Engage Your Audience
How do leaders use their voices as instruments of change? They communicate in a way that connects with the hearts and minds in their audience.
The Engagement Loop is a communication framework that creates three experiences of synchronization: a call to think, a call to feel and a call to act.
Introducing the Engagement Loop
Audience bring more than just their minds into a presentation to learn. They hearts and bodies are also available to take part in the learning experience. Leaders who engage with all three prepare their audiences for success.
The first synchronization happens with a call to think. Using the voice of an advisor or teacher, presenters spark curiosity with well curated content. As the conversation progresses, brain waves become synchronized.
The second synchronization happens with a call to feel. With the voice of a storyteller or visionary, presenters introduce potential futures that inspire and energize the hearts in the audience.
These third synchronization happens with a call to act. After successfully connecting with hearts and minds, the presenter can use the voice of a leader or changemaker to invite their audience to take action.
A Call to Think
In an article from Scientific America, "Brain Waves Synchronize when People Interact", there is a graphic showing the brain waves from two different situations. The left side has no engagement, resulting in three separate brain waves. The right side features two people interacting, and their brain waves synchronize over time.
In the world of presentations, the left side happens when a leader takes the stage and speaks at their audience. Unfortunately, these speakers define success as delivering a memorized script without mistakes.
On the right side, you can see why the most successful speakers are the ones who go beyond memorization. They interact with their audience for the purpose of creating connection.
A Call to Feel
The second part of the Engagement Loop is a "Call to Feel". Research from the HeartMath Institute shows that different patterns of heart activity have different effects on our thoughts and behaviors. These patterns are called Heart Rate Variability (HRV).
Unskilled communicators find themselves creating the emotional experiences of Frustration, Anxiety and Stress, which are found in the top pattern called HRV Incoherence. However, leaders who are skilled in synchronized communications create the more effective pattern of HRV Coherence, which promote feelings of Gratitude, Love and Compassion.
A Call to Act
Mistakes often happen when transitioning to the final part of a presentation. The speaker loses the pace, and their "Call to Act" falls flat. This mistake can also occur when passing the microphone to a teammate, who struggles to maintain the pace that you've set.
When a presenter successfully synchronizes with the hearts and minds in the audience, they can proceed to the final part of the Engagement Loop. Focus on synchronizing the urgency of now with your audience's desire for change. Extend a precise and concise invitation detailing the next step. Make it easy for them to integrate the content of your presentation into their lives.
Summary - The Engagement Loop
The Engagement Loop is a communication framework that creates three experiences of synchronization: a call to think, a call to feel and a call to act.
Open your presentations with the voice of a teacher or advisor, and issue a "Call to Think" about new content or new perspectives. Continue with the voice of a storyteller or visionary, prompting the audience with a "Call to Feel". Finish with the voice of a leader or changemaker, and confidently issue a "Call to Act".
Use the Engagement Loop to prepare your audience for success. When you've synchronized the minds, hearts and bodies in your audience, they will leave your presentation knowing exactly what to do, where to go, and how to win.
Synchronize Your Voices of Leadership
Synchronize Your Voices of Leadership
To synchronized your voices of leadership, consider joining our Synchronized Communications MasterClass. Over the course of 12 sessions, your team will develop a Habit of Practice and an Ecosystem for Practice. The goal for each leader is to be Fully Prepared for their most important presentations and conversations.
Schedule an appointment with one of our executive communications coaches, and learn how the MasterClass will prepare you to generate money, support and reputation from all of your leadership presentations.