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

People remember best what you say first and last.

I Am Sold Myself

Special persuasive techniques l Tell a success story l Show how what you advocate works elsewhere l Use deductive method l Base your conclusions on clear evidence l Use your uniqueness l 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) l Don’t make the questioner look bad. l Make your answers concise l Perhaps limit discussion time l “I don’t know” may be a good response. l Make eye contact with all of your audience l Don’t evaluate questions l Let everyone have a chance

Understanding precedes persuasion

Learn to listen more effectively.

From Listening Comes Wisdom & From Speaking Repentance. Chinese Fortune Cookie

l Fake attention l Interrupting the speaker l Respond to the wrong thing l Distractions l Avoid difficult material l Daydreaming l Superiority complex l Uninteresting 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 l Do not take criticism personally l Center your thoughts on issue l Listen to entire message—don’t interrupt l Evaluate the criticism l Accept responsibility l Some “Don’ts” l Listen for areas of agreement

Interviews with the media

Potpourri l Small talk at the beginning is not really small talk l Less is sometimes more l Never tell all you know l Just because you can does not mean you should l Everything counts l Meaning is in people, not words