The 6 New Rules of Communicating

Technologies changed media that changed communicative styles that changed culture that changed thinking and interaction. How we centered ourselves as individuals and the relationships we had to culture, institutions, and the nation-state all transformed.

The takeaway: The communications crisis isn’t confined to business or top leaders. The more noise and distractions there are, the more precision and efficiency matter in being heard—and remembered in all things.

This type of discourse not only slows down the tempo of the show but creates the impression of uncertainty or lack of finish. It tends to reveal people in the act of thinking, which is as disconcerting and boring on television as it is on a Las Vegas stage.

Here are the six new rules of engagement—for politicians, broadcasters, and all aspiring experts, decision-makers, and leaders.

1. You gain more trust when seated, not standing.




2. Don’t speak at people—speak with them.




3. An informal tone is more persuasive now. Even leaders must adjust to this.




4. Conversations have more influence than speeches.




5. Spontaneous commu

You're communicating only if you're conveying information. To do that, you need to understand the needs, interests, and capabilities of your audience. We've all sat in meetings where a development geek glazes over the eyes of the vice president of marketing with a long monologue on the merits of some arcane technology. This isn't communicating: it'