Art Of Change Blog with Dr. K

Does Necessity Need An Explanation?

August 10, 2008

Today, I am blogging about need. I don’t actually need to do this. But I want to. Because when it comes to the word need, I have an ironic response to it. I have blogged previously about need as an aspect of communication itself, as it is reflected in the style of a person’s communication. But I also think of a line from the movie Broadcast News, in which Albert Brooke’s character, in a phone call, says to Holly Hunter’s character, “Wouldn’t it be great if desperate and needy were a turn-on?” So when I hear someone telling me about a need, it’s accurate that I experience a bit of inner turning away from it. Turning away is the opposite to my typical response when observing a need, in which case I may feel compelled to respond to it.

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Building Relationships On Agreements

August 7, 2008

Every semester, the students change but the questions I hear remain the same. Where am I coming from with these agreements? Why do I think it so important to the well being of these students that I’m willing to spend precious time on it, time that I could just as well put into teaching other things that might be valuable for my students? What justifies the use of so much class time for these agreements?

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Blame or Credit, Not Always The Easy Answer

August 5, 2008

I’ve been posting about the importance of critical thinking all week. And today, a friend and professional peer gave me just the words I needed to express an important idea. “It’s not the pickle juice!”

What is the cause of the effect?
Let me explain. I arrived at Southwest College to teach my afternoon intensive class in healthy communication to the new crop of freshmen.

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The Morality of Persuasive Communication

August 3, 2008

Persuasive communication allows for the possibility of a positive change through the successful transfer of a good idea, or product or service from persuader to persuadee. Persuasive communication thus opens up creative options, and has the potential to engage people at a different level than merely surface – at the place where their motivations intersect with our own. And persuasive communication allows us to transfer our care about the world, as it is and as we’d like it to be, to others, thus multiplying our effectiveness and our reach.

But I am often asked about the dangers of persuasion, and the negative connotations people have about being manipulated. And these dangers are very real. It doesn’t even take a bad person to make a bad thing happen using persuasive communication.

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Is Persuasion Bad for Society?

July 31, 2008

Some months ago, I read an article titled “Art and Propaganda” in the online edition of The Nation, and found it to be insightful, challenging, and mildly persuasive, at least in part. It’s a terrific article, and worth the read. Milton Glaser, a Fulbright scholar and one of America’s most celebrated designers, wrote, ” The […]

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Why the need for human connection?

July 29, 2008

I am currently working on my next book, this one for Hyperion Press, and due out next year. It includes a thorough exploration of the subject of human connection and the role that persuasive communication plays in starting connections, building connections and developing connections with each other. I have pulled together a wealth of information about this, and in today’s post, I’m using this opportunity to ‘connect’ with you about it.

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Peter Buckley Interview – Final Part

July 28, 2008

Here is the fourth and final installment of my conversation with Oregon State Representative Peter Buckley. In this last part of the interview, Peter and I discuss his motivation. This is a great opportunity for you to get into the mindset of one of the most popular politicians in Oregon.

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