Why Are Communication Skills Important?

Communication is the heart of every organisation. Everything you do in the workplace results from communication. Therefore good reading, writing, speaking and listening skills are essential if tasks are going to be completed and goals achieved. As you develop your career you will find various reasons why successful communication skills are important to you, for example:

1. To secure an interview.

You will need good communication skills to make sure your application letter is read and acted upon.

Why Are Communication Skills Important?

2. To get the job.

You will need to communicate well during your interview if you are to sell yourself and get the job you want.

3. To do your job well.

You will need to request information, discuss problems, give instructions, work in teams, interact with colleagues and clients. If you are to achieve co-operation and effective teamwork, good human relations skills are essential. Also, as the workplace is also becoming more global, there are many factors to consider if you are to communicate well in such a diverse environment.

4. To advance in your career.

Employers want staff who can think for themselves, use initiative and solve problems, staff who are interested in the long-term success of the company. If you are to be seen as a valued member of the organisation, it is important not just to be able to do your job well, but also to communicate your thoughts on how the processes and products or services can be improved.

Benefits of effective communication

The most successful organisations understand that if they are to be successful in today's business world, good communication at all levels is essential. Here is a useful mnemonic to remember the benefits you and your organisation can achieve from effective communication:

Stronger decision-making and problem-solving

Upturn in productivity

Convincing and compelling corporate materials

Clearer, more streamlined work flow

Enhanced professional image

Sound business relationships

Successful response ensured

Remember: Today's workplace is constantly changing, so learning more about effective communication will help us all adapt to our changing environments.

Why Are Communication Skills Important?
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Shirley Taylor is a popular trainer and author of many successful books on communication and business writing skills. Shirley lives in Singapore and conducts popular workshops on business writing, communication skills and e-mail writing. Visit http://www.shirleytaylortraining.com and receive five complimentary special reports in the Seven Steps to Success series. Check out Shirley's books at http://www.stsuccessskills.com.

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Public Speaking - Nonverbal Skills You Need to Create Positive Connections and Cash Flow

Public speaking is one of the most powerful ways to market your business and build a subscriber list. Anyone can give a good presentation with a little practice and by following the right formula. What makes a good presentation great is focusing on not only your language and content, but also on your nonverbal messages as well.

Essentially, nonverbal communication is anything that communicates meaning and a message that is not the words you choose. Depending on the source you consult, there are anywhere between 10 and 15 different forms of nonverbal communication. Because you only have 10 seconds to make a first impression, all forms of nonverbal communication are important. However, when we are working on developing a skill - any skill - it's best to focus on three main areas at a time. When we're talking about doing a face-to-face presentation, to any size group, the three forms of nonverbal communication you want to focus on are paralanguage (also known as vocalics), kinesics, and occulesics.

1. Your Voice, known as Paralanguage, is anything that comes out of your mouth that is not the words you choose. Focus on your tone of voice, volume, rate, pitch, and "sound effects" (think of an audible sigh, for example). When presenting to any size group you want to sound comfortable and confident about your topic, which will lead to increased credibility and ultimately increased sales for you. Avoiding "ums" and "ahs" will go a long way to showing your comfort with discussing your topic. When using your paralanguage effectively, people will see you as the expert you are and be much more willing to work with you as a result.

Public Speaking - Nonverbal Skills You Need to Create Positive Connections and Cash Flow

2. Your Body, known as Kinesics, is what is commonly known as body language and gestures. Focus on how you stand or sit, what you do with your hands and feet, and your body positioning relative to your audience. Keep your arms open and unfolded. When you're only meeting with one or two people, try a rapport-building technique known as"mirroring," where your body and gestures emulate those of your listeners. If they are sitting forward in their chairs, you should be sitting forward in your chair, too. Communication research has proven people are attracted to those most like them. Using this mirroring technique will send one more subconscious signal that you are like your listeners, and they will feel much more comfortable with you. When people are comfortable with you, they are more likely to do business with you.

3. Your Eyes, known as Occulesics, is communicating with your eyes. Simply stated, you absolutely must make comfortable and consistent eye contact with your audience for them to trust you. Don't look at the papers on the desk in front of you. Don't look over their heads or at the floor. Look your audience members, each one of them if possible, in the eye and smile. As with the other two forms of nonverbal communication, making eye contact will go toward building your credibility. Although most of us know people who try to deceive others while making good eye contact, on the whole we still get the general sense that if someone is looking us in the eye, s/he is honest. And showing your honesty is one quick way to more cash flow.

Because there are many forms of nonverbal communication functioning simultaneously, it's nearly impossible to think about controlling each one as they occur. However, careful attention to your voice, your body language and your eye contact will put you in the position you want to be in with your clients and prospects. You'll be seen as credible, trustworthy, and likeable - all the attributes you need to get more business and increase your cash flow.

Public Speaking - Nonverbal Skills You Need to Create Positive Connections and Cash Flow
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And now I invite you to learn all the ways you can communicate your credibility and get more business as a result. Pick up your free e-course at: http://www.communicationtransformation.com/creating-credibility-ecourse.html

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Felicia J. Slattery, M.A., M.Ad.Ed., is a communication consultant, speaker & coach with more than a decade of experience teaching effective communication skills for massive success.

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Public Speaking: 10 Tips to Improve Public Speaking Skills

When I ask my audiences their number one challenge with public speaking, they overwhelmingly say, "to overcome the fear of public speaking." It's okay to have "butterflies." The key is how to get them organized, focused and flying in formation. Here are 10 tips for delivering a more powerful, persuasive presentation. Practice these techniques consistently to improve public speaking skills.

1. 95% of your success is determined before the presentation. Your audience will know if you didn't rehearse. Rehearsing, or "rehearing" yourself minimizes 75% of your nervousness. Rehearse standing up, or better yet, ask someone to videotape you. The camera will be your most objective ally. The more comfortable you become with your material via rehearsing, the more comfortable you will be with your body language.

Public Speaking

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2. Either memorize or "know cold" your opener and close. Two minutes each for an opener and a close is enough. The most important thing your audience will remember is your closing. Second most important thing they'll remember is your opener. Start with something attention grabbing, like a quote or statistic, which relates to your topic. Never start with, "Good Morning." It is obvious and boring.

Public Speaking: 10 Tips to Improve Public Speaking Skills

3. Public Speaking: 24 hours before your presentation:

A. Have a quiet dinner with a quiet friend. (This may or may not be your spouse!) You won't be as concerned about your public speaking skills if you can put your nervous system on glide.

B. The evening before, put your presentation on audiocassette as background noise one hour before retiring. Listen to your opener and close before bedtime as a review.

C. No massive changes 24 hours before. Nothing increases the fear of public speaking more than rewritting your material at the last minute. Impromptu speeches notwithstanding.

D. Visualize your presentation going smoothly and successfully. All Olympic athletes use this technique, and it works with public speaking as well.

E. Review your notes and visual aids the evening before. Your notes should only be "fast food for the eyes" in bullet form, and are NEVER read to the audience.

F. Eat a good high protein breakfast the morning of your presentation. Even if you're not speaking until that evening, feed your mind and body the proper fuel.

4. Before your presentation, check yourself in a full-length mirror. A dear friend of mine forgot to do this. During her keynote speech in front of hundreds, someone quietly pointed out that her skirt was tucked into her pantyhose!

5. Public speaking and purpose: When organizing your talk, define your purpose. Why are you there? Why are they there? Is this a sales presentation? A community watch group? If you present technical information, is this an information/knowledge transfer or a decision briefing? When presenting technical information make certain not to overload your audience with too much detail, or too much on each slide. Tailor your message. Define your objective.

6. Know your audience before designing your opener and close. It is imperative that you "speak the language" of your audience. What are their ages? Percentage of males/females? Are they highly technical or non-technical? Do they want to be there or is this mandatory? What are their expectations? If you are a scientist or engineer, speak to the "lowest common denominator." Technical presenters have a propensity to use a lot of technical jargon. Does the person in charge of funding understand the language?

7. Avoid using too many slides. Visual aids are wonderful tools as long as they're used to enhance the information. A common mistake is using the visual aids as the presentation. Look at the audience frequently to establish rapport and a connection. In almost every presentation, you are there to "sell" them not simply "tell" them. Do not look at your visual aids other than a quick glance, and never read them. Never turn your back on the audience to read slides. They will not look at your slides. Their minds will start to wander. Remember, you are your own best visual aid.

8. Good public speaking skills mean being prepared. As the saying goes, prior planning prevents predictably poor performance. Planning and preparation will reduce nervousness 75%. Again, your audience will know if you didn't rehearse. Consider hiring a public speaking coach. The dollars invested may well be worth their weight in gold.

9. The Q & A period and how to handle a hostile audience. The second most frequent comment I hear in my public speaking seminars is "What if they ask a question and I don't know the answer?" Or, "What if someone in the audience is a know-it-all and doesn't like me?" Avoid being argumentative. If you don't know the answer, ask if someone in the audience has the answer. Or, simply let them know when you will get back to them. Make certain you do. When you lie you die. It destroys your credibility.

10. Variety and venue. Variety serves as a "wake up call" to your audience. Examples of adding variety: humor, relevant stories, quotes, voice inflection, paired and group activities, pauses, audience participation in the question and answer period, and slides or other multimedia. As for your venue, are your visual aids appropriate to your size of audience? Will everyone be able to see them?

Lastly, make sure to confirm the time, date, and place with the appropriate contact person. If possible, arrange to see the room ahead of time so you can practice visualizing in the exact location of your presentation. At the minimum, arrive at least one hour ahead of time. To improve public speaking skills, and overcome nervousness, nothing works like being prepared.

Copyright 2006 Colleen Kettenhofen

Public Speaking: 10 Tips to Improve Public Speaking Skills

Colleen Kettenhofen is a motivational speaker, workplace expert, & co-author of "The Masters of Success," as featured on the Today Show, along with Ken Blanchard and Jack Canfield. http://www.ColleenSpeaks.com Topics: leadership, management, difficult people, success, public speaking. To order the book, or for free articles and newsletter visit http://www.ColleenSpeaks.com You are free to reprint or repost this information provided Colleen Kettenhofen's name and website is provided with the article.

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