Maybe you’ve heard of the growing Pecha Kucha happenings all over the world, where people in a city come together for a night of sharing stories. Each “presenter” has 20 slides, 20 seconds per slide to talk about that night’s theme.
I had read about Pecha Kucha, pronounced “pecca-CHOCK- chaaaaa” and last night experienced it in Providence, where almost 100 people turned out to hear 9 speakers, including me.
Some of my observations and thoughts:
- Other views: I especially liked hearing people with points of views very different from mine. The vibe at a Pecha Kucha Night is open, friendly, accepting. People don’t rant; they share their perspectives, some really passionate. I learned a lot about why people hold some views they do, though I still may not agree with them. Michael Bass of Ocean State Action, presented data to support his view that the wealthy should be taxed more so that the state can support public structures and initiatives. As someone who sees the job-creating and revenue value of making a state more business friendly, I probably want ever be supporter of Michael’s organization, but I really valued his critical thinking, genuine values and passion. Takeaway? It’s good to get out and hear from people you ordinarily would never mix with; it made me see into my state with a new lens. While I wish
- You do what?: who knew that there are so many interesting, niche ways that people earn a living, like Michael Born who talked about his profession as an architectural illustrator
- Stories vs. information: Sharing a personal story is always more compelling than presenting data and information about a topic. You can tell who cares: this format unveils people’s passion — or lack of — about a topic. Sculptor Gillian Christy told the fascinating story of the highlights of creating and installing her new “Making Waves” sculpture in Providence. You could feel her love and her passion. And she knew how to share details with us that brought the story alive, like making sure all 700 rivets were aligned. Wow.
- People just want to have some fun: John Speck kicked off the evening, leading us all through a hilarious group song intended to help us learn how to pronounce Pecha Kucha. And I believe he succeeded brilliantly.
- Courage and personal stories: When I speak I usually try to educate in an engaging way. Last night I tried out a whole new style, sharing three personal stories that changed my business, changed my career and changed my life. It’s scary to open up that way, especially to a roomful of strangers. Not sure yet what folks thought, but I’m committed to trying out new ways of communicating and connecting with people, for my own growth and to be a better adviser to my clients. Research tells us that the personal stories move people emotionally, and emotion is the trigger for understanding and action. But publicly sharing stories that rocked our world takes a whole lot of courage.
Part of Pecha Kucha is also “networking,” which this introvert really hates doing. Maybe there should be a table set aside for introverts, so we can quietly talk and respectfully listen.
Thanks to the wonderful and multi-talented Stephanie Gerson, a San Fran transplant to RI who is the mastermind behind Pecha Kucha Providence.
