What the heck is Limbic Language?

Anyone play "Space Jump" as a teen? Drama class most likely. It's a group improv exercise, you get given a topic - say, "Sunny Saturday morning" - first player starts acting out an improvised solo scene to that topic, maybe mowing the lawn, for example. At any random moment, the teacher yells "Space Jump" which cues the actor to freeze. The next player has a few seconds to use the frozen position to inspire a new scene, same topic, but completely new scenario. So maybe he'll use the first player's position frozen with his two hands on a lawnmower to stand next to him in the same position, and kickstart the new scene with a worried whisper, "OK, let's slide the bar, super slow, left on the count of three and try not to rupture his ribs on the way out - OK?".

I experienced the mix of delight and terror of being a Space Jump player again yesterday at the AGSM @ UNSW Business School Authentic Communicator course. Our last exercise for the final day was to jump up and tell a story, any story, with a purposeful point.

Our coach said, "Now some of you will have had an idea straight away. And you've put that idea aside already, as not clever enough, or not good enough. My challenge for you is to go with that first idea." She'd spent years as a stand-up comic. #respect

So in this group of 10 high achievers from a range of sectors it was humbling to hear affirming feedback that I have "such a way with words" or "I just felt enthralled the whole time".

In trying to articulate one of the techniques I instinctively use after years of playing with words to engage people, I heard myself coin a new phrase. While coaching an aspiring sales leader after a practice pitch, I grabbed a sheet of paper, saying, "Try it again using at least 3 words from this list, it's a list of Limbic Language, words that trigger an emotional connection"...

Limbic language? It came out in an improv coaching moment. But I like it. And want to put it out there as a topic, to see what other players like you might do with it.

A Limbic Language includes words that trigger an emotional response, words that activate our limbic system of ancient feelings, words on which we subconsciously layer a cognitive response as human beings.

The words in the photo???? are ones I jotted down quickly yesterday. What other emotive, limbic system activating words might you add to the lexicon?

?? Random idea ... how about you throw a standard phrase you might use in a pitch or presso down below, and me or anyone can jump in and see how we might elevate it more using Limbic Language. Shall we play?

For example, "Thank you to everyone for being here today" could be "I'm humbled at the experience and calibre of people here today, what an honour to be sharing...."