Television Impacts How We Communicate by Steve Adubato, Ph.D.

Television has changed our lives in so many ways. It’s where most people still get most of their information. It’s amazing how much time people spend watching television, either actively or passively. It can turn many into couch potatoes and some into zombies. It’s also changed the way we communicate and how we expect others to communicate.

Q—What has television done to our attention span?

A—It has dramatically reduced it. Think about how many of us use our remote control. As soon as we are bored—even a little bit—we change the channel. A commercial comes, we change the channel, and now with TiVO we can cut out the commercials entirely. All we want is the “good stuff” (Even though a lot of it is not that good.). With editing, producers eliminate the “uhms” and “ahs” in someone’s presentation. We’re presented with sound bytes on news programs that make incoherent communicators sound understandable.

Q—How does all this impact the way we communicate?

A—In real life, no one is cutting out the boring part of our conversations. There is no editing. There are no retakes until you get it right. Therefore, we have to edit ourselves. We have to be more concise and get to the point faster. We must be more aware that members of our audience, regardless of its size, are about to change the channel and tune us out.

Q—Because television is such a visual medium, how does that impact the way we use the spoken word?

A—Simply put, we have to paint pictures when we speak. We should use language that is vivid and alive. Instead of saying, “We must learn to communicate in more effective ways in order to get our point across and achieve our objectives,” say something like, “If we don’t connect with other people, the world will pass us by.” When using numbers, again, paint pictures that people can see and feel. You could say, “There are 27 tons of water that leaked into the area.” Sounds like a lot, right? But what about saying, “We’re talking about enough water to fill Yankee Stadium 500 times over.” You want someone to picture Yankee Stadium filled with water over and over again. Raw numbers rarely connect with people.

Q—Speaking of television being a visual medium, how does television impact our non-verbal communications?

A—On television we are used to seeing people who are attractive, telegenic (with a lot of makeup and great lighting), who are shot at the right angles and are wearing flattering (not to mention expensive) attire. That means in real life you must be more aware of your appearance, which communicates a great deal about you. Research shows that many people form their first impression of someone else way before a word is spoken. They do that based on their perception of how you look, the way you stand, the expression on your face, how your hair is combed, what kind of jewelry you are wearing, how long or short your skirt is and countless other factors that make up your appearance.

Q—So you are saying because of television we have to look like airbrushed broadcasters or movie stars?

A—No. But face it, we live in a society where appearance matters. However, the most important aspect of your appearance is how you carry yourself. It doesn’t matter whether you have movie star looks. What matters is that you give off an air of confidence that says, “I’ve got something to offer and I want to share it with you.” That makes you more attractive in total. Fortunately, the whole is still greater than the sum of its parts.

Dr. Steve Adubato coaches and speaks on the subjects of communication and leadership and is the author of the book "Speak from the Heart." Write to him at The Star-Ledger, 1 Star-Ledger Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102, or click here to contact him through this web site.