Communication Skills for Leaders

Keys to Effective Interpersonal Communication

Developing Connection Developing Energy Developing Credibility Developing Interaction

Believability

Key to success of any presentation We sell ourselves through

communication Communication skills: the greatest

investment we can make

Cues to Believability

Verbal: ____% Vocal: ____% Visual: ____% Total: 100 %

Cues to Believability

Verbal: 7 % Vocal: 38 % Visual: 55 % Total: 100 %

Believability

Consistency = Believability– When verbal, vocal, and visual

messages are inconsistent, visual cues are dominant

Consistency + Energy = Impact– When words, voice, and delivery are

integrated, they deliver a consistent message

Emotional Connection– Connect with listeners’ emotions

First Brain, New Brain

First Brain, New Brain

First Brain: Limbic System– Instinctual, primitive– Emotional– Hunger, thirst, danger, sex, parenting– Common to animals

New Brain: Cerebral Cortex– Intellectual, advanced– Rational– Thought, memory, language, creativity,

planning, decision-making– Uniquely human

Believing what we like

Likeability: a major component of trust Personality factor: a consistent

predictor of presidential races Stanford study: three personal

qualities can affect careers:– Outgoing, ascendant personality– Desire to persuade, talk, work– Need for power

Behavioral skills

1. Eye communication

2. Posture and movement

3. Gestures and facial expressions

4. Voice and vocal variety

5. Dress and appearance

6. Language, nonwords, and pauses

7. Listener involvement

8. Humor

9. The natural self

Four stages of learning

1. Unconscious incompetence

2. Conscious incompetence

3. Conscious competence

4. Unconscious competence

4L

Four stages of speaking

1. The nonspeaker

2. The occasional speaker

3. The willing speaker

4. The leader

4S

Reduces nervousness Increases confidence Focuses thoughts Motivates movement Hones ability to read audience

Good Eye Communication

Eye Communication

Objective: Connect with your listener Behavioral Objective: Look sincerely

and steadily at another person

Keys to Eye Communication

Five seconds Eye dart Slow blink Large groups Television

Improving Eye Communication

Where Do You Look? Reinforce Five-Second Habit Increase Sensitivity Relieve Intimidation Analyze Yourself and Others Video Feedback Watch News Programs Practice One-on-One Practice with Paper Audience

Developing Energy

Posture and Movement

Gestures and Facial Expressions

Voice and Vocal Variety

Posture and Movement

Objective: Be aware of how you hold yourself physically

Behavioral Objective: Stand tall and move naturally and easily

Correct the tendency to slump

Keys to Effective Posture & Movement

Stand Tall Watch Lower Body Ready Position Move

Improving Posture & Movement

1. See Yourself

2. Walk Away from the Wall

3. Do the Two-Step

4. Stand at Meetings

Gestures & Facial Expressions

Objective: Be aware of what gestures and expressions communicate

Behavioral Objective: Be relaxed and natural when you speak

Keys to Effectiveness

Habits Nervous Gestures Over-exaggerate Smile Personality Factor Muscles No Phony Smiles

Improving Gestures & Expressions

1. Practice Gesturing

2. Count Nervous Gestures

3. Role-Playing

4. TV with No Sound

5. Test Smiles

Voice & Vocal Variety

Objective: Command attention Behavioral Objective: Use your voice

as a rich, resonant instrument

Effective Voice & Vocal Variety

Energy 84% One Word Four Aspects Vocal Variety Don’t Read

Improving Voice & Vocal Variety

1. The Right Word

2. Voice of the Company

3. Good & Bad

4. Record Yourself

Developing Credibility

Dress & Appearance Language, Nonwords, & Pauses

Dress & Appearance

Objective: Make a good first impression

Behavioral Objective: Look appropriate to the environment

Effective Dress & Appearance

90% body covered by clothing Face and hair are where people look Most of us dress based on past habits

Improving Dress & Appearance

1. First TwoSeconds

2. Pick Five People

3. Nobody Will Tell You

4. Pick a New Outfit

5. See a Consultant

6. Research, Research, Research

7. Ask How You Look

Language, Nonwords, & Pauses

Objective: Use language and pauses effectively

Behavioral Objective: Use appropriate and clear language for your listeners

Effective Use of Language & Pauses

Direct Language Vocabulary Jargon Pauses Replace Nonwords

Improving Language & Pauses

1. A New Word a Day

2. Dictionary

3. Jargon

4. Pauses

5. Eliminate Nonwords

Developing Interaction

Listener involvement Humor The Natural Self

Listener Involvement

Objective: Cultivate listener involvement in many ways

Behavioral Objective: Maintain the active interest of each person

Effective Listener Involvement

Engage listeners with swirls:– Style

Drama Eye Communication Movement Visuals

– Interaction Questions Demos Samples/Gimmicks

– Content Interest Humor

Humor

Objective: Develop your humor skills Behavioral Objective: Create a bond

between yourself and your listeners

Effective Use of Humor

No Jokes Stories & Anecdotes Humanization Personality Factor Smile

Improving Your Use of Humor

1. What Makes You Laugh

2. Make Someone Laugh

3. Think Funny

4. Gain through Feedback

5. Watch Others

6. Humor Journal

The Natural Self

Objective: Work to be yourself in all circumstances

Behavioral Objective: Be authentic

Keys to Being Your Natural Self

Learn Like a Juggler– Master one skill at a time– Start by acknowledging natural strengths– Work on your weaknesses

Make It a Lifetime Process– New habits, old habits: good and bad– New behavioral skills

Discovering Your Natural Self

Ask Five People to Rank You on the Nine Behavioral Skills

Ask Three People to Fill Out the Coaching Feedback Sheet