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April 27, 2006

Steve Adubato's Keynote

"What people connect?"
This was the theme of Steve's keynote. Steve got the large audience involved and thinking with this question. Some responses were: Bill Clinton, Katie Couric, Pope John Paul II, Martha Stewart (but not for all!), Oprah. Actually Oprah might have been Steve's suggestion.
A name was not enough, however, and he quickly responded with the question, "how do they connect?"

Steve used humor throughout and did so effectively. But, it seemed to take him a little while to get warmed up and maybe even to warm up to us(?). I found the real substance of his message didn't come until his time was almost ended. Some of his main points for how to connect to others whether at a social outing, or at the Reference Desk, or at a meeting were:
--don't use jargon (use everyday conversational language, it is more audience-centered and empathetic)
--don't data dump (typically we provide way too much information, more than what is needed for the question or task)
--help people solve their problems
--passion for what you do, practice what you do even if you're good at it.

I was inspired enough by his talk to look at his two books that were on sale at Barnes and Noble. His more recent one, Make the Connection: Improve Your Communication at Work and at Home, was the one I would buy. It seemed to be based on his keynote speech.

Chris Herz
Gloucester County College

Posted by at April 27, 2006 1:40 PM

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