5 Ways to Get People to Actually Listen to You

http://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/5-ways-to-get-people-to-listen.html

Great stuff!!!!

You may be a fact- and logic-driven leader, but others don't think like you do. Learn to get your point across through emotional connection.

Have you ever stood before an audience, uncertain whether you are truly connecting with them? Or, have you spoken to an employee who appears to be getting the message--but whose actions later tell another story?... 

…"Humans are wired to connect with each other," says Garcia. "And we connect with one another by feeling, not thinking." 

Why? Because of the structures in the brain that allow people to experience someone else's plight as if it were their own. These structures, called mirror neurons, are also referred to as empathy neurons. 

"Emotion is now increasingly recognized as the key to moving hearts and minds," says Garcia. "All too often leaders assume that facts matter," he says. "That if only we let the facts speak for themselves, people will understand and agree with us."  

Here are five strategies that can help you stop reciting facts--and start making a true connection.1. Keep your mouth shut--for a couple of moments: Don't say anything substantive until you have an audience connection….2. Get your audience engaged: Get the eyeballs looking up before you say anything…. 3. Grab their attention to make it memorable: People remember the very first substantive that you say. Once you have their attention, jump right in to the most important thing you have to say…. 4. Use verbal cues: Use attention-provoking signals when you move from one part of the speech to the next. For instance, you might verbally number your key points or use other verbal signals like "Let's move on" or "My next topic is..."  Always give the audience verbal cues to look up at you.5. Recap what matters: Take all of the substantive points from your talk and group them all together at the very end of the presentation….

"In summary," your audience must be able to feel and experience your communications, or you simply won't have the impact that you set out to achieve.