This book has the
cognitive and communicative
software updates
your screen-fixated brain
needs now.

How distracting screen habits have damaged our communication capability.

In 2007, touch-screen smartphones put us permanently online. Our productivity, focus and empathy soon took a hit. Simplistic Digital Age culture and content has dumbed us all down unwittingly, by stealth, ever since. IQ levels have been falling globally for decades.

End result? The rise of polarisation over consensus. Of the visual over the verbal. Of autonomy over unity. Levity over gravity. Momentum over focus. Effect over meaning. And self-absorption over self-awareness.

These Digital Age traits and trends are now deep-rooted sociocultural norms. All are systemic impairments to the ways we connect, communicate and cooperate.

Today’s most effective, influential and highly rewarded communication skill remains Emotional Intelligence (EQ). But applying it demands empathy, perception and cognitive fluency-the very faculties undermined by our fixation on screens.

Now communEQation reveals and resolves the communication challenges of this over-messaged Digital Age.

Compelling insights from the fields of cultural analysis, psychology and neuroscience inspire and inform stronger understanding, connection and influence. New tools amplify personal perception and verbal acuity.

communEQation defines the elusive pathway to an effective balance between screen use and peak communicative function.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JULIAN SMITH  is experienced across a uniquely diverse mix of communication disciplines - as a Writer, Strategist, Ad Agency founder, Film Director, Producer, Journalist, Voice-over Narrator, Keynote Speaker, Lecturer/Trainer, Radio broadcaster and even Pub comic.

WHAT READERS SAID

Reviews

“Such a polished, thought-provoking read that I consumed it in a single sitting (a 16 hour flight). I loved the way each chapter was constructed with content and the summary ‘three things to do with the information in this chapter.’ Brilliant. The codification of dialogue in Part 3 was an especially interesting concept. It made me reflect on things I hadn't thought about before… and I'm still thinking it all through days later!”

Kelly Olafson, founder, Ankaris SG (Singapore-based communication training company)

“Great ideas, insights, approaches and solutions to navigating interpersonal relationships and communication at a time when technology is pushing us away from these vital human connections.” 

Peter Perkins, former Communications Manager, Forest Industries Australia. 

“Very comprehensive. Timely, apposite and clever practical and cultural insights on the Digital Age and the decline of communication efficacy, with compelling whole-of-issue solutions.”  

Melissa Richardson, founder, Marketing Women and Art of Mentoring. 

“So compelling I read it a second time. Erudite, but accessible — the content looks like it’s come from a professor, but reads so engagingly because it’s been written by an Ad man. A masterful response to today’s most important social issue.” 

Ron Barnacle, Investor, Businessman, Pastoralist.

“Great body of work and beautifully written. As I read, I kept thinking of concepts/ modalities/metaphors that would illustrate the insights — only to find these nuggets appearing when I turned the page! Very satisfying.”  

Graham Richardson, C-suite corporate coach and founder, Horizons Unlimited. 

“An incredible body of work, really well researched and rendered. 'Codifying conversations' provides a blueprint for how we can better understand and relate to each other in both our professional and personal lives. With the new, amplified post-COVID digital world order, the arrival of this insightful book couldn't be more timely.”     

Jo Karabin, PR supremo, Marketer, Entrepreneur. 

These reader reviews come from a select spread of accomplished professionals, all communication specialists in their own right. All are searchable and each read a pre-release draft of the communEQation manuscript.

Now it’s your turn to read…

Read the full Introduction to communEQation. See the scope, tone and content of the book and how it helps you become a superior Digital Age communicator.

BUY your copy
of communEQation
direct from the publisher

A film director’s guide to superior screen performance

Video is the communication medium of the Digital Age. But how many of us look good and perform at our best on a screen? As a sometime commercial Film Director specialising in performance, my educated guess is around 10%. Want to ensure that you’re closer to that 10%? You need my FREE report.

In a twenty minute read, you’ll discover the production professional’s tips and tricks about setting, staging, lighting, sound, presentation. And, most importantly, being telegenic — the elusive art of looking good and performing well on-screen. 

End notes

communEQation contains extensive Endnotes which corroborate and expand on issues addressed in the text. These Endnotes are listed at the end of the book, but for instant access you can click through to a page with online links to all the book’s Endnotes, chapter-by-chapter, by going here.