News

Leadership series kicks off

Clarion, Pa. – Barry McCauliff stressed the importance of nonverbal communication as a leadership tool to an audience of nearly 15 during a presentation in Level A of the Carlson Library Oct. 5.

“You have to be an effective communicator to be an effective leader,” McCauliff said, “and non-verbal communication is often more powerful than verbal.”

McCauliff, a retired communication department professor at Clarion University, was the speaker chosen to kick-off the Mary Walter Leadership Speaker Series.

Kelly Ryan, the assistant director at the Center for Leadership and Involvement at Clarion University and organizer of the series, said that that the purpose was to provide
audiences with a broad range of leadership topics to broaden the perspective of what leadership can be.

McCauliff conducted his presentation in a way that would not seem normal for a lecture.

He sat in a chair in front of the audience, and most of the speech was highly interactive with them.

He would ask a question, and members of the audience would respond.

McCauliff kept the audience connected by using everyday life and sports analogies, even a little humor at the expense of the Pittsburgh Pirates, to relate to the concepts he was presenting.

McCauliff started the presentation by asking the audience how many of them were leaders.

After a few raised hands, he encouraged the audience to try to define what leadership was.

A consensus was never reached, as members of the audience gave their ideas.

“The real leaders in life are the ones who have made themselves effective,” McCauliff said.

“It does not happen overnight;” McCauliff said, “it’s a constant process.”

McCauliff told his audience that nonverbal cues, such as symbols, were a big factor in the communication process.

He said that it is important to know that not everyone will interpret the cues the same way.

“It is important to know the context of nonverbal cues,” McCauliff said,

“Less effective leaders may not pick up those cues.”

Most of his examples in this segment were based around the interviewing process and how non-verbal communication is important during that time.

Erika McCombie attended McCauliff’s presentation as extra credit for a class.

McCombie is a sophomore psychology major, and said she liked the presentation because it connected to her psychology class.

She said that she learned helpful information about eye-contact and handshakes, and would recommend the leadership series to other students.

“It was quick, but gave a lot of info,” McCombie said.

McCombie said she thought it was a good idea to invite McCauliff to speak, knowing his communication background.

“I’ve heard fantastic things about Mr. McCauliff,” McCombie said, “and communication is a huge part in making leadership successful.”

McCauliff said that he gladly accepted the opportunity to speak.

“I enjoy these situations,” McCauliff said.

McCauliff said he hoped that what his audience learned most was that effective leaders have to be adaptive.

“Effective leadership is linked to effective communication,” McCauliff said, “which is linked to effective nonverbal skills.”