Discovering the Power of a Hierarchy Model (Part. 1)

At the top of the leader board, in modern times, as most referred to visual aid is Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs pyramid.

Heading all lists in terms of impressions, is the USDA’s Food Group* pyramid model. It is printed on millions of bread wrappers and cereal boxes every day. It to, is a hierarchy model.

Why Are These Two Models So Powerful?

If these two graphics are such powerful communication tools (and they are), maybe you and I should spend some serious time investigating the inner workings of the hierarchy model.

I cannot over-emphases how effective a simple hierarchy model can be in your own speaking activities.

Hierarchical thinking is so ingrained into the adult mind that it would be a shame to not harness its potential as you present.

What’s a Hierarchy Anyway?
Make your message a hierarchy message and you are headed to the top.

If people naturally want to know what’s most important, tell them. If they want to know how they rank in their organization, tell them, , , better still, show them too.

The word hierarchy comes from the Greek word, “hierarches,” meaning “leader of sacred rites.” Within the Roman Catholic Church, the concept of hierarchy has been applied to rank of leaders within the Holy Priesthood.

Through the ages, religion has adopted this ordering and progression through the ranks of its' leadership. So, to has the military. And business. And education. And about everything else.

A Hierarchy of Leadership and Life
There’s hardly a place you can look among formal organizations where a visible hierarchy of leadership is not apparent.

You see it in your police force, among the cashiers at the supermarket, and when you attend your local Toastmasters Club.

What’s more, for the most part, people go alone with it all. Everyone, whether they like it or not, seems to just go alone with traditional hierarchical thinking. It’s accepted, Life Is a Pecking Order.

The trick for you, the public speaker is to observe this ordering within your field or topic, then figure out how to plug your message into these preconditioned patterns.

I’ve prepared another article (Part 2) that shows you five different ways hierarchal thinking effects your audiences and your future as a public speaker.

Wayne

* Actually, the USDA Food Group pyrimid has been replaced by the powers-that-be in its government agency. That happened back in 2002, but bakeries and cearal manufactures around the world are still using it every day. Go figure? This is a story for another day.

My Advise to Dr. Phil

If there is a person on Planet Earth who seems like he doesn’t need any advice, at all, it is Dr. Phil McGraw. Matter of fact—he is the fellow who is always giving the advice.

Who am I, a lowly designer/speaker to give Dr. Phil or any of his Oprah orchestrated people any real help? But I’m going to give it a try.

And I do so with all respect, , , after all, he is going to do what he wants to do, , , and that’s OK with me. Here it is, , ,

Dr. Phil—Get Visual!

Every since the Mad Cow days, you’ve been on top of the world. And the TV rating charts. And the book sales charts.

I humbly predict that some day some new dude or dudette will come alone and all of a sudden, no one is wanting your advice anymore. It will be “goodbye” Art Linkletter (Opps) Dr. Phil and “hello” Mr. New Dude.

That’s just the way life is.

Here’s my position, Doc.

Pop-psychology is a fickled business. Here today, gone tomorrow. (Actual some have lasted for decades, like the two I’m about to mention.)

They are the works of Abraham Maslow and the Transactional Analysis (TA) movement. Though originated in the ‘50’s, many of these principles are still being published and taught today.

Maslows’ Hierarchy of Human Needs pyramid is the most referred to visual aid of all times and TA’s three circle, PAC model might be the simplest and easiest to understand graphic any presenter has ever used.

Long Live Dr. Phil McGraw!

Dr. Phil, if your career is to last “beyond your own experience,” you need to attach your great success to a powerful Theme Model like one of the above.

Theme Modeling Equals Longevity

And, without having you expertise in my head, here’s the simple graphic I’d recommend you beginning to use.

Wayne

P.S. And what I’ve shared with Dr. McGraw, I would say to you. Get yourself a strong Theme Model and the spin your whole speaking, publishing, consulting career off it!

What's a Theme Model, Anyway?

In high school and college work you have to write book reports, and term and theme papers, etc. Most instructors insist that a lead part on these writings include a "theme statement."

It's a two or three sentence statement of what the paper is all about.

A Theme Model is much the same thing, , , only the graphic version. In it every point of your presentation is reduced as far as possible, , , but every necessary element is contained in it.

It is a paradox, with which every speaker must deal while they're developing their content, , , and now it is putting it into a visual form. Edited but complete.

Abraham Maslow's pyramid model, known as The Hierarchy of Human Needs, is the most widely published theme model. It embodied all that Maslow taught.

Chris Andersen's, model, from his book by the same name, Long Tail, The, Revised and Updated Edition: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More is the same sort of visual aid.

I live and breathe graphic modeling. I've studied the visual aids used by world-class presenters every since I was a teen. And that's been a long, long time.

The design and use of theme models is the calling of my life. I create them. I use them. And I teach other people to do the same.

I use PowerPoint a lot.

But I am a firm believer that the best way to really learn theme model building is with a marker and a whiteboard.

So, to teach other presenters how to do their own model drawing, I have developed a very unique seminar-workshop. It's simply called, How to Draw Your Message.

In this program everyone will have their own whiteboard and markers.

The boards will be arranged in a circle around the room.

I will draw something on my board. Each attendee will follow suit and draw the same thing I do. Every box, every circle, every line, every arrow, every stick man, and write every word I do.

You'll learn by doing!

It will be an unparalleled experience. And you'll have fun doing it.

When we are all done with the thirty categories we draw and discuss, you will know how to generate your own Theme Model. Guaranteed!

More about this career-changing program later.

Wayne

P.S. Keep your eyes pealed on this blog and pick up on part two of this article, , , it's called, Is One Visual All I Need? And tell others about it.