Welcome! Enhancing Your Communication Skills in All Kinds of Situations

May 20, 2013

Stephen D. Boyd

Welcome!

The difference between the right word, and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.

~ Mark Twain

Intrapersonal Communication:communication with self

The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished.

~ George Bernard Shaw

Get and hold attention

Have a “wow” factor Use attention-getter in opening Refer to recent events Build suspense Remember the magic number: three Consider humor when appropriate

People remember best what you say first and last.

I Am Sold Myself

Special persuasive techniques

Tell a success story Show how what you advocate works

elsewhere Use deductive method Base your conclusions on clear evidence Use your uniqueness Use sources audience respects

Handling the Question and Answer Period

• Let the audience know up front• Start with “What questions do you have?”• Consider repeating• Avoid “loaded” questions

Handling the Question and Answer Period (cont’d)

Don’t make the questioner look bad. Make your answers concise Perhaps limit discussion time “I don’t know” may be a good response. Make eye contact with all of your audience Don’t evaluate questions Let everyone have a chance

Understanding precedes persuasion

Learn to listen more effectively.

From Listening Comes Wisdom

&

From Speaking Repentance.

Chinese Fortune Cookie

Fake attentionInterrupting the speakerRespond to the wrong thingDistractionsAvoid difficult materialDaydreamingSuperiority complexUninteresting subject matter

TORTOISE-HARE COMPLEX

Tortoise talkers —

Speak 150 WPM

Hare listeners —

Think 500 WPM

Use the thought/speech ratio to concentrate

Ask yourself, “What is the point?” Review what has been said Look for nonverbal cues Don’t be doing other things as you listen Pay attention

Empathy is a genuine concern for the other person attained by

gaining a sense o his/her perspective and feelings.

A nonjudgmental and nonevaluative response

The more we know about context, the better we can

empathize.

A EF HI KLMN T VWXY

BCD G J OPQRS U

Which line would the “Z” go on?

Dealing with Criticism and Personal attacks

Perception: the way we view the world around us

Traits of difficult people

Responding to difficult person

Do not take criticism personally Center your thoughts on issue Listen to entire message—don’t interrupt Evaluate the criticism Accept responsibility Some “Don’ts” Listen for areas of agreement

Interviews with the media

Potpourri Small talk at the beginning is not really

small talk Less is sometimes more Never tell all you know Just because you can does not mean you

should Everything counts Meaning is in people, not words