Effective Communication - A Two Way Street

Effective communication involves several different aspects. Although verbal communication is the most common way that people correspond, there are many other specific characteristics involved in the interaction. Let's take listening, for instance. If someone is talking to another person, but the other person is distracted and isn't really 'hearing' what the speaker is saying, then communication is ineffective. Many people think that listening is simple, but it actually takes skill and practice in order to perfect it. No one is a born listener. A listener has to search for specific clues from a speaker. Verbal communication is often accentuated by body language, eye contact and paraphrasing and good listeners have to recognize when a speaker is using these characteristics to get their point across.

Sometimes body language says a lot more than words do when it comes to verbal communication. A person may claim to be listening to what someone is saying to them, but if the listener is bored or distracted while the other person is talking to them, then it will be quite obvious. The listener may appear to stare into space, not comment at appropriate times or may not even comment at all. However, being a good listener does not always involve commenting on what the speaker is saying. Sometimes it's not necessary for an individual to utter a single word in order to be considered an avid listener. In certain situations during verbal communication, the person speaking may be satisfied with the eye contact, head shakes, murmurs or the facial expressions of the listener. Body language is an essential part of communication and often determines the effectiveness of the verbal interaction.

Another extremely important aspect of verbal communication is eye contact. Eye contact is the perfect way to get someone's attention without using verbal communication. It's subtle yet effective. It doesn't matter if the people involved in the conversation are complete strangers, if the communication is to be effective; eye contact is a necessary part of the conversation. Without eye contact, two people can't connect on an emotional level, which makes the interaction useless. For example, how would a psychiatric patient feel if the psychiatrist never looked at them?

Paraphrasing is also essential during verbal communication. Paraphrasing is repeating what a person has just stated, although using a summarized version. The use of paraphrasing allows the speaker to accentuate specific and highly important portions of a conversation. It is often used to clarify direction or confirm agreement among all of the parties communicating. Paraphrasing is very useful to a listener, as well, because it allows the listener to key into specifically what the speaker believes are the most important portions of the topic they are discussing.

Communicating one's feelings is as much a learned skill as being a good listener. Some people have a difficult time properly expressing their feelings, which could adversely affect the verbal communication process by creating miscommunication and misunderstanding. No one is a mind reader. If a person only offers a listener partial information then there will undoubtedly be trouble at the end of the communication road.

There are two critical aspects to effective communication; properly expressing one's feeling to avoid misunderstandings and effective listening. If either of these keys to successful communication is missing, then the interaction won't go smoothly and there will be problems. Make sure that you are both a good listener and a good communicator.

Michael Jeffreys is the president of Seminars on DVD, a premiere provider of video based training for businesses and individuals, featuring renowned experts and speakers. Learn more at: http://www.SeminarsOnDVD.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Jeffreys

Top 7 Tips to Communicate Calmly

I have had an exciting morning today. I was filming an upcoming television show here in Toronto. The show is called "Save Us From Our House" and is aired on the W Network. It is a half-hour show where they try to help a family with two key problems; one is their current living conditions and the other is effective communication. As my brother would tell you, I can't fix or build things very well (my brother can fix anything from a toaster to a helicopter...) so you know I was not there to repair the home. I was there to do what I do best - help people communicate better.

Time was limited. I usually have a chance to give new clients a full hour assessment and structure a coaching program where we meet once or twice a week, for a series of six to twelve weeks. Today however, things were different. I had only twenty minutes to talk to this wonderful family and then dish out some quick and pertinent advice to assist their communication improvement. Then, it was "Action" and the rest of my advice would have to be given on the fly, while the family went shopping and while the cameras were rolling. It was an enjoyable experience and I believe that even in a short time the family learned a lot, especially since they will have the benefit of watching the show over and over again, and hear me coaching them on how to improve their 3 Vs of communication.

I do not know yet when this episode will air, as they are still filming. It may be quite a while before it hits the air, so for now I would like to give you all the same top 7 tips for communicating calmly that I gave the family. By the way, I would like to take this time to say hello to that wonderful family: Wilson, Belisa, Kaitlin and Julian - you all did a great job today, and I know you love each other very much. Good luck with your new house, whenever they are finished renovating it. I can't wait to see it on T.V.!

Okay, here are the Top 7 Tips to communicating calmly:

1 - Look at the person you are talking to. Square your body and hips. Make eye contact. Relax your face muscles and then relax all of your muscles. Smile (5%) as you listen.

2 - Use open body language. Lean in slightly; do not cross your arms, legs or ankles (no matter how comfortable it is) and try to keep your shoulders relaxed. That not only helps you relax and relieve tension, but it also encourages the other person(s) to adopt the same body language. Do not use fists, interlocked fingers or other close-handed gestures. Use open-palmed ones instead. Do not point at others.

3 - Breathe. Breathe before, during and after your difficult or heated discussion. If necessary take a few seconds or a minute before responding to collect your thoughts. Count to ten if you need to.

4 - Control your pace. It is not a race right? Say a few words or a phrase, then take a quick pause, then continue with a few more words or the next phrase. Think how Barack Obama speaks; calm, cool and in control. It is strong but not aggressive.

5 - Use positive language. Instead of saying the first thing in your head, ask yourself internally if there is a softer, less aggressive way to say what you want to say. Try not to blame or accuse others. Instead of pointing the finger, just speak about your own feelings and expectations first. Ask questions to clarify or give the person a chance to explain themselves. Staying positive helps keeps things from getting personal and out of control. It is very difficult to have a healthy conversation or persuade someone to do what you want when they feel under attack. They will resist everything you say, regardless of any logic presented.

6 - Do not shout. Ever. If you feel the need to talk louder than the other person, that means you are not listening. Be quiet and listen first before you make your points. Use medium volume in your speaking. If someone shouts at you do not engage in conversation until they are calmed down. Shouting is simply not necessary to convey your points.

7 - Do not argue. It is fine to state what you want or need or feel, but it is not okay to argue and treat a conversation like a competition. Competitions are for sports and games with rules. If you think that you must 'win' the argument that means you are forcing the other person to 'lose'. How does it feel when you lose at something? Not so good right? So do not make another person feel that way, especially a friend or family member. Do you really want them to feel like a 'loser'?

Enjoy the tips and I will let you know when the episode airs. However, if you feel that you could benefit from effective communication training, especially if you are interested in building more confident communications in your professional life, then please check out the next Toronto communication workshop, running November 8th. We will be in a downtown hotel, have catered lunch, and everyone will get a free coaching session as well as a discount off any future workshop or coaching program. It is a great time to invest in your future success!

Any questions about the workshop, or anything else, please do not hesitate to ask.

P.S. I think I should also let you know that I have been more active with my blog lately, and you may find some great communication tips and resources there. I have recently posted things on leadership, NLP, Entrepreneurialism, ESL resources, and a free ebook called Communication Mosaic.

Thank you.

All the best!

Ric Phillips
Communication Coach & Trainer
3V Communications - Communication Skills for Success!
http://www.CommunicationCoach.ca

Blog: http://www.communication-coach.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ric_Phillips

Ric Phillips - EzineArticles Expert Author

Achieve a Smooth Presentation Style - 5 Techniques For Effective Presenters

In any good presentation you should be prepared to move from one of your main presentation points to another smoothly and neatly. And there's the challenge. Your audience doesn't have the benefit of headings, sub-headings or paragraphs to guide them. Their understanding of your presentation has to be guided by you with clear organization and speech. Without well-delivered transitions from one part of your speech to another, your presentation will appear jumpy at best, or disorganized at worst. To help you, there are five simple techniques that you can use.

1. Pauses. These are the fundamental punctuation marks of your presentation. Short pauses, medium pauses and long pauses equate to commas, periods (full stops), and paragraphs. When you use them well your audience understands the transition from one point to another.
2. Emphasis. When you emphasize a word or a sentence you signal a transition from one part of your presentation to another; from one point to its successor.
3. Lists. A listing of a few points can be a most effective way to move from one section of your presentation to another. You can outline the list briefly and then you can address each of the list points in turn. Each section is neatly partitioned by its place in the list. Do remember to take care, though, with PowerPoint bullet lists -- they should not be used too liberally.
4. Repetition. When you repeat a word or a sentence you add emphasis to its position in your speech. You signal its importance for your audience and you manage the progression from one point to the other.
5. Questions. You should try to use a rhetorical question to mark a transition in your presentation. You might begin your presentation with a brief outline of your subject or its context. And you might then follow with a rhetorical question or questions that get to the critical substance that you want to address. Your answers to your own questions add up to the main points of your presentation.

When you focus on the key transition from one section of your presentation to the next you can achieve a smooth delivery style. Your audience will appreciate the effort that you take in marking out the important points, signposting your argument and signaling the key stages.

Andrew Ivey is the Principal Trainer at Time to Market. His company runs presentation and public speaking skills training courses throughout the UK. Using a network of over 40 training centres the company supports half-day and full-day training courses and seminars for executive presenters of all abilities. You can get more information and presentation skills tips by signing up for their regular newsletter, "Telling it Straight."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Ivey

Simple Techniques to Make Your Powerpoint Presentations Successful

A slide is always seen and experienced as a third entity. Slides do not communicate by themselves but only until presenter directs our attention to them and their content. Slides illustrate they do not lead. Avoid using them as anchors and crutches. Often I see presenters upstaged or intimidated by their slides: either by the sheer number of them (which is often a mistake) or by simply giving the slides to much power.

Always make sure you direct attention to the slides you are showing. Do not let the audience wander. Stay in command of the slides you show and of course the rhythm at which you show them. For instance always remember that slides will compete with you because they are a very strong visual focus. Finish making your point then click to the next slide.

Limit the number of words on each screen. Less is always better. My rule of thumb: if you can say it instead of having the slide show it, it's always better for the presenter. It builds your credibility. Remember slides don't speak by themselves. They might be very obvious and graphic but interpretation is the key here. Linguistically speaking, there are according to language experts close to three hundred possible interpretations for every sentence spoken. Do the math.

Use key phrases and include only essential information on your slides to give you time to be the expert on the subject and comment on each key point.

When you introduce a slide always give your audience three to five seconds minimum to "land" on slide and "settle" into it. Why-Because they'll do it anyway! It again shows credibility and demonstrates your understanding of human nature. It also creates a relaxed rhythm.

When you are done commenting on a slide, redirect attention towards you. Whether you are speaking from a distance and going between slide and audience, always remember to remain the "conductor" of the event.

The speaker is the star of the show not the screens. Do not speak to your slides. Many presenters face the direction of the screen rather than their audience. It's a bit of a juggling act at first but remember that you are always 10 times more important than your slides. Your slides are powerless without you but you are not powerless without them.

Avoid the use of software generated transitions such as automatic fading effects or text effects. These features though attractive, are distracting and can quickly steal the show away from you. Special effects and all the bells and whistles of modern technology, including sound effects, could hurt your credibility. On the other hand humor and clever montages are excellent credibility builders. We're cinematically oriented and very sophisticated on average so when edited cleverly, your presentations can become unforgettable.

Limit the number of slides and limit the content of each slide. If you don't it will not only put people to sleep but could potentially hurt your credibility. Remember less and more! In addition avoid commenting on your slides. They are only there to remind you and the audience of the key points. Avoid having slides be narrative. You are the narrator. It's a very common mistake.

Be technically proficient. Get a handle on your PowerPoint clicking and computer handling OR have someone do it for you. It's kind of silly to have a great presentation but having to apologize for poor technique. Practice moving forward and backward within your presentations. Audiences often need to see the previous screen again and so on. Try to show some relaxed skills in that area.

Make sure your slides are readable from all the way in the back. Text and graphics should be large enough to read comfortably, but not so large as to upstage everything.

In the event of technical difficulties, be prepared to read of your notes and printed screens. You never know when something might go wrong.

Eric Stone is the founder, CEO-President of Speakers & Artists International, Inc., a California corporation delivering advanced courses and training programs in the arenas of public speaking, communication, empowerment and self-expression.

He's also the founder of Hollywood Actors Studio, in Beverly Hills, CA http://www.actingconnection.com where he has been developing talent and training professional actors for the film industry, directing and lecturing for the past eighteen years. Eric Stone is also a Producer, a Creative Director, and a Professional Stage, Film, Television, and Voice Actor with major national and international credits to his name. Eric is a Published Author and Internationally acclaimed award-winning artist http://www.philippebenichou.com represented in six countries around the world.

Eric is always looking for opportunities to share his passion for self-expression and growth & development. He is currently a national speaker for Vistage International, the largest CEO membership organization in the world. Current clients include Kaiser Permanente, the Tiger Woods Foundation, LA Clippers, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Walt Disney Pictures.

Methodology: In this method you learn by personal discovery and experiential wisdom using a large palette of processes, techniques and distinctions to promote self awareness. The aim being to outgrow limiting self concepts. Seldom do we recognize context as the source of our experiences. Yet all the experiences of a fish are conditioned by water and its properties. This method deals with context or medium in which the contents of our lives or work occur. Medium is used here to mean the ideological environment from which we think and act (water to fish, air to bird and man to himself.) By revealing the context in which we operate, we can reorganize limiting beliefs, thoughts and actions into a new freedom to act and a self-generated personal power.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_P._Stone

Public Speaking - On Being Yourself

People with a true command of The Skills know that a large part of engaging the audience is simply being you. For some reason most people think that once you get up to speak, you've got to take on an entirely new persona. You have to be an entirely different person at the front of the room, because you're speaking to a group.

The reality is that people come to a presentation not to hear what you have to say, not to be impressed by your knowledge base. They're actually there for your humanness. They want to see and hear information delivered by a human. They're human. They know what it's like. They want to see what value you can add to information that they could just as easily obtain by getting a copy of the handout.

The more spontaneous you can be, the less "practiced" you seem, the more likely you will come across as the genuine person you are and the more impact you will have on your audience. And when you learn to forget the fact that there's 500 people out there, or 50 people, or even 5 people, because you're only ever speaking to one person at a time, well, then, what you realize is that public speaking is no different from having a conversation across a lunch table. Speaking to a group never needs to be any different from talking to your colleague on the same topic.

Do you feel uncomfortable talking one-on-one to people? Most people don't. Similarly, when you have a discussion with somebody about what's going on at work, do you prepare for it for three or four hours ahead of time? Do you go into a lunch with a co-worker with a written set of talking points, and a practiced set of word tracks, or do you just kind of let things happen?

You will become a master of The Skills only when you convince yourself that you must approach your presentation not the least prepared way, but the least practiced way. You don't want to be practiced, because it's going to flatten out your delivery. A flattened delivery has less passion, and it's passion that people come to feel and hear.

One last little bit of advice that you'll begin to notice quickly as you observe people when they speak: people with The Skills know that when all else fails, smile.

If you can't do any of the things that you've learned in your study of public speaking, if you can't do anything else right, learn to smile. People who are known as great communicators know how effective just smiling can be. People in the audience are hard-wired from birth to be receptive to a smile - and thus more receptive to your message when you do.

Think about the first thing you do when you meet a little baby. "Oh, look. Isn't she cute? Oh, look, [tickle, tickle] let me see a smile".

We conducted presentation skills training for The World Bank some time ago, and the group was comprised of people from every continent except Antarctica. Whenever we talk about the way we equate eye contact with veracity, we always preface it by saying, in Western cultures, we assign a lot of value to eye contact because we equate looking people in the eye with telling the truth. Well, a woman from Kenya told us that in many cultures in Africa, a little bit of eye contact is a good thing. Too much eye contact is a bad thing.

She explained to the group that if you avoided eye contact when talking to somebody, they didn't trust you. If you held eye contact too long, they would kill you. Evidently, the way that you ameliorate the threat from sustained eye contact is by smiling. So if you want to talk to somebody, have eye contact, but make sure that you smile. It disarms people. And when people are disarmed, they're more receptive to your message.

In our design classes we demonstrate that human brains process different forms of information differently. Speech is a form that our brains don't readily absorb. When we receive information in the form of speech or text or numbers or sequences, we don't just absorb them at face value - our brain first filters the information before it stores it or acts on it. So there's always a wall, there's always a barrier up there.

You've got to overcome that barrier. One way you can do that is smile.

J. Douglas Jefferys brings twenty-five years of corporate training experience to his role as a principal of PublicSpeakingSkills.com http://www.publicspeakingskills.com His firm changes presenters lives forever with their unique apporach to training presentation design and delivery skills. Discover how to design and deliver presentations that audiences actually listen to by visiting their website now. For a quick and entertaining video of Mr. Jefferys' unique style and approach, check out: http://publicspeakingskills.com/pages/Store-DVD-Videos.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._Douglas_Jefferys

Executive Presentation Training - The Seven Deadly PowerPoint Sins

Business executives everywhere know the power of a PowerPoint® presentation. PowerPoint® is the predominate presentation tool used in the world today. It can also be the most assured way to lose an audience's attention and kill your message.

Why? Because PowerPoint® is the most misused presentation tool used in business today.

When used correctly, PowerPoint® can enrich a presentation and make the message more memorable. The problem is most people don't use this terrific invention even remotely effectively.

With proper executive presentation training, you can avoid the common mishaps many executives make when using PowerPoint®.

Below are the top seven mistakes people make when using PowerPoint®. If you are guilty of any of these, make changes to your presentations immediately. Your reputation as a speaker will improve and your message will be more memorable.

1) Too much content on a slide. Use only a few key words or phrases on each slide. Think 4 X 4: No more than four words per line, no more than 4 lines per slide.

2) All words, no images. Use fewer words and more images. Use an interesting picture or a key word on a slide to launch your talk about each topic or message you want to deliver.

3) Too many slides. Do not use a slide for every point you want to make. The main focus should be on you, not the slides.

4) Wild and crazy animations. Swooshing sounds and flying words are distracting to the audience and weaken your presentation.

5) Using the slide presentation as the handout. Sorry, but that is the lazy way out. Prepare separate handouts with as much detail as you want. Use simple PowerPoint® slides to enhance your oral message, not serve as the leave-behind.

6) Reading from the slides. Don't turn your back to your audience and read the slides. Instead, maintain eye contact with your audience while delivering your key points in a conversational tone.

7) The Star Wars "laser saber" show. Leave the laser pointer home. The piercing red beam probably won't really take an aircraft down, but it will definitely kill your audience's attention.

Carmie McCook, the president of Carmie McCook & Associates, is a nationally recognized expert on effective communication skills, specializing in media interview, public speaking, presentation, crisis communications, and executive media training

For more information, visit http://www.carmie.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_M_Patterson

Basic Presentation Skills

Presentation is a communication process of transmitting the message from the presenter to the audience. This message can vary in length and complexity. Different presentation aids can be used e.g. flip chart, PowerPoint presentation with the video beamer, whiteboard with erasable pens, laser pointers, etc. Presentation can be done in different circumstances in a more or less formal way.

In fact, everybody is in the position to be a presenter at some point. At school, at the university, during the business presentation or even you can be a professional presenter. Now we come to common problem for most of the people. This problem is "Stage Fright" combined with lack of technical skills of presenting.

Stage fright can be really terrifying to some people. Many people have the fear of the audience, lights of the stage, they are afraid what will be if someone ask them difficult question. This is causing nervousness, sweating, accelerated heartbeat, dizziness or even panic attacks.

On the other hand, presenting skills are technical aspect. Presentation skills are a broad area. It takes some time to develop this skill, for some people more, for the other less time, depends of a talent. Since all of us can be in situation to be presenters, to be in the center of the audience, it is useful to learn basic skills of presenting.

Anybody can prepare at least a decent presentation. Presentation takes some time and effort for preparation. During preparation try to follow basic rules:

· You need to have a minimum of expertise in the area of presentation. This means that you cannot just learn your lines that you will say during the every slide, but you also need to be prepared to answer to potential questions from the audience. Simply, you need to have at least the basic knowledge on the subject presented.

· Make concept for your presentation ( intro, main part, conclusion ). Your presentation needs to have meaningful flow. It should have a theme, the message and learning for your audience. Set up learning goals for your audience and check the results at the end. Longer presentation should have detailed agenda developed.

· Use aids ( power point or flip chart ), but remember that you are still one who is presenting, not the slides. Do not exaggerate with the presentation aids. They should assist you, instead you assist to them.

· Use not more 3-4 lines of text on presentation slides, with maybe 1 photo. If you put too many details, nobody will read it. Average audience is not reading the content of the slide, in case that there are too many details on it. Slides should be clear in content, visible for everybody in your audience, with graphic and color that will not distract audience, or make them difficult to read. If you are not skillful with graphic and colors, use predefined templates.

· Exercise your presentation, so that you get a feeling about it. Check all slides before presentation. Check the video beamer, cables, remote control, room lights and other technicalities before beginning of presentation. Check the colors and readability, since video beamer can present colors in different way than your computer screen. Distorted colors can make reading difficult or impossible.

· Assess the time needed for you presentation and check the timing during your rehearsals. If your presentation is longer, divide it in sections ( e.g. 45 min ) with breaks ( e.g. 10 min ). Time management is critical during the presentation, since audience might start to feel bored if presentation is too long. You can even not finish your presentation, if it takes too long time.

· Try to move around during your presentation. Use your body language. If you just stand still in one place, you will become invisible soon to you audience and their eyes and mind might start to wander around. By moving your self and using your body language, in accordance the dynamic of the subject presented, you are keeping the audience alerted.

· Use examples for your statements. That can be your experience or something you read. If you are using somebody's examples, quote source of information. You can even say a short story or saying, if you find it suitable for supporting your presentation.

· Use humor in your presentation. This can be planned or spontaneous, but within limits that will not change normal flow of presentation.

· Ask questions to the audience. Ask for volunteers, or pick someone to answer. This will help you to keep the audience alert. They will pay more attention to your presentation, since they know that you might ask them later on. Asking questions will make your presentation more interactive, more interesting to the audience and easier for you, since you will animate people to participate.

· Do not say something like "Sorry about my presentation" or "I am nervous". I remember some of my friends that used to say something like that during the presentation. I found that to be wrong, since their presentations were actually good and I wouldn't ever guess that they are nervous or unprepared, if they didn't say something like that. If you state that you apologize because you are not a good presenter, you are ruining your credibility before you even started. Even if you are a bit nervous there is no reason to say that.

Actually, everybody, even the most experienced presenters, have some "stage fright". It is normal. But as soon as the presentation starts, you will be released, since you will involve your energy into the presentation.

I am not "born presenter", since I am an introvert person, but I learned some basic presenting skills and I am using them during occasional business presentation.

Finally, you are born without knowledge of speaking any language, without knowledge of mathematics, without knowledge of driving the bike or a car. But you learned that and adopted these knowledge and skills as your portfolio. Why wouldn't you make Presentation Skills to be part of your personal competences?

Laurus Nobilis has 11 years of experience in FMCG business. In 2007 he has started the http://www.biz-development.com web site dedicated to development of managerial skills. He also runs http://www.my-introspective.com a Personal Exploration and Development Guide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurus_Nobilis

10 Tips For Making an Emotional Connection During Communication

Your ability to make an emotional connection during communication, either with a group or individual, will have a direct impact on your effectiveness to communicate and influence your listeners. Making an emotional connection will also build trust into the speaker-listener relationship. Listed below are 10 tips to help communicators make an emotional connection with their listeners.

1) Eye Communication: The eyes are the windows to the soul we are told. In other words, we can see the intention or the heart of the individual through their eyes. It is very easy to speak in a matter of fact way during a speech and if you think that listeners don't pick up on this you'd only kidding yourself. Communicators must have the right eyes for the right task. Just as you would want to have a powerful aura of intent when competing in sports, you want to have a trusting, patient and attentive eyes coming through to your students during a seminar. Make eye contact, maintain eye contact and use the language of eye contact to increase your effectiveness as a communicator.

2) Gestures: This is another area of non-verbal communication that others will pick up on and you should pay particularly close attention. Ask yourself "what are my gestures actually communicating to the listeners?" If your message is oriented around power, are your hand movements powerful? If the message is fluidity and grace, do your hand movements reflect this? Gestures will increase your productivity to get your message across if you pay attention to, and use the gestures as a learning tool.

3) Movement and Posture: Where gestures are the specifics, movement and posture is a general form of non-verbal communication. Do you look interested or bored? Are you standing defensive posture with your arms crossed? Are you leaning on the podium? Movement and posture becomes incredibly important, when others are looking for feedback. You need to stand as if you are alert, paying attention and interested in what they have to say and contribute. You need to move as if you are motivated, enthusiastic and involved. If there is dialog you don't want to give participants non-verbal signals that they are unimportant and what they have to say and contribute has no value.

4) Having a sense of Humor: Some communicators think that they need to project a serious posture with others at all the times. There are times when a serious attitude is essential, however, people seek a relationship with their communicators and this relationship needs to include moments of humor as well as serious business. If your message is a serious one; lighten things up with a humorous story perhaps, this will drop their resistance a bit and then lead into the serious matters. There are a lot of sources of daily humor that you can share with your listeners and a humorous approach will help you develop a relationship with them that has more depth.

5) Clear Language Communication: As tempting as it may be to use slang or your own favorite phrases and words, make sure that your listeners understand what they mean. Avoid using words, technical jargon or phrases until you clarify with your listeners exactly what they mean. It is very easy to send completely different messages to different people when you use words that are not understandable and their meanings are not known.

6) Appearance: Periodically take some time to evaluate what message you are sending to your listeners based on your neatness, hygiene and organization. How organized do you appear to be? What does your clothing look like? Are your hands clean? What do you smell like, after-shave or perfume, or something else? Many individuals place high value on the impressions that you give them that are based on visual and sensory perceptions only.

7) Voice and Vocal Variety: I think that we have all had to endure sitting through lectures in college or business where the speaker spoke in such a monotone and uninteresting manner that our greatest challenge was just to stay awake. Learn something from this experience. Vary your voice intensity and range throughout your address. If it's a powerful point in the lesson then verbalize the point in a powerful manner. A dangerous point in the message can be conveyed by the dangerous tone of your voice. If you are purposeful to synchronize your voice range and intensity with the content of your message you can add an effective element of depth to your communication.

8) Feedback: When you are involved in a seminar for example, make time for various opportunities where you will ask the listeners questions so that they can give you feedback. This will get people involved, give them a sense of contributing and will give you an opportunity to measure whether they understand the main points of your message or not. Sometimes individuals just need to talk it out to produce the final mental organization they need to learn or understand. Listener feedback will add a dimension of clarity and effectiveness if you utilize it properly.

9) Use Age Specific Language: When engaged in speaking to adults, you can use the language that most adults will understand, but when speaking with kids, don't use complicated adult phrases they won't understand. When speaking with younger listeners simplify the language so that they can relate to your message from their own experience and age level. This will take some practice at first, but if you persist in adjusting your language to the age group of the listener; eventually it will become a natural part of your communication abilities.

10) Be Natural: This is probably the most difficult for speakers to achieve in the beginning. There's a lot to remember and a lot to do when giving a speech or conducting a seminar. Stay focused, breathe slowly and remain relaxed. Remember; as you gain more experience you will become a more fluid and dynamic communicator developing you own natural and personable communication style which makes an emotional connection with your listeners.

Bill Whitmire is a freelance writer living in Portland, Maine and can be contacted: billwhitmire@live.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Whitmire

Tips For Making Effective Presentations

Most executives at some point in their careers will have to make a PowerPoint presentation. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, I've had the opportunity to see numerous presentations both good and bad in addition to the many that I've done myself. Based on these experiences, I recommend the following for anyone interested in public speaking:

Know your audience prior to giving your talk. People coming to hear presentations want to know what value will this talk provide them. Understanding your group will help accomplish this task. Provide examples or cases relevant to your audience to make the topics easier for your listeners to grasp.

Visit the room before the event. Knowing the environment builds confidence. Visiting the room before the talk also helps prevent problems related to technology malfunctions, etc.

Smile during the talk. See a nice smile and you'll see people become engaged. It's inviting, yet many people seem to have trouble smiling when getting in front of groups.

Use eye contact and avoid reading off of your PowerPoint slides. Eye contact makes people feel like you're speaking directly with them and engages the audience. Start with the left side of the room, make eye contact for a few seconds, then move your eyes to the middle of the room, repeat the process, and then work the right side of the room. Do this throughout the presentation.

Speak slowly and clearly. Prior to speaking, practice in front of a mirror and tape yourself to hear how you're coming across. Have others critique you in a dress rehearsal presentation to make sure you're coming across the way you want. Get a good grade in front of your peers and you're on your way to a successful presentation when it's time to go live.

Provide an agenda. People like getting an overview before getting into the details and providing an agenda accomplishes this. It is like serving an appetizer before the main course.

Keep to your allotted time. It is rude to go over or under your scheduled time. If you're supposed to present for 90 minutes, keep it to 90 minutes.

Use graphics to enhance your slides. Pictures, slides, and charts can all be effective tools to get your points across. Make sure you cite your sources properly. Tools including Flickr and Slideshare can be helpful. Both sites allow free access to pictures and power point slides used by others provided you credit the source.

Another effective tool that can be used to enhance presentations is humor. Making people laugh eases anxiety for speakers and listeners. Video and music are also effective tools that can be used to engage your group as is asking questions to promote discussion and dialog among the attendees.

John P. Kreiss

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Kreiss

John Kreiss - EzineArticles Expert Author

Top 7 Ways to Beat Presentation Nerves

Whether you've done it a 100 times or this is your first presentation, standing up in front of a group and delivering a quality presentation is difficult. Their eyes seem to burn through you, the silence gets heavy and your confidence can dip. So how can you ensure you're as prepared as possible to fight through these challenges? This article will give you a few key pointers.

1. Practise, Practise, Practise, There is no substitute for this, by the time you present you should neither need nor use notes. Knowing your presentation inside out will allow you to stop worrying about content and concentrate on your audience. You may feel silly but practise in front of friends, partners or even the mirror. Why not record your voice and listen back?

2. Use an Ice Breaker, Ice Breakers are great if used correctly, they can relax your audience but more importantly relax you. Pick an ice breaker appropriate to the audience your presenting to, asking people to introduce themselves and 'tell an unusual fact' may work with a training group but would be inappropriate in a sales presentation.

3. Set up Early then Relax, Take your time setting up, there's no need to rush around raising your adrenaline. Plan ahead - set up early so that you have time to relax before your audience arrives. Have all of your handouts prepared, test any equipment then if possible leave the room and clear your mind, have a coffee or go outside for some fresh air.

4. Start Strong, Whether we like it or not we all form an opinion of someone within the first 5 minutes of meeting them, the same will be true of your audience. How you start will have the greatest impact on your audience's opinion of you. Negative body language and glazed eyes will follow a weak start. Make sure you grab their attention from the outset, raise your voice, start with an exercise; whatever it takes to create that initial impact.

5. Make Eye Contact, Eye contact will keep your audience alert, strengthen your presentation and allow you to engage the audience more thoroughly which in turn will help you to relax yourself. Be careful not to eyeball anyone in particular, you don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

6. Address People by their Names, Nothing grabs someone's attention more than hearing their name. If possible refer to your audience by name it will help you feel in control, but don't over do it or you'll sound like a bad salesman!

7. Fail to Prepare and you Prepare to Fail, We've all heard the saying but lets be honest, its true! You can't stumble through a presentation with next to no preparation and expect a good result! If you take nothing else from this list of tips then let it be this, prepare thoroughly! It does wonders for those nerves.

Written by Kris Davies - Marketing Manager

Ecom Learning Solutions Ltd

For information and courses on delivering professional presentations please visit our website: http://www.ecomlearning.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kris_Davies

Presenting 202 - Fielding Disruptive Questions During Sales Presentations

Unless you are an instructor or have complete control over your audience during a presentation, then you are likely going to get disruptive questions sometime during a presentation. If you are giving a sales presentation to the principal decision makers then you cannot ignore them, you must answer their question quickly and in a concise fashion, and you know that trying to weasel your way out of it with a discussion answer is not going to cut it.

Worse, if you try to BS your way through it you inevitably will look like a "big phoney" and maybe you are but that is not the point here. To top it off, you will have broken the tempo of your presentation, and your pace and you are liable to over run your allotted time, lose your credibility and never get back to your perfectly practiced presentation. It happens and anyone who has ever given such presentation knows this.

So, what do you do? Well, it is simple really; you practice disruptive questions just like you would any perfect presentation. You practice answering questions shot from the hip and without missing a beat, continue with your presentation. Try answering like this:

"Yes, our product solution does address that as you will see in a minute and this is one of the fundamental strong points of our strategy here. . .Now as you can see. . ."

You must learn how to move from disruption and chaos during the presentation and use this as an opportunity or tool to create excitement, anticipation or suspense. Please consider this potential problem in your next perfect and precise presentation.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

7 Tips For Great Powerpoint Presentations

Power Point presentation skills are a must have requirement for most Sales managers in
Today's selling environment.

While actual body language and voice tone will create the greatest impact. It can all be lost if the wrong things happen with your Power Point presentation.

Here are 7 practical tips to consider when putting together your presentation

1. Plan ahead

Who is the audience and what your outcome is. The local scouts compared to a key group of buyers need different presentations.

2. To many Words

As the saying goes to many cooks spoil the broth. Well to many words on a slide switches off the audience. It has no impact and often confuses people. Remember paragraphs where invented for a reason

3. Spell Check

Yes I know it is obvious. Just make sure you do it. If possible for major presentations get someone else to give it the once over as well.

4. No more than 7 bullet points

The brain cannot remember more than this in one go. Strange yet true. It's the way our conscious mind works. Trust me its true. Bullet points are a great idea. Ideally no more than 4 or 5 per slide if you really want to have impact

5. Color Schemes

Think of the color schemes you use. Though boring white backgrounds are best.
With black writing.

6. Two many slides

I know when it's your favourite subject you want to tell people everything. When you want to make a major point or sell something. Less is more. Studies have shown that one slide per 4-5 minutes presenting will give the best impact and memorability.

7. Flying in and Out and all that jazz

Power Point as the name suggests is powerful. You don't have to use all the builds, animations, sounds and diagrams. Think about your audience and what works best.

These attributes should enhance from your message rather than detract. It does not mean don't use anything. Just don't have your audience on a knife edge waiting for the next explosion to occur on screen. It's ok if it's a presentation for a friend's party. Not if it's the presentation to your senior management team.

Denise Oyston is an industry thought leader for sales managers. Check out her blog at http://www.ManagingSalesPeople.com With over 25 years experience in sales and three national awards to her credit she is passionate about helping sales managers succeed in the new business economy. For practical help and advice sign up for her free E course at http://www.NewManagerSecrets.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denise_Oyston

Presenting a Potential Profitable Productivity Project

One of the hardest things to do is to convince a group or a board of an organization that you can increase their productivity by streamlining their organization. One of the reasons this is so difficult to do is because many of the leaders of the group pride themselves on their organizational ability and what they have created.

You as an outsider are trying to convince them that you have a profitable product, strategy or plan that can help them save money in their organization and improve their productivity. On one hand you are telling them you can help them and then on the other hand they see it as if you are telling them that they are not very good at what they do, even incompetent for not doing it sooner.

This is why many of them feel upset and this is where presenters get into the problematic situation of "not invented here." If you give a good presentation you will have charts and graphs showing how your productivity will increase the profitability or the productivity of their organization.

Still, we have all heard that quote; "Figures lie and liars figure." And you must realize that it is hard for anyone to accept that someone outside of the organization that doesn't know the inner workings of the company or group can come in and streamline much of anything because they just don't understand, they can't possibly or so they think.

Now as a presenter you probably realize that you can actually help them increase their productivity and you also know that you've done it for countless organizations before them. This is why the most important thing you can do is concentrate on your past successes and explain to the group how you achieve these incremental increases in productivity.

Any wise board of any organization is interested in results, all you have to do is prove that it works and with your strong track record you will win. Please think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Business Presentation - Dress Rehearsal Preparation

A few days before a play or musical opens, the entire cast and crew conduct a dress rehearsal. They do a complete run-through of the script on stage, dressed in their costumers, with the full scenery and lighting in place and the pit orchestra playing. The purpose of the dress rehearsal is to make sure everything goes smoothly on opening night.

The dress rehearsal is a great idea to borrow when you have to give a presentation. If you haven't presented in a while (or ever) or you've never presented to this particular audience (for example, the budget committee) or in that space (for example, the Boardroom), a dress rehearsal can make the difference between success and failure. Even if you don't get in costume or practice in the actual space, the point is to prepare for all aspects of the environment so nothing trips up your presentation.

Here are some things for you to think about in the dress rehearsal for your presentation:

ROOM LAYOUT

Where will you present? The room should be arranged so you can see everyone easily and so you won't trip over any computer cables or have to cross frequently in front of the projector lamp.

ROOM ENVIRONMENT

How are the lights and heating/cooling system controlled? If you're using a projector and screen, does the lighting allow the audience to see the screen and also have enough light to stay awake? What is going on in the room next door or outside the window? If you have to compete with a jackhammer, frequent sirens or cute kids on the playground outside the window, you should be prepared for it.

COMPUTER (if applicable)

How will you advance the slides? If you will be standing to deliver your presentation, I recommend using a remote control (inexpensive and easily available at office supply or electronics stores) so you are not tied to your computer.

Do you have a long-enough power cable or enough battery power? Have you disabled your computer's automatic updates so your computer is not automatically shut down and restarted during the presentation? (This actually happened to me a few minutes before I began a training session on my computer).

WHAT TO WEAR

Wear something comfortable AND powerful. To take an extreme example, pajamas are comfortable but they are not powerful. Clothes can help you communicate the professional image that you want to convey. And your shoes must be comfortable even if you're only presenting for a few minutes. Your clothing should have nothing you have to tug at, pull at, fix, etc., that will distract you or your audience.

PERSONAL PREP

Get enough sleep the night before you have to present. Make sure you have time to eat whatever food you need to present effectively - you don't want to be overfull, but you also want to avoid a growling stomach or light-headedness.

WHAT'S IN YOUR KIT BAG?

Do you have everything you might need with you - things like cough drops, antacids, other medicines, glasses if you get something in your contacts, etc? This is the time to think like a Boy Scout and be prepared. If you're speaking in front of the entire department, including management, at an offsite retreat, wouldn't you prefer to have your glasses with you in case you lost your left contact?

If you're not in your regular office building, who is your onsite go-to person in case you need something? When I was stung by a wasp for the first time in my life shortly before I had to present a workshop, I needed my on-site contact to get me medical attention quickly to ensure I wasn't having an allergic reaction (she was great and no, I didn't have a reaction).

Yes, thinking about these environmental factors and preparing for them takes time. But like a dress rehearsal, it's time well spent. As a result, you'll be comfortable enough with your environment so you can avoid preventable glitches and deliver your presentation effectively - and handle any unexpected obstacles with ease.

Copyright (c) 2008 Gilda Bonanno LLC You may reprint this entire article and you must include the copyright info and the following statement "Gilda Bonanno is a speaker, trainer and coach who helps people from all walks of life improve their communication and presentation skills. http://www.gildabonanno.com

Subscribe to Gilda's free twice-monthly e-newsletter at http://gildabonanno.com/newsletter.aspx to get short, powerful articles delivered directly to your inbox! These articles contain practical tips you can use immediately to improve your communication and presentation skills. Subscribe now and you'll receive a FREE Special Report, "Six Mistakes to Avoid in Public Speaking, So Your Presentation Sparkles."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gilda_Bonanno

Making Your Metrics PowerPoint Presentation Work

Metrics are essential management tools designed to provide specific measures of effectiveness of company programs and activities relative to stated goals, objectives, and plans. They describe what needs to be done, how things should be done, and who should be doing such courses of action. The answers to these questions determine the programs, activities, strategies, resources, as well as expected outputs that are specific and measurable. There are many kinds of metrics in the arena. You can draw up metrics for almost all kinds of company programs, from personnel development programs, marketing and sales campaigns to resource management, planning processes, and many others. However, these metrics will be useless unless they are disseminated and properly explained to the concerned people. One easy way of making people understand company metrics is through the use of metrics PowerPoint.

PowerPoint presentations have many advantages over other kinds of presentations when it comes to driving a point across. Presentations can be concise and brief, yet effective and persuasive with the use of diagrams, graphs, and texts. Naturally, all these things can also be done through printed documents, but PowerPoint presentations can be manipulated more easily to highlight or stress a point. You can enlarge or focus particular parts of the presentation that will help you convey the message more effectively. In addition, there are less distractions to your audience since they do not have to look down to read printed materials in order to follow your discussion. Power point presentations are easier to digest and you can stimulate interest by adding thought-provoking images.

All these advantages are available to you when you make you metric presentation. But it must be remembered that all these conveniences are just aids, and the most important ingredient still that will hold the interest of you audience is the relevance of the contents of your presentation.

Presentation of metrics must follow an orderly pattern. If you are presenting a marketing campaign metrics, it would be best to highlight the goals of such a campaign, perhaps by placing it in the first slide in bold and big letters and accompanying it with representative images of what the accomplishment of the goals will do for the company as a whole. Next will be the objectives, which, of course, must be achievable, measurable, specific, time bound, and the like. Those objectives must have the aforementioned qualities is very important since it establishes the measures with which accomplishments can be evaluated on their effectiveness. Do not forget also what many managers often forget - the mechanisms to be used in monitoring the implementation and evaluation of results.

The planned activities envisioned to achieve the objectives follows. This is the most interesting part because now, your audience will know what their roles in the campaigns will be, with whom they will work with, what resources are needed to operationalize the campaign, and most importantly, what particular activities are to be conducted and their specific outputs.

The metrics PowerPoint presentation must be simple and straight to the point. You can make a few digressions to amuse, arouse, and sustain interest to, but nothing will hold the interest of your audience better than relevant content.

If you are interested in Metrics PowerPoint, check this web-site to learn more about KPI PowerPoint.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Miller

How to Make Presentation Folders Work For You

Presentation folders do more than just hold loose paper. It has developed into an essential accessory to all other documents. There is no limit to the various designs that can be placed on the folder. Presentation folders can be as creative as you want them to be. After all, they represent you and your company. Every industry can use presentation folders as promotional material. Everyone has something to sell to the public. Folders help you market your services.

Characteristics to consider when designing your folder:

1. The standard size of a presentation folder is 9x12. Decide if that's what you want, or if a smaller or larger folder would suit your needs better. Flaps come in various sizes and shapes as well. They can also include features such as slits for business cards or CDs depending on your needs. Business cards is a great idea for getting your name attached to the company, with instant contact name and information for your client when they open the folder.

2. What kind of image are you trying to get across? Most folders should include the company name and logo, but many include images as well as quotes or mottos for the company. Decide what colors should be on the folder. What will catch your audience's attention? Bright vibrant colors or earthy tones? The creativity can be endless.

3. What material will be included in the folder and what will it look like? To look more professional, a coordinated folder with coordinated material inside shows more organization and style. Keep it looking like one kit that goes together.

Presentation folders are made with a heavier stock paper that makes them last longer and keep your documents safer. They are unlike the folders in the office supply stores that are made of flimsy paper material.

The better your presentation folder looks, the better your presentation will be. You will catch your clients' eye immediately and the contents inside the folder will keep them hooked.

Willy Walt is a printer who specializes in printing Presentation Folders. Get your presentation folder printed today! For a limited time you can get a FREE template when you visit http://www.printpresentationfolders.com or call at 1-888-468-9258.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Willy_Walt

Changing Conflict To Dialogue

Dialogue is a different kind of conversation. It's a way of exploring and understanding information and ideas. When practiced, it draws on and uses the wisdom of everyone involved.

It is easier to create an argument than it is to create a dialogue. You do this when you have a different opinion than someone else about how to solve a problem, and you act as if there is one correct answer and your task is find it.

As long as you believe that a single correct course of action exists, you debate the issue. You try to convince others that a particular position is correct. Someone wins and someone loses. Even when you believe that this is an outmoded way to solve problems, you continue to use it, because it is comfortable and familiar (Business as usual).

Dialogue, a technology for creating understanding in groups, is different. Dialogue is inclusive instead of exclusive. Dialogue is based upon the belief that there are many ways of approaching any issue, and that no single one is correct.

The aim of Dialogue is to create a forum in which ideas can be explored, expanded, deepened and illuminated until new meaning and understanding emerge. Instead of trying to create support for your own positions, when you engage in Dialogue you listen to and question others, attempting to deepen your understanding of all of the information being presented.

The principles are simple, but not easy to put into practice. The challenge is to listen with care to each statement or question that is offered, and to respond in a way that deepens the investigation of the topic that is being explored.

You may then offer a statement of your own understanding, or ask a question to focus the exploration in a new direction.

When everyone in the group agrees to practice the Dialogue process, learning increases dramatically. However, even if you're the only one interested in changing the conversation, you can make a good start at it by following these steps.

Being clear is more important than being right.

Instead of trying to prove that your idea or position is correct, your task is to explain your beliefs carefully, so that others can understand them. As others come to understand your position, they may ask questions to clarify their understanding. Or they may also offer observations of their own that will allow you to better understand other aspects of your original ideas.

Eventually a shared understanding is developed from many contributions, and the idea comes to belong to the entire group instead of to any single member of the group.

If it is necessary to make a decision about the issue being addressed, it is done after the exploration is completed. Often such decisions emerge quickly and easily without any need to debate different positions. Everyone present has had the opportunity to be heard and acknowledged and has made a contribution to the outcome. Commitment to such decisions is high (NOT just business as usual).

Exploring different perspectives on the truth instead of arguing about which is correct can best be accomplished in a protected environment. It takes time to practice the skills of listening deeply and asking questions instead of advocating your favorite positions.

Setting aside uninterrupted time to explore issues, without expecting to achieve any particular result, and agreeing to simple rules like allowing each speaker to complete a statement without interruption, are basic conditions necessary to begin the process. Learning to say "I wonder what would happen if..." instead of "I think you should..." is an important part of establishing an environment for Dialogue.

Trained professional facilitators can help you and your group learn how to implement these procedures.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author
Communicate skillfully about sensitive subjects. Dr. Laurie Weiss has spent 35 years helping clients resolve conflict in business and personal relationships. http://www.DareToSayIt.com/blog Email feedback@laurieweiss.com

Cultivate the Art of Apologizing

A valuable negotiation skill for both business and personal worlds is the ability to adequately apologize. We all make mistakes; yet effective, sincere apologies are becoming too uncommon.

Two events in recent years focused my attention on the art of the apology: in Forrest Gump, the character played by Tom Hanks, who was quick to apologize to the Black Panthers, saying: Sorry. I messed up your party. His apologies were quick, genuine, and refreshing. Likewise, Treasury Secretary Robert Altman made headlines when he apologized to Whitewater investigators for misleading them.

Why are we so reluctant to apologize?

For one reason, we might appear weak. We want people to believe we are good; we justify; we scapegoat. In short, we often will resort to almost anything to protect our carefully crafted image.

Another reason might be the adult version of: They started it! We loudly proclaim, I am not apologizing if he (or she) is not apologizing. Or if we do initiate an apology and it is not reciprocated, we become self-righteous and dare to take the moral high ground: At least I apologized.

Here are a few tips to help you cultivate the artful apology:

I did not mean it. This is hardly an excuse; take responsibility for the outcomes of your policies or behaviors. No one told me that is also unacceptable. Be accountable: apologize and do what you can to make right the error.

What did I do? Develop self-awareness. We have all encountered people who grumble, I do not know why I am apologizing. I did not do anything wrong. Or the famous: Everyone else does it, or the begrudging: Well, if I did anything wrong, then I am sorry. Recognize when your actions or words have a hurtful, negative impact; refrain from labeling people as overly sensitive. In reality, you may be insensitive.

No big deal, just consider the source. We often disregard comments from people or organizations we find disdainful. We may not heed complaints because they are given angrily; however, people - no matter how they complain or who they are - may actually be speaking a useful truth. Avoid killing the messenger.

Finally, apologize publicly when you have erred publicly. we have all seen people weasel out of responsibility when they committed an infraction in front of a group by apologizing only to the one individual.

Undoubtedly apologies can be expensive. But consider the impact of a sincere apology: thoughtful words can communicate strength, sincerity, and trust. In these days of conflicts in post offices and schools, and violence in public buildings and traffic, we all do well when we shore up our inner fortitude and utter the few words that can almost instantly deflect rage and mitigate hard feelings: I am really sorry.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author
Pj Germain http://www.affiliate-success.org/ http://www.portal-resources.com/ http://www.affiliate-success.info

Streamline Your Communication in the Modern Day

Communication is a basic tool of success in modern days. Communication means interaction between persons, or to a crowd. Interpersonal communication efficacy is considered as a skill since the bond of relationships relies on the power of it. The focus of the communication is to makes others understand about what you want to make them know. The primary need of the communication is that it must be clear and evident. The modern days are mentioned as the communication age since an evolution in the communication modes has been taking place. The developments in the communication have helped to shrink the world indeed into a global village. However, as the communication modes evolves, the necessity to streamline the communication also increases.

While streamline your communication, you must be conscious to use words, which are sufficient to convey your idea. The communication has to be molded considering various factors such as the occasion, mode of communication, and the person to whom you are communicating. Communication includes all the means of interaction such as speaking, writing, gestures, and expression. The basic protocol, which the person has to maintain in the communication, is considered as the etiquette of communication.

Streamlining of the communication has to be done according to the context of interaction. In case of business relationships, communication is extremely important. The special feature of business communication is that it must be short, and precise to the matter. In public speaking, communication has to be interesting. You have to adopt a sort of demonstration in public speaking, to make it appreciable for the whole crowd. Context relevant examples and jokes will make it really attractive. The preference in the personal communication has to fix in accordance with the other person. However, prior preparation for communication is advisable, in common to all types of communication.

The advent to new technologies has raised the necessity of streamlining the communication. From face to face interactions and mails, now, the horizon of communication has extended to telephone, fax, mobile phone and internet. The etiquette of communication has to be readjusted, with accordance with the peculiarities of the mode of communication such as for telephone speaking manners is important and for internet quick reply is the requirement. However, in streamlining, the general requirements for communication must be retained, such as it has to be interesting and pleasing. Any how, if you want the expected response, you definitely have to be an active listener too.

To add on, remember the saying, first impression is the best impression. An impressive start and interactive gestures will certainly make your attempt remarkable, in direct communications.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author
John Khu is an experience entrepreneur and internet marketer. He specializes in communication development and personal happiness. http://www.communicationessence.com

How To Write A Living, Breathing Character Reference Letter

As a result of my time in business, I have had many excellent examples of a character reference letter. A good character reference letter is priceless to some. The people who guard well the things they say and the things they do will always get a great character reference letter.

Every experience in life, everything with which we have come in contact in life, is a chisel which has been cutting away at our life statue, molding, modifying, shaping it. We are part of all we have met. Everything we have seen, heard, felt or thought has had its hand in molding us, shaping us.
- Orison Marden

Without doubt, character is about choice. The many actions and decisions that you make daily assist in forming character. I like to call it the constant pitter patter of life. Electing to perform positive daily tasks has a tremendous effect on forming character. Your actions! Your words! Consider them! Improve them! They impact your character daily.

What I have found over the years is that those who can stand upright in the face of scrutiny have an abundance of integrity. They know what it means to say no in the face of everyone else crying yes. That is not an easy thing to do.

I have also found that many of those who make the most noise draw the biggest crowd. That is unfortunate because those with character and integrity should really be the ones leading. Their decisions will always be wise decisions.

I have taught my 7 year old grandson to make sure that the things that you do in the dark will always be able to stand up in the glare of daylight. He understands that he is the victor when he turns his back on folly.
What I usually say to him is that your words must be screened, filtered and then weighed before you send them out to work for you.

We laugh because he teases me sometimes. He loves to mock me and say that I should keep my guard up and protect myself at all times. We laugh some more.
Presently we are reading a doubleday book by Peter Schweizer called Do As I Say Not As I Do. It is a short book of about 250 pages. Schweizer begins the book by thanking the celebrities for living such inconsistent lives.

We thought that to be a bit on the comical side. However, when you get to reading the book, it is not so funny. The people are well known and well liked. They say they espouse certain beliefs, but they live contrary to those beliefs.

At the end of the day, the easiest letters for me to write have been for people who have been living examples of a character reference letter. Conversely, the most difficult letter for me to write has been for people who have been hypocritical examples of a character reference letter.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author
Character is what we do. We have fantastic ideas that will help you start a business of integrity. Follow this link: http://www.wyclefinnovations.com/420club.htm

How You Can Overcome Your Fear Of Public Speaking

For some people, public speaking is an ordeal. Speaking in front of an internal team is bad enough and this gets even worse when they have to speak to an external audience. There is the great fear that some of these people know more than you.

Knowing more is not the only qualification that is being considered in public speaking. Being a speaker means being a subject matter specialist on the topic you are to discuss with your audience, and the ability to bring it across to the audience.

No matter how well-prepared you are, you will experience the "butterfly" thing in your stomach which can cause you to lose focus if left unmanaged. Unless you are cold dead, you will experience the nerves in you and feel the usual symptoms of delivering even the simplest pep talks.

You Are Not Alone

In two separate studies conducted regarding public speaking, it shows that more than 40% of the respondents have a fear of public speaking and do not consider doing it in their lives.

In another related study of fear, 70% of the respondents ranked public speaking as something they will most consider as a panic situation. Additionally, more than 80% of the surveyed population would consider dying instead of delivering an actual speech in front of a huge crowd.

No matter what the circumstances are, handling a speaking engagement requires skills, intellect and time management intertwined to produce the best results characteristic of experienced individuals.

Tips for a Perfect Speech

There are rules and there are rules on public speaking. While you may have your own fears, there are things that you can do to speak in front of a large audience like a pro and create that good and lasting impression.

Not only will that effective and convincing speech delivery make you popular among the larger audiences, it feels good as well on your part for it is something that you can consider as part of your accomplishments.

SOme guidelines are provided below. These have proven effective for some people. Every individual is unique and not every rule will apply to every one. Try out each one. Pick out those that work for you and keep applying them. It will give you a good start in handling the fear of public speaking.

Your personality will be your auxiliary tool in choosing which among the recommendations listed below works best for you and will also provide you with the best oratorical output possible.

1. Fear is Human

To err is human, to forgive is divine, says the old cliche. While this old saying does not pertain specifically to public speaking, it gives an idea of human imperfection to everything else.

Although our technology has advanced a lot, our ability to commit mistakes is likely guaranteed. However, this same reason should not become a part of your excuse for unsuccessful delivery. Give yourself enough time to practice and master your piece!

2. Practice

For every successful oratorical activity, there are three things a speaker has to put in mind: first is practice, second, practice, and third practice again.

No one can underestimate the power of a constant yet effective speaking drill. This helps you memorize your lines and master them paving the way to creating adlibs as you go along the way.

3. Fill in the Bucket of Confidence

Confidence is what matters in any public speaking activity. Do not let the fear of a speaking presentation control you. Use these emotional and physical limitations to your own advantage and overpower performance anxiety to overcome the fear of public speaking.

4. Expect Nothing But Perfection

Nobody is perfect just as your audiences are not perfect. People fear speaking in front of a large crowd because they are afraid to fail. In a number of studies in psychology, the brain has an inherent ability to store any emotions, be it negative or positive, in the subconscious mind.

The subconscious mind as you know, operates on a non-conscious level of brain activity. It functions without you knowing and creates activities that do not come from your normal willing.

If you convince yourself into believing that you can achieve perfection in your target activity, there is a greater possibility of achieving it. Your mind prepares your body for such an activity and operates as if it has done it before and you will not feel as though you are new to it.

Imagine that you are getting a standing ovation after your speech. This helps greatly in overcoming the fear of public speaking as it feeds your subconscious mind. Imagining making the speech is not a good idea as you might see yourself making mistakes and this gets into the subconscious as well and may increase the fear of public speaking. Instead, just focus on a successful outcome and how excited and happy you are personally and how the audience is very appreciative of the content value that you provided.

5. Act as If No One is Watching

We sometimes fail because we set standards that are way too high for us to achieve. This limits us from achieving the level of success that we are capable of reaching and hinders us for further accomplishments in the task.

Your audience would definitely not want to see you trembling and communicate the sense of nervousness in yourself so you better hide it as much as possible. Do not make a big deal out of your own errors but instead move ahead and keep a positive outlook that everything will turn out just fine.

There is only one way to overcome the fear of public speaking. Do it and learn from the experiences.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author
Regina Maniam has many years of experience in sales and marketing. She shares tips on how you can overcome fear of public speaking. You can find more articles at http://www.lifecoachingsecret.com.

Introducing Successful Business Communication

Whenever we face the task of writing a report, preparing a proposal, completing a staff study, or composing a business letter, we go through the same series of logical steps. First we recognize the problem and/or the purpose with which the message must deal. Then we plan the content of the communication to achieve our goal. Next we organize our ideas so that they will be presented in an order that is logical and psychologically effective. Later we have to write the first draft, which must be followed by careful editing. It is imperative to make sure that what we have written is stated clearly, completely, correctly, and concisely. Writing the final draft from the edited version then becomes almost a simple formality.

In sum, the planning step pays dividends to both the writer and the reader. A working outline gives the writer an agenda to follow in creating a clear, organized document. That outline, as translated into headings and paragraph beginnings, serves the reader as a road map for following the writer's thoughts. The end result of such orderly sending and receiving is successful communication.

When we communicate, we attempt to transmit ideas. We select words, order them into sentences and connect the sentences to build paragraphs. The way business people handle those three elements largely determines how effective they are in making themselves understandable to others. Creating and maintaining high standards for written communication in the workplace is hard work on the part of the manager. But the effort is well repaid as subordinates begin to practice the same standards set by the manager. The alternative -simply letting poor writing go forward- backfires eventually on the bottom line, as clients, stockholders, and the public lose faith in a company that can't communicate accurately and clearly. Effective written communications succeed in both rational and emotional ways. Skilled business writers convey and arouse feelings as well as communicate facts and ideas.

Every company, big or small, communicates to dozens of different publics. These publics are either internal or external to the firm: employees, suppliers, dealers, distributors, manufacturers, customers, vendors, prospective purchasers, government agencies, community groups, educational institutions, and so on. Of the many types of written or printed communication forms, such as newspaper and magazine advertisements, direct mail pieces, telegrams, reports, and letters, it is certainly letters are used most frequently.

Our modern world of computer and electronic communication, like the Internet and the use of e-mails, has made a striking difference in our use of business letters, as information now can be send quicker and at less cost than in the past. But although the transmission of the business letter is changing, the essential act of sending a message from one person to another remains the same. Since one person is still communicating with another, it is important to be aware of and practice the basic principles of successful business communication.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author
Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://4educationinformation.com/ - In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://kidsandteenscentral.com/ and http://youremploymentsource.com/

Getting Things Done Through Effective Communication

Executives and managers are involved in meetings, presentations, interviews, conferences, telephone conversations, memos or emails, participating in all sorts of communications methods to exchange the necessary information. In fact, when one examines an organization, it can be easily seen that many examples of verbal and nonverbal behavior exist. Some communication specialists believe that these and almost all other forms of behavior are really means of communication and conversely that all forms of communication reflect the behavior of individuals. But, is this the case? Well, if nothing else, the fact remains that in every organization, communication occurs constantly.

People who are concerned with human communication do not focus on precisely what one says or writes, but on how the persons involved perceive and translate the message they send and receive. Experts working in the behavioral sciences and related areas have contributed a great deal in recent years to the field of communication. For example, valuable work on theories of human communication has been done by psychiatrist Jurgen Ruesch. Dr. Ruesch identifies various communication networks as follows:
- The intrapersonal network is entirely within the individual and involves thinking and feeling.
- The interpersonal communication network links two or more persons.
- The group interaction network links groups of people. Because of the number of people involved, it is usually difficult to achieve effective communication with everybody.
- The final network is cultural. Here there is no specific originator or receiver of the message. Certain symbols in our society-cars, clothing, homes, morals, and the like-are part of out cultural network. It is almost impossible to correct or change the system because of its powerful and pervasive nature.

Thus, it is easy to estimate the importance of communication to managers. In an effort to attain organizational goals, they use communication to persuade, inform, and motivate people who play key roles in getting things done. Managers almost always get their jobs done through other people. They may be skilled controllers, production supervisors, or directors of engineering, but they need people to help them achieve their objectives. But the only way to get other people to do what a manager thinks should be done is through communication.

Research indicates that although monetary awards and fear of punishment might be effective motivators, these rarely work on a long-term basis. Communication, which often fulfills basic social and egoistic needs, can and does work as a positive motivator. In fact, some spoken words of praise and recognition or a look that reflects encouragement or approval may prove to be just as effective a means of communication as any written memorandum.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://yourworkexpert.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://fitnessandourworld.com/ and http://businessworldnow.net/

The Effective Communication Principle

According to Peter Drucker in his article "The Transnational Economy" written back in 1987, "To maintain a leadership position in any one developed country, a business-whether large or small-increasingly has to attain and hold leadership positions in all developed markets worldwide. It has to be able to do research, to design, to develop, to engineer and to manufacture in any part of the developed world, and to export from any developed country to any other. It has to go transnational." But is going international as simple as it sounds in this passage, or business leaders and executives need to consider another usually unforeseen barrier commonly referred to as "the effective communication principle?"

Companies in developed countries such as the United States must engage in international business transactions or lose an important competitive advantage. Such firms have not only found tremendous commercial opportunities a thousand or ten thousand miles from their plants, but they have also found cooperative partnerships because of a community of interest. Community of interest is in fact the common ground upon which a business relationship can be based and later flourish. If a firm in Japan, for example, finds an American company with expertise in marketing and handling its products in foreign markets, then a community of interest has been found and remains to be exploited to the advantage of both. But how is that possible and on which factors does it depend upon?

Although the answer is rather complex, undoubtedly one factor is that the worldwide level of technology has greatly advanced easing the process of communicating among people located in different countries. Their ability to share information almost instantly has turned the globe to resemble a village, and as a village its citizens can communicate with one another quickly and easily with the use of various technology-based methods. But then again how come and the message is not received in the manner intended when sent by the messenger? The answer is simple: worldwide we share the much of the same information and technology, but no the same culture. Our family, recreational, financial and other values are different, as these values spring from diverse experiences, expectations and habits. Even if the language used to communicate is the same, the cultural differences between states are evident and a message can be distorted or at least not understood as one intended.

Technological advances in the last 100 to 200 years have spread and been adopted and refined worldwide. But cultures based on thousands of years of development are slow to change. For many, they should not change, as these cultural differences among societies and nations give individual identity to each group. In fact, this persistence diversity in the thinking of human beings has made this world an exciting place to be in. But at the same time it has also created barriers that constitute a major challenge for communicators. Even with the advancement in the transition of information, when words and actions are not understood in the same way because of differences, communication can suffer. This is a key factor for people to remember when dealing with different cultures or employed in different countries from that of their origin. Verbal or nonverbal communication can have different meanings to different people and thus careful consideration and examination of the others' environment can ensure a better delivery of a message and overall a much more successful communication process.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://youremploymentsource.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://1stconsumerinfo.com/ and http://universeofjobs.com/