Make Yourself Heard: Tips For Better Communication

     Nobody at his company knows David, which is a shame because he is a smart guy with many good ideas. In fact, he's personable, has a good sense of humor and is full of aspirations. It isn't that he is shy or lost among a thousand cubicles at a major corporation. David works for a medium-sized company that offers a lot of opportunity for upward movement. People actually know who he is --they see him in the break room being lively and engaging. The members of his team know him as a capable and hard worker who makes sound analyses and is constantly finding ways to improve their project. So why does David feel invisible or worse: why does he feel irrelevant at his company? 

     Like many companies, David's is very meeting-oriented. They have meetings for problem solving, decision-making, planning, feedback, feedforward, combo meetings and meetings to schedule the next round of meetings. The future projects David will be working on are decided in these meetings-meetings are one of the few opportunities he has to show his superiors his ideas and desire to do more for the company.

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STAHLS' ID DIRECT

TOP SHELF TIP NO. 136

"People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything."

Thomas Sowell, American writer and economist

     The reason David feels irrelevant or unknown and ends up working on other people's good ideas instead of his own has nothing to do with sitting quietly in a corner. He does speak. He does participate. He tries to engage and show his enthusiasm, but everything comes out wrong. He is not believable. He doesn't appear authentic. He has no charisma. He has a communication wall that is blocking his ability to express himself in an honest and real way.
     People hear him, but they do not listen. His content and argument are betrayed by his body language and voice. For David, going into a meeting is like going on a roller coaster ride. He is not afraid. He wants to show that he is not afraid. But once the meeting starts, he is screaming and flailing about. For David, there is a discrepancy between who he is and how he acts.

     Eventually David tore down his communication wall. It was a process of deep introspection coupled with finding a strong desire to change.

     To help him fight against his old patterns, David learned several techniques that actors use to make a strong impression and have a lasting effect on their audiences. Today and tomorrow Promotional Consultant Today will review seven tips to help you break down your communication wall and become more effective in meetings and presentations. Today we'll look at the first two.

Your Appearance

     Take responsibility for your appearance. Decide for yourself how you want to come across and what kind of first impression you want to make. From the very first moment you enter a room, walk on stage or step up to podium, use your body language to show yourself to be a likable, competent, persuasive and charismatic person. How people perceive you and judge what you say starts long before you utter a word.

In Control

     Come across as in control and capable. When sitting, find a comfortable position-do not bob or fidget back and forth. When standing, maintain a strong posture. Keep your gluteal muscles lightly contracted in order to raise your pelvis as you extend your vertebrae to ensure that you are standing up straight and not resting on a hip.

     Source: Adele Landauer is an expert on success, achievement, and self-leadership. As a coach, she teaches effective presentation skills to business leaders, politicians and sports teams. She also works with to help improve productivity and results. She is the author of Experience Total Freedom: 6 Steps to Tearing Down Your Walls and Living Your Life with Happiness, Balance, and Success. Inspired by the Fall of the Berlin Wall.