Dr. Nick Morgan is one of America’s top communication theorists and coaches. He is the author of multiple titles including: ‘Power Cues’, ‘Trust Me’ and ‘Give Your Speech, Change The World’. He is an expert on non-verbal communications skills and has coached and written extensively on this topic and is frequently asked to critique speeches of high profile people such as the campaign speeches of Barack Obama and the first official speech of Catherine Duchess of Cambridge. His motto is “I believe that the only reason to give a speech is to change the world.”
In This Episode
- Dr. Nick Morgan first addresses the misconception that using body language is some form of magic we can use to simply get what we want, changing the focus onto using our body language to “be our best selves”.
- Stresses the underrated importance of body language and how it even can—and often does, trump the actual content of what we are trying to say.
- Is asked about a tobogganing accident at the age of 17 where something triggered in him the inability to get a sense of people’s feelings, sarcasm, etc., and how this lead to his needing to find another way to decode what the people around him meant and felt.
- He explains mirror neurons and their role in our ability to be empathetic.
How can we use the knowledge of these neurons to benefit ourselves and those around us?
- the intentional management of our bodies
- the intentional management of our emotions
- Aside from the general work the unconscious mind does to keep us going (heart beating, temperature normalized, etc.), he illustrates how big a role the unconscious mind has in how we make decisions.
The conscious mind being able to process approximately 40 bits of information at a time, the unconsciousness mind around 11 million. - Gives an example on how truly powerful even the most subtle forms of body language can be. And how at an early age we are able to pick-up on them.
- He answers the question: What is it about story-telling that is so powerful?
“What most people don’t get about stories are that stories are a combination of a fulfillment of expectation and surprise”. - Outlines the difference between a story and a good story and how Hollywood has affected good story-telling.
- Gives examples on how we can best use story-telling in our personal lives.
- Stresses the richness and importance of face-to-face communication in such a technologically based world.
- Introduces the topic for his upcoming book: “How we manage to communicate holistically and powerfully in a world where so much of our communication is this pitiful thin stream that we get online. Information overload versus emotional overload”.
- What does a fulfilled life mean to Nick?
- What is 1 thing all our listeners can do today that will have a massive positive effect on their lives?
- Which books or resources have changed/had a big impact on your life?
Massive thank you to Alyssa Fowler for the awesome show notes!
Books Mentioned:
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (Read it over 12 times and had the earliest and most profound impact on his life)
Connect with Nick:
Public Words – Helping People Tell Their Stories
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