What to do with your hands when you’re presenting! (Video)
Top tips from presentation expert Steve Bavister, who is a trainer with communication skills company Speak First. Just what do you do with your hands when you’re giving a presentation? Steve demonstrates the best (and worst!) options for holding your hands and gesturing, so that you look confident and professional and get your message across clearly.
Body Language: Critical Do’s and Don’ts for Leaders (Video)
Anne Warfield, Impression Management Professionals, talks about the critical do’s and don’ts of communicating, especially when there are defining moments in life-times where we have to show our true color and the impact can make or break us.
Job Interviews: Gaining the Edge with Small Talk Skills (Debra Fine’s Tips)
This article is written by Debra Fine for the readers of Communication Weekly. Visit Fine’s website - www.DebraFine.com.
Candidates are selected for employment for the same 2 reasons no matter what the opportunity. One reason: a problem needs to be solved; a job needs to be filled. The other reason, equally important, is the candidate is the source of good feelings. Two candidates with comparable academic credentials and professional ability will be compared based on the comfort level developed with the interviewer(s). If the decision maker feels ill at ease or uncomfortable during the interview or lunch meeting, walking down the hall or waiting for others to make their way to join the interview, he or she will not choose that candidate. Instead, the candidate that creates those “good feelings” is selected. Conversation and rapport building skills found in Debra Fine’s book The Fine Art of Small Talk are useful in providing that intangible “good feeling” that decision makers are looking for. Candidates can help decision makers feel good during the interview process with the following tips from Debra’s book:
- Use small talk as a picture frame around business conversations. Begin and end with small talk before and after the interview.
- Greet people warmly, give eye contact and smile. Be the first to say hello. Be careful, you might be viewed as a snob if you are not the first to say hello. Read more ›
Want to Improve Your Public Speaking? How about Awesome? – Patricia Fripp
This communication tip is written by Patricia Fripp. Visit Fripp’s blog www.fripp.com/blog.
As an executive speech coach and frequent presenter on “How to Go From Good to Great to Awesome” I was interested and amused by this article from Ragan.com. Ragan first came to my attention when they booked me to speak, several times at the Ragan Speechwriters Conference. Their newsletters are always amazing.
Perhaps you are familiar with my dislike of the slopping “stuff” and the overly used non specific “thing.” Perhaps I should change my speech titles? What do you think? Read on and let me know.
“Awesome” must be the most overused word in the English language.
Writes Barb Sawyers. Read on…..
So let’s stop using it as our default every time we are too lazy, busy, insecure, stupid or whatever to think of a more original or relevant word.
Let’s stop using it because we’re middle-aged business people who think it makes us look cool. It doesn’t. Read more ›
Balance for Better Communication – Pamela Jett
This article is written by Pamela Jett, CSP, Visit Pamela’s website - www.jettct.com.
Pamela Jett
The other day I was working with clients and we were discussing how when we are “out of balance” emotionally (such as being angry), spiritually (such as being burnt out), physically (such as not getting good nutrition, rest and exercise) and mentally (not learning new things regularly to enhance career success), it is very difficult to use the good communication skills that we do indeed possess.
For example, if you are tired and feeling a bit overworked or under appreciated, it might be difficult to say “no” with tact and finesse to a colleague who requests that you help them with their project. (for more on how to say no with tact and finesse, check this blog’s archives and visit www.JettCT.com for resources) Under more “balanced” circumstances, you might be able to easily access the good communication skills you posses. However, when we are “out of balance”, we are more likely to say things we regret. Below are a few quick tips to help you maintain “balance” for better communication. Read more ›
How to Handle That Dreaded Question & Answer Period (Lenny Laskowski’s Presentation Tip)
Many presentations today are followed up with a question and answer period. To some people this can be the most exciting part of the presentation. To others it can be their worst nightmare. In fact, there are some presenters who purposely avoid the question and answer period all together. Below I have provided a 5 step approach to handling questions along with some additional tips to make your next question and answer session go smoother.
1. Listen to the entire question
Listen to the entire question BEFORE you begin to answer any questions. Too many people start responding to a question before the entire question is even asked. Not waiting to hear the entire questions can result in you providing a response which had nothing to do with the question. Force yourself to LISTEN to the entire question and make sure you understand the question.
2. Pause and allow yourself time to value the question and listener. REPEAT the question out load so the entire audience can hear it. It is important that everyone “hear” the question or the answer you provide may not make sense to some of the people. By repeating the question, this will allow you some additional time to evaluate the question and formulate a response. Read more ›
Co-creating a marriage vow that precludes cheating (Kerry’s Communication Tip)
This communication tip is written by Kerrith H. (Kerry) King for the readers of Communication Weekly. Visit Kerry’s site www.comcom121.org.
The following tip is a belated engagement gift for couples who are about to tie the knot this wedding season.
This tip is about declaring up-front the kinds of behaviors/activities that are unacceptable, behaviors that will automatically trigger, with absolutely no second chance, the divorce/annulment clause of your unique marriage vow. It’s about co-creating a marriage vow that defines the boundaries about fidelity (cheating), abuse (hitting), & specific illegal activities.
It’s about consciously including a verbal fidelity agreement in your marriage vow. I say consciously because a marriage vow that does not contain a verbal/written fidelity agreement does in fact contain an implied* non-verbal agreement; it non-verbally implies that cheating will possibly be allowed/forgiven. We know this to be true based upon the results typical marriage vows produce (approx 50% end with a divorce). Read more ›
Loren Ekroth’s Three Conversation Tips
This communication tip is written by Loren Ekroth for the readers of Communication Weekly. Visit Loren’s newsletter www.conversationmatters.com.
Subscribe to Loren’s Free Newsletter.
Listening Rarely Bores Others
People don’t become bored if they’re actively engaged in an activity. There are two ways to engage people in conversation:
You can talk to them, or you can listen to them. Often listening is the better way to engage them and hold their interest rather than continuing to talk. To do this, ask good questions and listen up.
“One out of three hundred and twelve Americans is a bore… and a healthy male adult bore consumes each year one and
a half times his own weight in other people’s patience.”
–Novelist John Updike
When Changing the Subject
To change the subject of a conversation, simply ask “Do you mind if I change the subject to _____?” Almost everyone will grant this polite request, and it will spare you from appearing abrupt or controlling by making an un-announced change.
Seeking and Accessing Empathy
By asking yourself one question while talking to another person, you can often get useful information that helps you shape a more
effective message. That question is this: “If I were this person, how would I be feeling and thinking about the matter we are discussing?” This is an act of imagination, and through it you achieve empathy.
Loren Ekroth © 2013
About Loren Ekroth
Dr. Loren Ekroth is a professional speaker, educator, and writer in the field of human communication.
A former professor of communication studies, Dr. Ekroth presents seminars on conversation skills, interpersonal communication, and intercultural communication.
Internationally recognized for his expertise in conversation processes and skills, he often appears on radio shows and is quoted by major media and reprinted in business newsletters. He has published over 1,000 weekly electronic articles in his “Better Conversations” newsletter for 6,000 readers in 82 countries. Resources at www.conversationmatters.com website.
** Communication Weekly team would like to thank Loren Ekroth for his contribution.
