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How improv techniques will change the way you write
Below is a tell-tale description of a common style of scientific writing—used not only by philosophers and sociologists, but also by many scientists from all disciplines. In his book “Writing with power: techniques for mastering the writing process,” Peter Elbow tells us: “One thinks about modern academics, especially philosophers and sociologists. Their language is often voiceless and without power because it is so utterly cut off from experience and things. There is no sense of words carrying experiences, only of reflecting relationships between other words or between “concepts.” There is no sense of an actual self seeing a thing or having an experience… Sociology—by its very nature?—seems to be…
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How to make your presentation more engaging: puzzle or problem?
How do you, as scientist, invite and welcome non-scientists into your wonderland? By making your ideas accessible? Do you avoid jargon and bullet points? Yes, you should definitely make your ideas accessible, avoid jargon and bullet points, and use all the other tricks of the trade to present ideas clearly and convincingly. However, this is not—any more—enough. Let me explain: we’re all suffering from information overload, so what’s the point in presenting more and more information even if it is clear and convincing? In this information-filled landscape, you may find that engaging an audience is becoming harder and harder. I tell scientists to use a different approach—present a problem, not…
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The best speakers are those who give
Shift your perspective (or your mindset)—you’re there, in front of your audience, to give. Even better, you’re there to give, and you don’t want anything back. Forget your “take” mindset. Audiences respond differently to “takers” and “givers.” Why are you presenting your research? To show how much you have accomplished, or to help your fellow scientists succeed in their own research? To show your results to “advance the field”, or to advance others? To add to the list of your presentations, or to empower those in your audience so they can build their own list? To toot your own horn, or to help others shine? Once you’re clear about your…
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Speaking with confidence? Think it over
Everyone loves a confident speaker, and everyone loves to be a confident speaker. So you find all sorts of tricks of the trade—breathing techniques, power poses, eye contact, and so on—that can help you to become this sort of speaker. In many cases, though, these tricks only help you to seem more confident. But is this the only way to think about it? Let’s try a mindset shift. Let’s replace “everyone loves a confident speaker” with “everyone loves a loving speaker.” You’re a loving speaker not when you connect with your audience, but when you feel one with the audience—you and your audience are part of the same community. You’re…