EQ, AI, and the Influential Communicator - with Deirdre Breakenridge

So many of us--especially communicators--struggle to make the case when it counts.  Sure, you may have all the facts at your fingertips, and there's no doubt you feel strongly about your point of view. But when you get to the boardroom, the interview, or any meeting for that matter, are you in the conversation or on the sidelines? Are your contributions making an impact? Do you have a seat at the table?  Perhaps you're missing a key ingredient in your leadership cocktail: Influence. Join host Dan Nestle as he welcomes author, teacher, strategist, and recognized authority on influence in PR and Communications, Deirdre Breakenridge, back to the show to help us understand what influence means to our profession - and how we can cultivate this critical quality. Discover how Deirdre's FEEL model (Face your fears, Engage with empathy, live with Ethics, unleash the Love) has transformed into the Influential Communicator framework, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ), authenticity, and ethical conduct in building trust and relationships. Deirdre shares practical insights on the critical skills needed to wield influence effectively, the challenges communicators face in adopting new technologies like AI, and the importance of maintaining core human skills amidst digital advancements. She and Dan talk about the potential for AI to support and augment our ability to influence and what that might mean for the future of work, especially in communications. As an example, she talks about Facial Impact Quotient (FIQ), her innovative AI tool that analyzes facial expressions to enhance communication effectiveness, and how it can be a game-changer for professionals seeking to improve their presentation skills. Whether you're a seasoned communicator or new to the field, this episode is relevant. It offers valuable lessons on enhancing your influence, building trust, and confidently navigating the future of communications. Tune in to understand how you can leverage your unique skills to lead--and influence--in the ever-evolving landscape of AI and Communications.   Listen In and Hear About.... The evolving role of communications professionals in the context of AI and technology, emphasizing the need for leadership in its adoption. The importance of influence over self-promotion, focusing on building trust and credibility within organizations. Introduction of the "Influential Communicator" model, highlighting its components of empathy, ethics, and effective communication. Challenges faced by communicators in adapting to new technologies and the significance of emotional intelligence, authenticity, and ethical conduct. The impact of technology, particularly AI and facial recognition, on communication, and the limitations of AI in interpreting emotional cues. Development of human skills to enhance relationships and influence, including the use of tools to understand emotional signals. Resources and training opportunities for developing emotional intelligence and influence skills, aligning personal priorities with organizational goals.   Notable Quotes "You can't have a relationship if you don't feel. If you're in PR and communications, the relationship is everything. How do you advance conversations?" — Deirdre Breckenridge [03:58 - 04:03] "Influence is your ability to move someone in the direction that you desire, an action that you'd like them to take, a way that they're going to participate with you." — Deirdre Breckenridge [13:27 - 13:34] "You're not going to influence many people if you don't have confidence in who you are or what you're doing. You have to be fully present, aligned, and believing." - Deirdre Breckenridge [00:16:52]  "Emotional intelligence plays a part of it, your authenticity. I also think your contribution score when you're speaking, how much value do you add?" — Deirdre Breckenridge [19:21 - 19:30] "Empathy is on different levels. And I think you have to break down the levels of empathy to truly understand where you are with the person who you're trying to influence." — Deirdre Breckenridge [22:56 - 23:05] "You certainly can't even get to a place of empathy. You don't have the deep listening. Listening is always the number one." — Deirdre Breckenridge [29:53 - 30:00]  "Technology, as helpful as it is, can be a huge distraction because the screen time, we're constantly getting stimulated by what we see." — Deirdre Breckenridge [36:12 - 36:20] "Your brain has to be calm in order for you to be verbally fluent. If your brain is spinning because of all the technology and the excitement and the dopamine hits, you can't get the words out." - Dan Nestle [00:37:37]  "You don't want somebody building trust with the CEO for you. You're going to do that. So using it to our benefit." — Deirdre Breckenridge [42:01 - 42:08] "We need more work on our human skills because better relationships are built on trust, and trust gets you to influence." - Deirdre Breckenridge [00:46:04]   Resources & Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Dan Nestle | Twitter Deirdre Breakenridge Deirdre Breakenridge | LinkedIn Deirdre Breakenridge | Website The Influential Communicator | Newsletter Facial Impact Quotient | AI Facial Expressions Tool Deirdre Breakenridge Books | Amazon Author Page   Timestamped key moments from this episode (as generated by Fireflies.ai) 🎤 AI Adoption in Communications (00:13 - 01:39) Discussed insights from a recent conference on AI adoption in organizations. Emphasized the role of AI in enhancing the communications remit and raising the profile of the communications team. Noted the importance of building trust and credibility within organizations. 🗣️ The Influential Communicator Model (04:00 - 05:56) Deirdre Breakenridge introduced her "Influential Communicator" model, which builds on her previous "feel" framework. Stressed the significance of tuning in and aligning verbally and nonverbally to connect better with others. 📈 Leadership and Influence in Communications (06:09 - 12:18) Discussed the evolving landscape of leadership and influence within the communications profession. Highlighted the need for communicators to embrace AI and other trending areas to enhance their influence. Suggested that communicators often view AI as someone else's responsibility rather than taking the lead. 🔍 Defining Influence (13:20 - 19:21) Defined influence as the ability to move someone toward a desired action or participation. Identified key factors for building influence, including emotional intelligence, authenticity, and effective communication. Noted that confidence plays a crucial role in being perceived as influential. 🧠 Empathy and Listening Skills (23:06 - 30:29) Explored the different levels of empathy: cognitive, emotional, and compassionate. Emphasized the importance of deep listening as a key component of influence. Suggested that being fully present and aware enhances the ability to influence others. 📊 Training for Influence (31:44 - 34:07) Deirdre outlined her training program, focusing on becoming calm, clear, concise, and confident. Discussed the importance of aligning verbal and nonverbal communication to enhance influence. 🤖 AI and Communication Skills (36:08 - 39:01) Addressed the potential distractions of technology on communication skills. Encouraged professionals to develop human skills alongside technological advancements to maintain effectiveness in communication. 🔬 Facial Recognition Tool for Emotion Analysis (47:10 - 50:26) Deirdre introduced her AI facial recognition tool designed to analyze emotions during presentations. The tool captures micro-expressions and provides feedback on emotional responses, aiding in improving communication effectiveness. 🌟 Future of Communication and Influence (57:06 - 59:38) Highlighted the growing recognition of emotional intelligence and empathy as critical skills in leadership. Encouraged professionals to cultivate their influence skills to adapt to the evolving landscape of communication and technology.   Timestamps for your convenience (as generated by Flowsend.ai) 0:00 Influence and Leadership in the Communications Industry 13:27 The Role of Confidence and Emotional Intelligence in Influence 16:24 Human Skills and Trust Building 19:21 Emotional Intelligence as a Critical Skill 27:29 Forensic Listening Framework 29:53 The Art of Deep Listening and Influence 32:00 The Influential Communicator Program 34:07 The Impact of Technology on Communication Skills 36:12 The Role of Calmness in Effective Communication 47:10 Developing Analytics for AI Tools 49:56 AI Tools and Accuracy Challenges 53:40 Advancements in Facial Recognition Technology 57:48 AI's Role in Enhancing Communication Teams   (Notes co-created by Human Dan and a variety of AI helpers, including Fireflies.ai and Flowsend.ai)