communications for guides amanda wroten

Communications for Guides Amanda Wroten www.amandawroten.com

Professional with the Boy Scouts of America Owner of Summit Consulting Volunteer with Paradox Sports Amanda Wroten

Why Communication Trust short roped Getting jobs Keeping jobs Client experience Marketing

Why Communication Special event lectures $$$$$ Clients Sponsors

Are You Tough Enough Backpacker magazine article Shannon Davis RMI Tryout 100s of applications 40 tryouts 10 slots Small group setting http://www.backpacker.com/survival/are- you-tough-enough/

Are You Tough Enough Intangibles Can you work with a group? Can you speak in front of a crowd Can you sell yourself? Do you like people?

Take Away #1 Elevator Speech Can you sell yourself? 1: Identify your goal 2: Explain what you do 3: Communicate your unique selling proposition 4: Engage with a question (close) 5: Pull it all together 6: Practice Pitch is 20-30 seconds

Today We Will Cover Public speaking Group/interpersonal communication Nonverbal communication Intercultural communication

Similarities Between Public Speaking and Conversation Organize your thoughts Giving someone directions to your house Tailor your message to the audience Your 5 year old ask you where babies come from Your 14 year old asks you where babies come from Your 22 year old asks the same question

Similarities Between Public Speaking and Conversation Telling a story for maximum impact Dont tell the punch line of a story first Adapting to listener feedback Watch for non-verbal feedback looks of confusion, looks of pain or hurtfulness

Differences Between Public Speaking and Conversation Public speaking is more structured Usually time limited Questions possibly not allowed to interrupt the speech/typically questions at the end Public speaking requires more formal language No slang, jargon, or bad grammar think about climbing terms short rope crag beener Usually something special, remembered

Differences Between Public Speaking and Conversation Public speaking requires a different method for delivery More formal delivery No vocalized pauses uh, ah, um Dont use stock phrases repeatedly you know, like, basically, I mean less valley girl

Speech Communication Process Speaker speech communication starts here Message whatever is communicated Channel means by which a message is communicated Listener the receiver of the communicated message Feedback comes in many forms and must be understood

Speech Communication Process Interference anything impeding the communication of the message Noise Internal noise External noise Situation the time and place of the occurrence

Speech Communication Process

Listening Listening is important Over our lives we will listen to many more speeches than we will deliver Helps develop critical thinking Studies show a direct link between academic success and the ability to listen Listening (mental) and hearing (physical) are two different things Helps guide client experience and safety

Listening and Critical Thinking Four types of listening Appreciative: music, movies, etc. Empathetic: emotional support Comprehensive: listening to understand Critical: evaluate a message Critical thinking Comprehensive and critical thinking requires you to evaluate while listening, developing critical thinking skills

Causes of Poor Listening Not concentrating Daydreaming, mind wandering, dozing Listening too hard Trying to remember every fact, no matter how minute Jumping to conclusions Putting words into the speakers mouth; interrupting speaking, anticipating what speaker will say/do next Focusing on delivery instead of message Accent, clothes, stuttering,

Better Listening Take it seriously Practice and self-discipline Resist distractions Pull yourself back on track Dont be diverted by appearance or delivery Suspend judgment A closed mind is an empty mind

Better Listening Focus your listening Listen for main points Listen for evidence Accurate, sources, relevant Safety

Analyzing the Audience Good speakers (and guides) are audience centered Primary purpose is to get a desired result Keep the audience foremost in mind at every step of preparation and presentation To whom are you speaking? What is it you want them to know, believe or do? What is the most effective way to compose and present your message to that end?

Psychology of Audiences Its up to the speaker to make the audience choose to pay attention Every speech contains two messages One from the speaker One received by the listener People hear what they want to hear and disregard the rest. The Boxer

Psychology of Audiences People are egocentric Egocentrism the tendency for people to be the most interested in themselves, their own problems, and the way to solve them They pay closest attention to what affects their own values, beliefs, and well being

Demographic Audience Analysis Look for observable audience traits Snap judgments (Legos) Identify the general features Gauge their importance to the situation Traits Age Gender Racial, ethnic, cultural background Religion Group membership

Situational Audience Analysis Builds on demographic analysis, identifies traits unique to the speaking situation Size Physical setting Disposition toward the topic Interest Knowledge Attitude Disposition towards the speaker Disposition towards the occasion

Adapting to the Audience Before you begin Assess how the audience is likely to respond Adjust what you say to make it Clear Appropriate Convincing During Things may/will not go exactly as you plan Dont panic, remain calm and adapt Remember: Who am I speaking to, what do I want them to know, believe or do, and what is the best way to accomplish this?

PRACTICE, PRACTICE PRACTICE

Use of Language Language is important How well do you use language Meaningless words like

Meanings of Words Words have two kinds of meanings: Denotative The literal or dictionary meaning of a word or phrase Connotative The meaning suggested by the association or emotions triggered by a word or phrase Give words their intensity and emotional power The same words may have completely different effects on different audiences

Take Away #2 Things to Remember Use language accurately Say what you mean Use language clearly Familiar words Concrete words Eliminate clutter Use language vividly Imagery, parallelism, repetitionetc. Use language appropriately Occasion, audience, topic, speaker

Sexist Language Avoid Generic use of he Use of man when referring to both genders Stereotyping jobs/social roles

Vocalization Volume loudness or softness Adjust to the situation Pitch high or lowness of your voice Adjust for variety Rate of speed 120-150 wpm is normal (brain can process more) Pauses Pause for effect, thinking, and to avoid vocalized pauses

Vocalization Variety Vary your speech Pronunciation Articulation Dialect Variety of language distinguished by variations of accent, grammar, or vocabulary

Nonverbal Communication Kinesics the study of nonverbal body motions as a systematic node of communication People trust their ears less than their eyes When a speakers body language is inconsistent with their words they tend to believe their eyes

Nonverbal Communication Other aspects of nonverbal communications Personal appearance Body action Gesticulation Eye contact

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQENwD-QlRA

Body Language Face Figure Focus Territory Tone Time

Face Face includes: Your expressions Your smile or lack thereof Tilt of the head; e.g., if your head is tilted to one side, it usually indicates you are interested in what someone is saying What message are you sending if someone is presenting a new idea and you are frowning?

Figure Your posture Your demeanor and gestures Your clothes and accessories such as jewelry

Focus Focus is your eye contact with others The perception of eye contact differs by culture. For most Americans Staring makes other people uncomfortable Lack of eye contact can make you appear weak or not trustworthy Glasses may interfere or enhance eye contact

Territory Territory focuses on how you use space. It is also called proxemics. The perception of territory differs by culture. Most Americans are comfortable with an individual space that is about an arms length in diameter What message are you sending if you keep moving closer to a person who is backing away from you?

Tone Tone is a factor of your voice Pitch is the highness or lowness of voice Volume is how loud your voice is Emphasis is your inflection

Time Time focuses on how you use time. It is also called chronemics. Pace is how quickly you speak Response is how quickly you move Punctuality is your timeliness

Interpersonal/Group Communication Shared symbols Meaning of things ASAP What does that really mean? Not always completely shared, the message received may not be the intended one

SHARE State the importance Highlight other important points Assure the receiver understands React to how the receiver responds Emphasize and summarize your main points

Questions in Groups Closed or open ended Direct questions Probing questions Hypothetical

Groups Collections of people who share ideas and interests

Mountaineering Groups Task groups To achieve a common goal task oriented

Group Phases Forming initial set up (dating) Rebellion conflict Norming social norms, stable structure Cooperation problems solved, energy directed at the task

Groups Have Norms Formal norms Rules Safety Informal norms Societal norms Dont be an ass

Group Leaders, Rope Teams Deferred leadership Guide Trait approach Natural leadership Situational approach Right place, right time Functional approach Who is best at what Contingency approach Depends on all situational factors

Group Think Become too cohesive Us vs. Them Can do no wrong In groups/out groups stereotypes Illusion that everyone in the group is the same Pressure in group

Intercultural Communication Effective communication to people of varying backgrounds and cultures Understanding how cultures receive information

Intercultural Communication

Conclusion Better client relationships Better communication with clients Safety Increase client base Special events Free advertising Build your brand

Questions? Stay in touch! Happy to help with anything you need in the future www.amandawroten.com 757-593-8491

communications for guides amanda wroten

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