometimes glaze over the sacrifice part of our relationship with God.  We gloss over the loss and pain of “giving up” those things we want to desperately hold on to.

For so long we have fought to claim “our lives”, “ our place in this world”.  Then God steps in and rocks our world.

His ways are not our ways.  He thinks long-term, short-term, and all in-between.  And we can barely see past the end of our nose.

So, yes- sometimes following His lead makes us want to quit.  We don’t always get it.  We don’t always understand.  We think we know a better way.  And all of that makes us want to just..... quit!

But, we know deep down, that’s not really what we want.

From time to time, we’re just plain tired and overwhelmed with the pursuit. But here’s the good news, God get’s that.

He promised to never ask or require more of us than we can handle.

Duet. 31:6 It’s a promise.

So, if you’re feeling the urge to quit.

I feel you.

I get it!

You’re not the only one.

And most importantly, God understands that feeling - deeply and intimately.

Jennie ,made an incredible turn around that day.  Once she opened up and shared her feelings, we prayed together as a group, and we committed to  follow hard after God - together.

So if you feel like quitting.

1. Admit it.  Say it out loud. It’s okay.

2. Pray to God for strength to be faithful to all that He is asking of you

3. Find some friends who are committed to doing the same, and do life together.

 

What about you?- Ever felt like quitting?

 

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Quick 10 list

January 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment

When I complete a class session.  While I’m still at the desk and before I shut down the computer to re-join the family, there’s something I like to do.  I’m calling it my quick 10 list.

I quickly write down 5 things that I want to add and 5 things I want to delete from the course content and overall experience.

For example:

Add

  1. Scripted opening statement to welcome the class
  2. A new slide to illustrate a point
  3. Fun poll as an ice-breaker
  4. A USB microphone to ensure better sound
  5. Reminder note to smile when speaking, it makes my voice sound more friendly

Delete

  1. Long story in class #1
  2. Unclear example, find a replacement ? or skip it?
  3. Too many references to the chat room, caused the class to get off topic
  4. Ringing phone, remember to mute all phones
  5. Mispronunciation of class member’s name

Insert these notes into a class folder that contains all of your notes, handouts, ideas, and future plans.  Then, the next time you’re planning this class.  Crack open this memo and use your quick 10 to make improvements.

The quick 10 will help you to immediately identify practical ways to make your online class the best ever.  Every.single.time.

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The #1 Enemy to Launching Your Online Course

January 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment

When you are considering doing an online course, there are plenty of things to stop you.

There are a ton of decisions to make when creating and delivering a course.  But even those who’ve been through my training course, which gives them tons of practical information on how to launch a stellar online course, some still haven’t set the date for the very first one.

Why?

There’s a sneaky enemy among you, that’s throwing you off your ‘A’ game.  And if you continue to listen to this tricky,yet relentless voice, you might not ever launch.

The voice sounds like this:

I’m not sure I know enough yet.

I need to do more research.

Maybe spring is better than the fall for a class.

Maybe summer is better than the spring.

Maybe fall really is best and now it’s too late.  I’ll just wait until next fall.

I need to practice more with the technology.

Sound familiar?

Each time you take the time to answer one of these comments, you delay.

Delay…..delay……delay.

We need to Beat This Enemy For Good

But, before we go into battle we must first identify the enemy by name. That voice is the voice of perfection.Perfection makes you feel that what you are doing is never enough.Perfection will always cause you to doubt who you are, what you know, and what you are doing.

When it comes to your online class, I want you to win this battle.

Here’s a simple, but powerful game plan.

I want you to do 2 things:

  1. Pick a date AND
  2. Stick to it

Short of a major catastrophe - you’re In a car wreck and injured or a major unforeseen opportunity like you are invited to be on national TV and can get incredible exposure, do NOT change this date.

Stick.with.the.plan.

That enemy, perfection, will test you.  He will push you to the edge of what you believe to be possible.  But in the end, you can do more than you think with less than you can ever imagine.

Don’t quit.

Don’t count yourself out.

You can do this.

The world needs you to step up and deliver.

 

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