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

Listening

• Listening is a mental process that requires effort.

• There are several things that can block our ability to listen.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Great Listeners

• Ask questions• Concentrate• Identify the main idea• Listen for a rationale• Listen for key words• Organize what they

hear• Take notes

Nonverbal Communications

• Impact Of Communications

• 7% Verbal• 38% Way Words Are

Said• 55% Facial

Expressions

Nonverbal Communication

• Anything is a potential message.

• One cannot NOT communicate.

• Nonverbal communication functions to clarify words we use and demonstrate emotions

Nonverbal Communication

• Handshakes• Proxemics• Gestures• Environment

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

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

Communication Skills

• Listen first• Persuade second• Support your

assertions• Do your homework

using surveys, verifiable facts, research

Communication Enhancers

• Speak with enthusiasm• Describe appealing

results• Adjust how you

communicate to match your listener’s reaction

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

• USE:a. Strongly Agreeb. Agreec. Disagreed. Strongly Disagreee. Don’t Know

1. 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.