Connection Archive - The Art of Communicating

Impress less. Connect more.

Most people overthink presentations.

They wrestle with every word, unsure which one will land best.

They polish every slide for hours, unsure which layout will wow the audience most.

They smooth out their body language, unsure which pose will signal authority strongest.

But none of that really matters if there’s no connection first.

The best presentations aren’t a show.
Not even a performance.

Actually, I’d say they feel like conversations.

Much like the one you’d have with your best friend at the bar.

A real one.
The kind where you talk like yourself.
Where you skip the clever lines and just say what you mean.
Where you connect with them, not just talk at them.

Mirror that and you’ll do fine on a stage.

Keep lighting the path,
Michael

PS: I spoke about this (and many other things) with Mike Carruthers on the Imperfect Creativespodcast. Here’s a little video snippet about this specific thought.

The Conductor

A symphony conductor lifts their baton. The orchestra is ready, the audience falls silent.

But instead of beginning immediately, the conductor pauses.

Just for a second.

In that pause, something remarkable happens:
→ The musicians sharpen their focus.
→ The audience leans in.
→ Anticipation builds.

The silence becomes part of the performance.

.
.
.

Then, the music begins.

Da, da, da, daaaa …

This pause isn’t an empty space. It’s a moment of intensity.

In communication, though, most of us rush to fill that silence. We feel the need to start speaking as soon as possible … as if the silence will make us seem unprepared, unsure, or weak.

But that might break your impact before it even had a chance to unfold. It gets drowned in the rush.

The pause before you begin is just as important as the message itself.
→ You focus.
→ The audience leans in.
→ Anticipation builds.

And when you finally start to speak, it’s in a moment of intensity.

Keep lighting the path!

Connection established

You spent hours perfecting your slides.
They look great. Here’s what matters more.

Slides might catch the eye.
But do they connect with your audience on an emotional level?

Hardly.

What pulls people in emotionally is when you as a speaker connect to them with a story that resonates strongly.

And yet …
… you don’t prepare a story, but slides.
… you don’t have a conversation, you make a preso.
… you don’t obsess over connection, but fonts.

Slides don’t create connection.
The most they usually do is take attention away from you as the speaker.

They limit connection. (When the audience should be focused on you and your story, they’re busy reading the screen.)

The only reason to use a slide is when they make your point way clearer than your words ever could. When the cost of losing connection is outweighed by the clarity it adds.

That’s not often the case.

The whole reason you’re gathering in a room (on- or offline) is that your presence adds something that slides never could.

Curious to hear your thoughts: How do you connect to an audience?

Keep lighting the path!

Your Words Shape the Future

Every word you speak is a choice.
A choice that shapes the future.

It influences what happens in the next moment.
But it can also have lasting impact.

Words can connect or push away.
Build trust or exploit it.
Invite or close the door.

What future du you want your words to shape for someone else today?

Keep lighting the path!

Being present

Here’s a gift that’s guaranteed to still arrive in time: being present!

Undivided attention is increasingly rare. But being truly present with your loved ones, listening deeply, and engaging with them wholeheartedly creates memorable and meaningful experiences.

Silence your phone, put it away, and avoid checking it frequently. Try to understand things from their perspective. Stay in the moment. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the conversation. Allow conversations to flow naturally. Don’t rush through topics; give them the space and time to develop.

This gift requires no shipping, no wrapping, and is priceless. Just your undivided attention …

Enjoy your time with your loved ones!

PS: The image is a drawing by my daughter.

Who would you meet?

If, out of nowhere, you were magically given an extra day next year, but with an asterisk: You will only get the extra day if you spend the time with someone you don’t regularly meet …

Who would you spend the day with?

Why don’t you reach out to them right now to schedule an appointment in 2023?

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Impress less. Connect more.

The Conductor

Connection established

Your Words Shape the Future

Being present

Who would you meet?

Spread the Word

Dr. Michael Gerharz