People Place Story - How to Communicate with Impact

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In this episode of People Play Story, host Martin Kloss delves into the often overlooked world of visual communication and its impact on storytelling. Drawing from his book, Kloss explores how clothing choices can speak volumes before we even utter a word. He shares personal anecdotes and insights into how colors, patterns, and styles can influence perceptions, especially on stage or in front of a camera. From the psychology of colors to the pitfalls of patterns, Kloss offers practical tips like the smartphone test to ensure your outfit communicates the right message.

Listeners are encouraged to think about their "power outfit"—the clothing that makes them feel confident and authentic. Kloss emphasizes the importance of dressing not just to impress others, but to boost one's own confidence and presence. Whether it's for a job interview or a presentation, the right outfit can be transformative. This episode is a reminder that storytelling isn't just about words; it's about the entire package, including how we present ourselves visually.

[00:00:08] Martin Kloss:

Hi, and welcome to People Play Story, a podcast about storytelling   and how to communicate with impact.   My name is Martin Kloss, and I'm a professional story coach and speaker trainer.   I recently wrote a book. It's called People Play Story,   but it's only available in German for now. So to help me reach a wider audience and spread the word about the power of stories,   I created this podcast.   Full disclosure,   what you're about to hear is generated by an AI, courtesy of Google's notebook LM. And each episode is based on a different chapter of my book.   I hope you enjoy it and that I can give you something to think about today. Have fun.  



[00:00:53] Unknown:

Okay. So picture this. Right? You're about to give this big presentation. You've got all your talking points down. You've practiced, like, a million times,   and then you look in the mirror.   Disaster.   Oh, been there? The anxiety before a big presentation is real? What happened? Well, let's just say my outfit was sending a very different message than my actual word. Turns out that bold shirt I thought screamed confidence actually screamed help.   It was a a memorable lesson in visual communication.  

[00:01:22] Unknown:

It's incredible how much our clothing choices speak for us even before we say a word. We overthink our words, our body language, but then, bam, we forget about the language we're wearing. It's like this secret code we're all sending out. You know? And today, we're gonna crack that code with People Play Story by Martin Kloss. It's not just about looking good. It's about making those visuals work for you, especially on stage or on camera. Kloss really dives deep into the psychology of it all. For instance, have you ever thought about how certain colors just have different energies, like, even when you're not on camera? Oh, absolutely. Like, you put on a bright red shirt, you just feel more compared to, like, a chill blue. Exactly. But here's where it gets really interesting.   These perceptions,   they change or even get stronger on camera. Like, Klaus talks about how black, which most people think is slimming, can actually work against you. Wait. Really? Black?  

But everyone wears black. They do, but it absorbs so much light. Right? Yeah. It doesn't give you the same definition. So you can end up looking shapeless,  

[00:02:22] Unknown:

and your movements lose impact. Wow. So that whole black suit power move  

[00:02:27] Unknown:

isn't so powerful after all. Well, it's not about ditching black completely. Think accents. A black blazer, maybe with a jewel tone top or a black dress with a little texture.   It's all about balance.  

[00:02:38] Unknown:

Okay. So a little black dress, good. A black hole, not so much. What about white? That seems safe.   But I've definitely had moments where I felt like I was glowing in photos   and not in a good way. Ah, yes. The burning effect.  

[00:02:52] Unknown:

Close talks about it. Too much white can really mess with the lighting for the whole seam. Like, your outfit is in a fight with the camera. Again, balance is key. Use white for accents and to create some contrast. So black and white,  

[00:03:06] Unknown:

The classics, we might need to rethink a bit.   But what about colors that, like, boost your confidence?  

[00:03:12] Unknown:

Do those translate well on camera, or is there something more to it? They can for sure, but there's this whole thing about how we see a color versus how it's seen on camera. It's a trip. So, like, my lucky red shirt might not be so lucky on screen. Well, red, it grabs your attention, which is good if you wanna stand out. Mhmm. But too much red can be a lot, like, visually loud. You know? Finding that balance again. Exactly. I mean, you wouldn't wear a bright red suit to a job interview if you're going for calm and collected. Right. Although, now I'm just picturing someone who could pull that off. And that's the cool thing about style. Kloss talks about how some people just rock certain looks. It's about finding what makes you feel confident and real  

[00:03:50] Unknown:

and then going for it. Which brings us to another visual thing, Kloss mentions,   patterns.   Oh, man. I wore this striped shirt once for a video call, and it looked like my whole upper body was doing the wave. It was awful. The moire effect, it's like a classic example of how patterns can look totally fine in person, but on camera. Forget about it. Yeah. Like, our screens just can't process those lines and checks, and they just go crazy. And totally distract from what you're saying. But,  

[00:04:17] Unknown:

Klaus, he has this great tip. The smartphone test.  

[00:04:21] Unknown:

So simple, but so smart. Okay. So   grab your phone, turn on the camera, and just point it at your outfit. Move the fabric a little and bam. You'll see if you're gonna have those weird moire patterns.  

[00:04:33] Unknown:

Like a portable lab for your clothes. Kloss is really all about giving you practical tips to actually use. Which I love. It's one thing to talk about it, but to actually do something,  

[00:04:43] Unknown:

that's key. So we've got colors, patterns, finding your style. But how do you put it all together for that,  

[00:04:49] Unknown:

like, power outfit? The one that makes you feel like you could do anything. That's where it goes beyond the technical stuff and into the psychology of clothes. Think about how you feel when you wear your favorite outfit.  

[00:04:59] Unknown:

More confident, more creative. It's funny you should say that because I have this one blazer. Right? And when I put it on, I swear it's like I can take on anything, like a superpower,  

[00:05:09] Unknown:

but in clothing form. See, that's what I mean. Clothes can really change how we see ourselves.   And that feeling, it shows. Like putting on a costume, but for your everyday life. And I guess just like a costume,   the wrong outfit can backfire too. You just feel awkward or even invisible. Exactly. So finding that outfit, that power outfit, that's huge. What makes you feel like the best version of you, that's what we're after. And this giving a presentation. Right? Yeah. This is about how we show up in the world. Absolutely. Think about, like, job interviews. Walking into a room full of people you don't know, trying to make a good first impression, what you're wearing, it can make or break you. It's like that saying dress for the job you want, not the job you have. But it's also more than just impressing other people. Right?  

[00:05:53] Unknown:

It's about how those clothes make you feel. %. If you feel good, you look good. It doesn't matter what you're wearing, that confidence, it shines through. This has been amazing. I'm already looking at my closet thinking, what's my power outfit? Yeah. I bet my phone camera's gonna be working overtime. Do it. See what works for you, what colors, what styles. It's like this fun experiment, but it can really change how you communicate with everyone around you.   So next time you're getting dressed, ask yourself,   what story do I wanna tell today?  

And let your clothes   help you tell it.  

[00:06:25] Unknown:

So until next time, keep exploring this fascinating world of communication. And remember,   the power to connect and inspire lies within each of us.  

[00:06:43] Martin Kloss:

Hi everyone. It's me again. Just a quick note before I let you go.   I hope you found today's episode entertaining,   engaging,   and maybe even inspiring.   If you did, please spread the word. And if you didn't, please keep it to yourself.   And if you wanna know more, have any questions, or wanna work with me, please get in touch with me on Martin Kloss dot com or on LinkedIn.   Now have a great day. Go out and do something fun.