K A Popkave Coaching & Consultingpositive-outcomes-professor.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/3/9/12392834/… · K A Popkave Coaching & Consulting KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI, CPPC 5 DEDICATION

K A Popkave Coaching & Consulting KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI, CPPC

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HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH CLARITY, CONCISION, & COMMAND

Six Steps To Improve Your Communication

KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI, CPPC

K. A. Popkave Coaching & Consulting Pottsville

©2009 KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI,

CPPC


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All Rights Reserved. This may not be

reproduced in any manner without

the express written permission of the

author.

For permissions to utilize the material

from this work, please email a request

to the author at:

kimalyse@popkave-coaching-and-

consulting.com

K. A. Popkave Coaching & Consulting

Printed in the United States of

America

mailto:[email protected]



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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION 5

WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID 6

INTRODUCTION 11

THE BLUE STEP 13

THE WHITE STEP 16

THE GREEN STEP 23

THE BLACK STEP 27

THE RED STEP 30

THE YELLOW STEP 34

RESOURCES 44

ORGANIZATIONS: 44

RECOMMENDED READING 44

PROGRAM GIFT CERTIFICATES 46

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 48


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DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the two most

important people in my life:

My mother, Liliana, who, through

unconditional love and support, has always

taught me to strive to be my best

&

My son, Chaim, who is my greatest

inspiration and my raison d'être

Without their enduring love and

understanding, this book would not have

come to be.


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WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID

This is what others have said:

My comment would be “an easy to

follow, step-by-step plan to success in

communicating your point to your

audience.” I like how you use colors

to represent the important steps for

successful communication. They

make your report interesting, easy to

remember, and follow.

Justin Roller Financial Advisor Harrisburg, PA

Thank you for sharing your

communication techniques with us at

the BOUNCE Meeting. I enjoyed it. I

can see your expertise in this

area, shine! Certainly I'll recommend


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you should I meet anyone who has a

need for this type of learning.

Bonnie Collins LIFE REFOCUSED

Dear Miss KimAlyse,

WOW! I was so excite to have this

time saving information of, HOW TO

COMMUNICATE WITH CLARITY,

CONCISION, & COMMAND, right in

front of me when I’m in my creative

space. These very simple and easy to

follow steps have taken me from A to

Z, when I created my presentation to

the Chamber. I am looking forward to

using this also to help create my E-

book and Book. Thank you so very

much KimAlyse! You have truly

created a Master Piece for which


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every Business Owner and

Professional Needs…But Only if they

want to be effective and quickly get

people’s attention when they are in

front of them. Thanks for helping to

leverage my time.

Very Grateful,

Rose Brown CEO & Leverage Dr. B.O.U.N.C.E.

Few of us remember what we’ve

learned in college about the

communication process, and even

fewer of us have the time to dig

out old textbooks and refresh our

memories. KimAlyse Popkave has

done us all a favor and color-


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coded the process for easy

storage and access. This handy

cheat-sheet is a must-have for

anyone who on a daily basis must

communicate messages of greater

importance than “please pass the

salt.”

Richard Berrigan

English Professor, Lehigh Carbon

Community College

[email protected]

Your book HOW TO

COMMUNICATE WITH CLARITY,

CONCISION, & COMMAND helped

to guide me toward my goal of



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improving my skills in

communicating my message to

audiences during my

presentations. It provided me

with a step by step guide that

business owners will be able to

follow and apply immediately.

Starting with the blue step and

working through the yellow and

final step will enable anyone to

improve their skills in

communication.

Donald Shores York, Pa 717-512-7351 [email protected]


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HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH CLARITY, CONCISION, & COMMAND

Introduction

Many people have concerns about

communication. Try as they might,

they fall short of confidently achieving

their communication goals. When

reviewing their communication

situations, they cannot figure out

where they veered off course. What

they do not realize, is that when they

are truly counting on accomplishing


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certain communication goals, if they

fail to plan, they are truly planning to

fail. Yes, there really is a six-step path

to follow in creating powerful

communication situations in which

you will communicate your ideas with

clarity, concision, and command. This

path journeys through six different

modes of thinking, represented by six

different colors. One should follow

this path when communicating orally

or in writing.

So, let’s explore this colorful path to

powerful communication.


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The Blue Step

The first step along this path is the

Blue Step. Blue step thinking is clear

and crisp. It is the logical phase that

gets thinking focused and organized

for clear communication. In blue step

thinking, we get organized by

choosing the topic of the

communication. Then we get focused

by determining the general purpose.

Are we seeking to inform, to

persuade, or to entertain? All of this

is done in planning for the

communication. During the


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preparation and during the

communication itself, we must stay

focused by summarizing and drawing

conclusions.


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Write Your Blue Step Notes Here:


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The White Step

The second step along this path is the

White Step. White is the color of

freshly fallen snow. White step

thinking considers just the facts of the

situation. In the white step, we

consider our audience. For whom are

we writing? To whom are we

presenting information? With whom

will we be speaking? We must know

our audience, if we are to

communicate in a manner that will be

clear and concise. Here we must


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consider the demographics of our

audience. Consider the following:

Age

Gender

Sexual Orientation

Racial, Ethnic, & Cultural

Background

Religion

Group Membership, Etc.

Please realize that each of these

demographics affects how your

readers or listeners think. Audience

thinking is also shaped by the

situation in which the communication


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occurs. Consider these elements of

the communication situation:

The Size of the Audience

o one individual with whom

you are conversing or an

audience of 1,000

individuals

Physical Setting of the

Communication:

o Time

o Location

Audience Disposition Toward

The Topic

o How much knowledge of

the topic do they have


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prior to the

communication?


The Speaker

o What do they already know

of and feel for the speaker?


The Occasion

o How do they feel about the

communication situation?

In considering these elements of the

communication situation, you will

better understand your audience’s


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thinking, to ensure clear

communication.

After carefully considering your

audience, it is equally important to

consider your topic. Remember, in

White Step thinking we are focused on

just the facts. Gather your facts and

figures. What facts do you already

have? Do you need to do further

research? Be certain that you have

only information that is unbiased, so

make no judgments and form no

opinions at this point. Consider the

Present Situation from the perspective


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of your readers and listeners. What

does your audience already know of

the situation? What do they need to

know? In considering all of this, you

will be better prepared for clear

communication.


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Write Your White Step Notes Here:


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The Green Step

The third step along this path is the

Green Step. Green is the color of

grass, plants, and things that grow.

Green step thinking has to do with the

fertility of the creative mind. In the

green step, consider the goals of your

communication. What do you want to

achieve in this communication

situation? What do you want your

audience to know, to believe, to feel,

or to do, as a result of your writing,

oral presentation, or conversation?


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Touching back on the Blue Step for a

moment, what is your General

Purpose? Consider your audience, and

focus on your narrowed topic. Putting

these three elements together, you

will have your Specific Purpose. For

example, in writing this report, my

specific purpose is:

To inform my audience of a six-step

path to powerful communication.

Now that you have considered your

communication goals, you need to

describe your Desired Situation. You

need to define this clearly. Exactly


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what do you want to occur as a result

of your presentation? Visualize your

end result. Explore any options, ideas,

and alternatives. In clearly visualizing

your Desired Situation, you will be

able to attract it successfully.

Having a clearly-focused specific

purpose will allow your

communication to be clear and

concise. In clearly visualizing your

Desired Situation, you will achieve

your communication goals.


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Write Your Green Step Notes Here:


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The Black Step

The fourth step along this path is the

Black Step. Black is the color of night

and the color of courage. In the black

step, we do a rational negative

appraisal. We consider what’s wrong

with this situation. But it is not a bad

thing. It is just for the sake of

information. Here we consider the

feasibility of the Desired Situation, in

light of the Present Situation.

In the black step, we play devil’s

advocate. What obstacles can prevent

achieving the Desired Situation? Here


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we need to consider the risks,

dangers, and faults. We do not argue

in the black step, though. At this

point, consideration of risks, dangers,

and faults is purely informational.

After performing this rational negative

appraisal and considering all the

negatives that are preventing

accomplishment of your

communication goals, it is time to

reconsider your specific purpose for

the communication. You may need to

revise it accordingly. This is a big step

in preparation for communication that

is clear, concise, and commanding.


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Write Your Black Step Notes Here:


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The Red Step

The fifth step along this path is the

Red Step. Red is the color of fire and

passion. Red step thinking deals with

emotional connections to add

persuasive strength to your

communication. In the red step, you

will consider the stakes for your

audience if you don’t accomplish your

specific purpose. Questions to

consider here are:

What is the audience’s

emotional attachment to the

present situation?


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Will your audience remain stuck

in the present situation?

o Is this a bad thing?

How will the audience feel if

they remain in the present

situation?

In the red step, you must also consider

your emotional connection to your

topic & specific purpose. Here, you

will want to examine the following:

Personal Experiences

Feelings & Emotions

Hunches & Intuition

Opinions & Interpretations


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Explore these in depth in order to

evaluate for persuasive strength.

Doing so will increase not only the

persuasive strength of your ideas, but

the clarity and concision with which

you present them.


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Write Your Red Step Notes Here:


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The Yellow Step

The sixth and final step along this path

is the Yellow Step. Yellow is the color

of bright sunshine. The yellow step

“sheds light” on the topic for your

listeners and readers. In the yellow

step, we do a rational positive

appraisal. We look at what’s right

with this picture. Here we explore

processes, solutions, benefits, and

values in order to formulate our main

and supporting points.

To formulate main points, realize that

they are the central feature of your


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communication. Therefore, select

them carefully to accomplish your

goals. Understand that clear structure

is crucial to the understandability of

your points. Part of this is limiting the

number of main points to two or

three. Another element of clear

structure is the organization of your

points. Organize main points

strategically, according to your

purpose.

During this process of formulation of

points, the Central Idea, or thesis of

the communication, becomes clear.

This is very important in written


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communication as well as in public

communication. In conversation, it is

generally not regarded as imperative;

however, if the conversation will be of

a particularly important nature, it is a

good idea to plan for a central idea.

Remember that without support, main

points cease to be main points and are

merely unsupported assertions.

Unsupported assertions seriously

deplete the clarity, concision, and

command of your communication. To

increase the clarity, concision, and

command of your communication,

choose supporting materials that are


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accurate, relevant, and reliable. Use

examples, statistics, and testimony to

support your main points. In doing so,

you will increase the informative or

persuasive strength of your main

points, and more successfully

accomplish your communication

goals.

Now that you have planned your main

and supporting points, in order to

truly succeed, you need to create an

intriguing introduction and a

compelling conclusion. While you

may be well aware that you need to

do this in preparation for written


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communication and for public

speaking, you may not be as aware

that you should do this when planning

a conversation, as well. How you

introduce and conclude your message

may very well affect the success of

your conversation. Therefore, you

need to pay attention to creating your

introduction and conclusion to have

the greatest impact on those in your

communication situation.

Let’s delve into creating intriguing

introductions. Why create an

intriguing introduction? What will this

do for your communication?


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An Intriguing Introduction:

Creates a favorable impression &

boosts your self-confidence

Gains audience attention &

interest

Reveals your topic

Avoids confusion

Establishes your credibility &

good will

Previews body of presentation

Gives audience something to

listen for

Just remember to be brief & creative

when devising your introduction.

Also, remember that for easy of


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creation, create your introduction

after your main and supporting points

have been prepared.

Now that you have created an

intriguing introduction to powerfully

impact your audience’s attention, it is

time to turn your attention to creating

a compelling conclusion.

To be compelling, your conclusion

should end your presentation on a

strong note. You want to signal the

end of your communication and

reinforce listener or reader

understanding and commitment to

your central idea. You may want to


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include a call to action here, if one is

appropriate.

Remember to be brief in concluding.

Nothing weakens audience

commitment to your central idea

faster than a conclusion that seems to

go on ad nauseum!

Remember to be creative in devising

your conclusion. You want to end

with a bang, not a whimper. You

want to devise a conclusion that will

capture the minds and hearts of your

readers and listeners and leave a

lasting impression. You want your

communication to be memorable.


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In taking this time in preparation for

your communication, you are

following the path to powerful

communication. The result is that you

are communicating with clarity,

concision, and command. Your

communication goals will be

successfully achieved.


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Write Your Yellow Step Notes Here:


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RESOURCE GUIDE ORGANIZATIONS:

B.O.U.N.C.E. of Central Pennsylvania

www.1234BOUNCE.com

RECOMMENDED READING

BOOKS IN PRINT

Golden, Myron. FROM THE TRASH

MAN TO THE CASH MAN – How

Anyone Can Get Rich Starting

From Anywhere. Skillionaire

Enterprises, Inc. 2007

Harris, Stanley. YOUR

BREAKTHROUGH IS

GAURANTEED.

E-BOOKS: Popkave, KimAlyse. 4 KEYS TO SUCCESS:

RARA Equals Your Definition of

Success! . K. A. Popkave Coaching &

Consulting. Pottsville. 2010

http://www.1234bounce.com/


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Popkave, KimAlyse. THE PATH TO

POWER™: An Action Plan For

Creating Your Life As You Want It To

Be. K. A. Popkave Coaching &

Consulting. Pottsville. 2007

Shores, Donald, and KimAlyse Popkave.

BREAK THROUGH YOUR PERSONAL

BARRIERS!: A Step-By-Step Guide to

Finding Success. Shores & Associates.

York. 2010


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PROGRAM GIFT CERTIFICATES


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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI, CPPC Positive Outcomes Professor KimAlyse Popkave

is an educator.

That is not just what she

does, that is how she

defines herself. With a

Master of Education Degree

in Speech Communication


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& Theatre Arts, KimAlyse is

an accomplished leader

with more than 30 years

experience as a professor,

developing and

implementing courses

customized to reach specific

objectives. Her specialties

include management,

public speaking,

professional presentation,


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written communication,

student success, and

human potential

development. She has

taught in a variety of

academic settings, from

elementary level to

university courses at Penn

State University,

Montgomery County

Community College,


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Delaware County

Community College, and

Lehigh Carbon Community

College, as well as in

corrections education for

both the Federal Correction

system and the

Pennsylvania Department

of Corrections.

As an educator, KimAlyse

has nearly 30 years


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experience in business, as

well, having owned and

operated a small private

school catering to the

educational needs of young

children. Studying for and

earning her designation as a

Certified MasterStream®

Instructor, from the Tension

Management Institute in

2002, enabled KimAlyse to


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develop programs for and

work with businesses to

help increase their bottom

line and achieve their

positive outcomes.

As a coach, consultant,

trainer, author, & speaker,

KimAlyse is dedicated to a

clear mission: to help

others to be successful and

to foster the success of her


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clients. In addition to

serving as coach,

consultant, trainer, author,

& speaker, KimAlyse

currently holds the position

of Director of Learning &

Communication for

B.O.U.N.C.E. of Central

Pennsylvania.


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For assistance in becoming a more

commanding communicator, please

contact me. I am available for

individual coaching, as well as for

trainings and workshops. Also contact

me for info on my latest Teleseminar

& Webinars.

To Your Success!!

KimAlyse

KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI, CPPC

President

K.A. Popkave Coaching & Consulting

570-617-6608

[email protected]

www.popkave-coaching-and-consulting.com


http://www.popkave-coaching-and-consulting.com/

Documents

K A Popkave Coaching & Consultingpositive-outcomes-professor.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/3/9/12392834/… · K A Popkave Coaching & Consulting KimAlyse Popkave, M.Ed., CMI, CPPC 5 DEDICATION