Communicator: It's OK to brag

Bragging doesn't always have to be a bad thing. \nThat was the topic of a talk given Tuesday night at Whittenberger Auditorium by author and communications specialist Peggy Klaus.\nSpeaking interactively in front of a crowd of about 250 people at a program titled "Bragging Rights," she talked about how to speak with enthusiasm, without alienating people or making them think you are bragging.\nEmma Cullen, the Union Board's public relations director, said the board was overjoyed to bring in such a high-profile name as the first speaker in the newly renovated Whittenberger Auditorium.\nKlaus started the event by having everyone in attendance break into pairs and describe themselves to each other in about one minute. Klaus said she was less than impressed with the results of the exercise and said most people had a communication meltdown, which is common when they get out of their comfort zone.\nAfter the activity, she explained the differences between good and bad bragging.\n"(Good bragging) is a way to talk about your accomplishments in a conversational and story-like manner," Klaus said. "You must also speak with enthusiasm and delight in a memorable manner that is woven together well."\nShe said as a little girl, her father told her never to toot her own horn; if you do a good job, people will notice you. As an adult, however, she said she has grown to realize that people have to brag if they want to get anywhere in life. This is the subject of her new book, "Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It." \nShe concluded the talk by having people write what she called a "bragologue" to detail their experiences. She then had people get back into groups and again attempt to introduce themselves to each other.\nThis time she was more impressed with the results.\n"The difference was incredible," Klaus said. "People actually wanted to be here, and it was like Weight Watchers before and after." \nAfter the talk, students were very impressed with her lecture.\nFreshman Emilia Blaser said she was grateful Klaus made her experience something new. \n"She was very informative," Blaser said. "Her exercises were crazy and got me out of my comfort zone." \nJunior Kristen Elzey said she was also moved by the lecture.\n"She was excellent, and it was different from what I expected," Elzey said, "but Peggy Klaus really gets in your head"