5 June 2008
How Pecha Kucha can work for you
"It's like getting shot by a skilled marksman – you get the ideas instantly.”
Pronounced "puh-check-ka-chuh" in a staccato burst, Pecha Kucha is a Japanese phrase that describes the sound of conversation.
Following up on our recent article about the Pecha Kucha Communicators' Network meeting in the UK, last night Annie Waite, the Hub's global editor attended another Pecha Kucha event in Chicago.
Quick quiz - what's the best part of a lecture? Learning? Well, then, what's the worst part? Length.
"Pecha Kucha Vol.5", a sell-out public show at Martyrs, a rock music venue, showcased ideas from a collection of presenters (see Figure 1, below) including Jeff Scurry, a Chicago-based marketer; Michael Wilkinson, a local architect; Monte, a local food critic and comedian and Barbara Koenen, a Chicago-based artist.
Figure 1. Pecha Kucha presenters take a bow
Pecha Kucha events take off
Justin Carlton on the "Hello Beautiful" Chicago Public Radio podcast discusses a previous Pecha Kucha night in the city, and asks "Quick quiz - what's the best part of a lecture? Learning? Well, then, what's the worst part? Length."
A global movement of Pecha Kucha-inspired events has taken hold as a result of architects Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein's boredom with sitting through verbose architecture lectures. Instead, they asked presenters to be swift and disciplined – by allowing only 20 seconds per each of only 20 slides available for a whole presentation.
Audiences that spring to mind as those who would react most positively to this format, are Millennials and Gen Ys.
"Bars all over the world now invite creatives and professional types to break out of their comfort zone and present slideshows of their work in short, kinetic bursts," says Carlton.
How to inspire employees
Pecha Kucha Vol.5 – although principally aimed at providing a stage for designers, foodies and other creative types with which to make a presentation – used this format, an approach that could resonate across all sorts of diverse audiences.
In the world of internal and corporate communications, the audiences that spring to mind immediately as those who would react most positively to this format, are Millennials and Gen Ys. Why? Because it's widely reported and recognized by many that people who fall into this younger age bracket generally have lower attention spans than their older counterparts.
Thus, when seeking to communicate company information – perhaps, for example, explaining boring, but necessary legal information – the Pecha Kucha approach could be applied and see significant success.
Pitching to the board
The format could also be used when applying to time-starved senior management for extra budget for a new project. By whittling down your usual proposal to the bare bones and core needs and benefits, the pitch might receive a more positive response than expected.
Forcing focus
Chicago's Pecha Kucha event organizer, Peter Exley (pictured below, Figure 2), another architect, and friend of the Pecha Kucha movement founders, summarizes the appeal of this newly popular presenting style:
"We're really forcing [the presenters] into crystallizing their idea into something that's very succinct and articulate. It's infectious in a very productive way."
Figure 2. Peter Exley demonstrates the correct pronounciation of Pecha Kucha
Have your say
Have you ever experimented with Pecha Kucha? Do you think it would work in your organization?
Would your CEO welcome the time saved with this short and snappy format or would they be mortified at the thought of not having a full hour to serenade their team?
Discuss these issues with other comms practitioners by joining the Internal Comms Hub members' group on the Communicators' Network.
Other recommendations:Pecha Kucha: Still PowerPoint – just not resulting in death
A communicator's guide to Generation Y
The Melcrum Blog - Pecha Kucha: Don't you know how to do it yet?
Got a news story? Contact the newsdesk