Communication Skills

Communication Skills

Human beings communicate through three ways

Ø                 Speaking 

Ø                 Listening.

Ø                 Writing,

Successful communication is an exchange, two people sharing insights on the same topic. Their insights might be diametrically opposed, but each expresses an opinion and listens to the response.

Many times the conversation instead of being a dialogue becomes a monologue. Only one person does all the talking and the other listens. This leads to breakdown in conversations. Good conversation like good tennis needs volleying from both sides.

So remember when you converse allow the other person to air his / her opinion. Try to understand his view if possible even if it is totally against your opinion.

How to make an effective oral presentation.

While hard work and good ideas are essential to success, your ability to express those ideas and get others to join you is just as important. Much of this is on one or in small groups but periodically you will be involved in more formal and public speaking in front of larger numbers. If this thought makes you nervous you are not alone. Many speakers lack the skills and confidence to make effective presentations. The fear of public speaking is the second largest fear in the world.

                                         Tips to improve your presentation:-

1)          Formulate a strategy for the specific audience:- Be clear about the purpose of your communication. Knowing the audience will be a critical determinant in what information is presented. Be concrete, specific, practical and relevant. Clarify your objectives-Is it to motivate?.. Inform?… persuade?…. Teach? Each calls for a different approach.

2)          Write the presentation in rough, never read from a script. You should know most of what you want to say, if you don’t then you should not be giving the talk! Prepare cue cards which have key phrases and words, Don’t forget to number the cards in case you drop them.

3)          Greet the audience and tell them who you are. Then follow this formula:-

Ø     Tell the audience what you are going to tell them.

Ø     Then tell them

Ø     At the end tell them what you have told them.

4)          Keep the time allowed.

5)          Use your hands to emphasize points but don’t indulge in too much hand waving. Move around. But don’t block the projector.

6)           Look at your audience and try to make eye contact with each person. Eye contact helps to move your presentation from “speech” to “conversation” involving everyone in the audience. Don’t lock your gaze with one person. That may be intimidating.

7)          Avoid too much information on the slides. Just display the points then elaborate them.

Some presenters fill slides with so much detail that the audience just reads the slides ignoring the presenters. By keeping the slides lean, you convey the essentials with greater emphasis and you force the audience to turn to you for detail. Use color on slides but avoid orange and yellow which do not show well when projected.

8)          Speakers, who pound the podium, jingle change in their pockets or do other things focus attention on themselves rather than the subject.

9)          Speak clearly. Don’t shout or whisper

10)      Stage Fright:- Following are some techniques to cope with this fright:-

Ø     Your audience understands your nervousness; they will forgive any honest mistakes.

Ø     Chat with members of the audience before the presentation. You will not find them that threatening.

Ø     Practice deep breathing exercises before taking the podium.

Ø     Rehearse your presentation a few times.

11)     Use language that can move people. Churchill might never have made such a strong impact on the world had he written “Essentially my contribution includes sanguinary composition, diligence effort and commitment”. Fortunately he spoke in language that could move people “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, sweat and tears”.