ConverStations

ConverSnaps #4: More on Conversation Literacy

The BlogTalkRadio podcast show Ginger Johnson and I offer each Tuesday morning is turning into a Literacy conversation on Conversation Literacy.  A good thing if you ask me (and asking questions can be a great conversation ignitor, yes?)

If we look at Conversation as a type of currency, maybe then we can view listening and extending conversation with good questioning skills as a deposit -- and hogging the conversation with monologues and interruptions as withdrawals.

Angela Maiers and Alec Couros recently shared with our Digital Literacy class about the 3 E's (Enlightenment, Engagement, Empowerment) in education. Well, I'm of the opinion that classrooms are conversations - so we can use those E's in growing better, more profitable conversations.

• Enlightening - A conversation that enlightens is profitable. Sometime, the one who talks most, learns most -- and therefore is enlightened the most ("We don't know what we know until we articulate it.")  Sometimes, our listening for enlightening has nothing to do with us (it's about the one who's speaking)
• Engaging - Engage and invite others into a communication sharing.  Do so with your behavior. By the engagement, you will make deposits. Remember, without engagement, it's all noise.
• Empowering - The best thing a profitable conversation can accomplish is to empower those engaged.  Big difference between overpower (push) and empower (pull).

Have a listen to the show this week. Leave comments (or go on a rant on your site) and let me know what you're thinking.  Is Conversation a 21st Century Skill needing to be taught?

Related Posts:

That's My Take. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

ConverSnaps #3 - The Art of Conversation

Conversation is a misplaced art. Many think that the online conversphere is part of what's killing it (I am not one of those). Some think that listening is the key (I am one of those). This morning, Ginger Johnson and I discussed some of these in our weekly Tuesday morning BlogTalkRadio show.

In an oddity of definition, our old 1828 Webster's Dictionary defines conversation as a general course of manners or behavior. The oddity for me, is how this definition became obsolete in today's dictionary (did Mirriam disagree?)

I'll let you listen in, but there is both a politeness and a rudeness attached to certain conversational behavior:

• Polite is the one who seeks first to understand
• Rude is the one who listens as part of multi-tasking
• Polite is the one who ends a statement with a question (is that possible?)
• Rude is the one who never shuts-up stops talking

I wonder, who is teaching Conversational Literacy these days?

We also shared a number of great resources I'll link to below. Enjoy the show!

6 Ways to Become the Most Listenable Person You Know
Art of Conversation blog
Test of Time Design (Justin Brady is a champion listener!)
Age of Conversation books
Jodee Bock's Bigger Small Talk Summit (June 16-17)

That's My Take. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

Where's the Passion?

That was the question during today's episode of ConverSnaps, the BlogTalkRadio show I do with Ginger Johnson every Tuesday morning.

Kids are loaded with passion.  Even at the grocery store.  Watch them go down the candy aisle or get near the ice cream.  They are PASSIONATE.  Where does all that passion go when they become adults? I mean, raise your hands if you used to be a kid.  Where'd the passion go?

"Calm down." our parents would say.
"Hold your questions." our teachers would say.
"Not right now."  "Stop!"  "You're Weird!"

So we grow up stuck in the gap. The middle ground of apathy.  I'm not saying we should all be the Patch Adams of our profession (but then again, why not?) - but have some .... some.... u-u-m-m-ph for what you do.

A "patch adams' of teachers is my friend Laura Hecht. And she recently posed A Question of Passion one that sticks and resonates with me (and should with you too). Worth a read, and the show is worth a listen:

Also mentioned during the show:

Curt Rosengren (The M.A.P Maker)

Phil Gerbyshak (Make it Great!)

That's My Take. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

ConverSnaps #1 - Connecting, Networking, and Hugging

Ginger Johnson and I launched our podcast series this morning. What's it about?  Well, we're still organic in where we're headed, each of us bringing our own special strength and profundity. This morning, we discussed a bunch of topics:

1. Criticism: Is it good or bad?
2. Is "I Don't Get It" a valid reason for not doing something?
3. The Importance of Face-to-Face and how computers affect (enhance?) it.
4. Hugging

It was a fun conversation.  Listen in:

We'll come your way again next week's ConverSnaps show (our working title), Tuesday, March 3 at 6:30 AM.

That's My Take. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

Literacy Coaching isn't just About Reading

I know and work with several great literacy coaches. Of course, I'm privileged to have one of the best literacy experts work beside me almost daily. But there's more to literacy than just reading and writing.

In the 21st century, literacy includes health, finance, relationships, workplace, design, ... we can go on for awhile, yes?  One of the reasons I get so excited working alongside Angela Maiers is I get to see and SCAMPER some of her techniques and tools into the business world.

On Friday morning, we'll have the opportunity to listen to Angela interview two top literacy coaches on BlogTalkRadio. Authors of "The Fundamentals of Literacy Coaching", Amy Sandvold and Maelou Baxter break down and simplify peer literacy coaching in a way that any business may also benefit from:

1. Be Prepared
2. Building Relationships
3. Teach!
4. Be Consistent
5. Keep it Strong with Data
6. Seek First to Understand

That's their Table of Contents. Sounds like a great business book, yes?  Well, the podcast is surely to be a great show for anyone in a position to educate others.

Listen Live on January 30th at 10 AM Central.

That's My Take. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

Archive Your Oratories with Audacity

There are three reasons I suggest Audacity to almost everyone I work with:

1. Archive your work
2. Share your work
3. Get better at your work

Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. I have a copy on my desktop. With one click, I can start recording.

A lot of folks rely on Audacity as part of their Podcasting toolbox (see Related Posts below), but there are other ways to gain from using Audacity:

• Teachers - Record your class and send it home with students (via CD or MP3). Think about it - they can take the lecture home to assist in the learning process, and the classroom becomes a learning lab.
• Sales Professionals - Record your presentation while showing your PPT. It can be a great coaching tool. Find out your pace and your pause. Can you hear a smile in your voice?
• Coaches/Trainers - Capture and record conversations with your clients for review.
• Business Bloggers (you think I'd skip this one?) - Record everything!  Some of our best gems are spoken across coffee tables or at meetings. Then, you forget exactly what you said when you get back to your desktop. Not anymore.

Don't like the sound of your voice?  I love ya - but puh-lease. Get Over It Already. Besides, there's a reason YOU don't think you sound like that (though everyone else does).

Here's a video tutorial on How to Use Audacity to Record Audio:

Disclaimer: I always tell folks when I'm recording and why. I've never been turned down (but I use Audacity more for internal use than public use).

Related Posts:

- Audacity Tutorial for Podcasters
- Jeff Utecht's Podcast Setup
- Anything that Can Be Archived, Should Be

That's My Take. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

ConverStational Mini-Lessons: Google Reader

Our ConverStation mini-lessons on BlogTalkRadio are designed to equip busy people with the knowledge and practices they need to "glean lean" in their infosumption of the web.

Today's mini-lesson on BlogTalkRadio covers how and why to get started with Google Reader as both your RSS reader and a shared bookmarking tool.

This is important to you as infosumers because anytime an online tool can save time, gain knowledge AND keep found things found can prove powerful and profitable.

Have a listen:

Here's the Common Craft: Google Reader in Plain English

That's My Take. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

I'll Have a Meatball Sundae

A few days ago, I received Seth Godin's Meatball Sundae as a gift from my buddy David Dalka (using Tim Johnson as the delivery guy).

One great thing about the blogosphere, is we have 'crib notes' in multimedia

• Jackie Huba did a horrible, horrible video. Not at all in good taste, but the message gets delivered.
• Of course, there's a Meatball Squidoo lens.
• The aforementioned Dalka (thanks for the book!) outlined a recent teleconference by Chef Godin.

And now on Tuesday, January 15 - Phil Gerbyshak is going to do a podcast with Seth.

UPDATE: Idea Sandbox has the complete Post2Post book tour schedule

Seeing the Table of Contents, I'm thankful David sent me a copy. I hope to get sick of this book by the time I devour the 14 Trends in Part 2.

That's My Take. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

BlogTalkRadio Nuts & BlogBolts: Copywriting

Join myself and Wayne Hurlbert Sunday night at 7:00 PM CT as we continue the Social Media series on BlogTalkRadio: Nuts and BlogBolts.

This month, we welcome some of the top copywriters in the blogosphere to a round table discussion of how social media is effecting the profession and practice of copywriting and copywriting tips and techniques that bloggers can use on their blogs.

Joining in the conversation will be:

• Michel Fortin, The Success Doctor
• Roberta Rosenberg, Copywriting Maven
• Ryan Healy, On Copywriting
• Tom Chandler, Copywriter Underground

Don't miss this show. You can listen live or download the podcast after the show.

That's My Take. What's Your Take? Comment Here.

Podcasting: Bring a Human Touch to Your Business Podcast

Are you putting the human touch in your podcasting efforts, or does it sound like you're reading your brochure?

We talk much about how you shouldn't write your blog in brochure-speak, but the same holds true for your podcasts. Be yourself, picture your listeners sitting across the table...and just have a chat with them.

Two of my favorites, Claire Raikes of Business Blog Angel and Anna Farmery of The Engaging Brand discuss this very thing during one of Claire's interview of Anna. Two great take-aways on this podcast:

1. The What tone and type of content your business podcast should include.
2. Choosing the tool that suits your business need.

One of the wonderful things about both Claire and Anna is their willingness to try new things in their business such as blogging, podcasting, widgets for their sites. By their trials and admitted boo-boos, we can learn from them.

But what's the sense of learning if you're not going to give it a go?

If you're podcasting, let me know. I'm building a new blogroll list, linking to feeds of business podcasts, to appear on the ConverStations Blogroll page.

That's My Take. What's Your Take? Comment Here.