Hone Your Communication Skills

1. Hone Your Communication Skills Discussion Session #36 In this session, you will learn: Better Listening Nonverbal communication How to communicate well in your next job

2. Listening • Listening is a mental process that requires effort. • There are several things that can block our ability to listen.

3. Encouragers • Encouragers are a variety of verbal and nonverbal means one can use to prompt someone to continue talking. They include nods, openhanded gestures, phrases such as “um-hum,”and the simple repetition of key words the person has said.

4. Paraphrases • Paraphrasing feeds back to the person the essence of what has just been said by shortening and clarifying the person’s comments. Paraphrasing is not parroting; it is using some of your own words plus the important main words of the person to whom you are listening.

5. Summarizations • Summarizing is similar to paraphrasing but covers a longer time span and more information. Summarizations may be used to begin or end a long conversation, as a transition to a new topic, or to clarify a lengthy and complex issue.

6. To Become An Active Listener • Listen for ideas, not just facts • Judge what the speaker says, not how it is said • Don’t jump to conclusions • Concentrate, pay attention, and relax • Respond actively to the speaker. Come up with an appropriate comment.

7. Great Listeners • Ask questions • Concentrate • Identify the main idea • Listen for a rationale • Listen for key words • Organize what they hear • Take notes

8. Nonverbal Communications • Impact Of Communications • 7% Verbal • 38% Way Words Are Said • 55% Facial Expressions

9. Nonverbal Communication • Anything is a potential message. • One cannot NOTcommunicate. • Nonverbal communication functions to clarify words we use and demonstrate emotions

10. Nonverbal Communication • Handshakes • Proxemics • Gestures • Environment

11. Great Communicators • Present one idea at a time • Keep it simple • Make it brief • Personalize the message to the listener • Use right tone of voice and body language • Get acceptance of each idea • Respond to the emotions of the person • Appreciate listener’s concerns • Encourage listeners to express themselves

12. Communication Skills • Ask, don’t tell • State the situation • Explain how it affects the team • Suggest what needs to be done • Describe what will happen if the situation does not change

13. Communication Skills • Listen first • Persuade second • Support your assertions • Do your homework using surveys, verifiable facts, research

14. Communication Enhancers • Speak with enthusiasm • Describe appealing results • Adjust how you communicate to match your listener’s reaction

15. EVALUATION QUESTIONS • USE:a. Strongly Agreeb. Agreec. Disagreed. Strongly Disagreee. Don’t Know • I found the presentation material easy to • understand. • 2. This discussion session increased my knowledge on the subject presented. • 3. I will be able to use some of the information • from this discussion session in the future. • 4. The presenter was well prepared for this session. • 5. This presentation should be repeated in future semesters.