Communication Skills...

Communication Skills

Communication is around us all the time.  We hear it and see it through verbal and non-verbal messages.  Sometimes it is in conversation, body language, written word, music, poetry, dance -- these are all forms of communication. 

Being an effective communicator is important to success.  If we want to get a message across, work in a professional work place, interact with our friends and family, good communication skills are a must.

Tips for Good Communication Skills - Our Voices

There are a lot of similarities between having conversations with your friends and family members and public speaking.  According to experts like Stephen Lucas (The Art of Speaking) we already spend at least 30% of the hours we are awake talking to another person!  That's about 4.8 hours.  Teachers, retail employees and customer service representatives spend even more time during their day talking with others.

Tips for Good Communication Skills - The Written Word

Your writing style says a lot about your communication skills too.  It may be when you are filling our a job application, a college essay or writing a thank you note.  In all these cases, you will need to learn to write clearly to be effective in communicating your message - even if the message is "Hire me!"

 10 Tips for Giving a Great Speech

1. 1.Practice make perfect.  The more you practice, the easier it will be to give your speech.  It's fine to use notes or index cards -- but the less you have to rely on them, the better your speech wil flow.
   

2. 2.Make eye contact.  Be sure to look around the room while you deliver your speech.  Take care to connect with individual people in your audience.
   

3. 3.Mistakes happen.  If you make one, just keep going.  Everyone will be interested in the substance of your speech.  They won't remember a few mistakes.
   

4. 4.Speak slowly, clearly and loudly.  You want everyone to hear what you have to say.  Even if there's a microphone, some people may have difficulty hearing.
   

5. 5.Smile.  You have been invited to share your information!  Display your feelings through positive body language and remember to stand up straight.
   

6. 6.Take a break.  If you find yourself "hemming and hawing" because you've lost your train of thought, just pause for a second or two.  This will help you to get your bearings and it might also provide a dramatic effect.
   

7. 7.Mix it up.  To avoid a monotonous delivery, try to vary your intonation.
   

8. 8.Breathe.  Taking a deep breath before you begin speaking will have a calming effect.  Also remember to take deep, regular breaths while delivering your speech.
   

9. 9.Hang on.  Lightly gripping the podium or lectern will give you a feeling of stability and help you ease your jitters.
   

10. 10.Enjoy yourself.  Although public speaking can be stressful, remember you are speaking to a friendly audience.  Enjoy communicating your message and flex your public speaking skills.