How to be an excellent communicator

Anyone can talk, but good communication and public speaking is another story. This article will help you become a better communicator. Partly adopted from my upcoming book entitled "Think Like an Interviewer: Your job-hunting guide to success."

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. **Communication vs effective communication**
   
   It's important to understand what communication is. It's the sharing of information. But effective communication is doing this in the best way! And that means using the right medium to communicate your message, choosing the right words, etc.
2. **Know your audience**
   
   Before you can communicate anything, it's important to really know your audience. In other words, effective communication means presenting information that's appropriate for your audience.
   
   So you need to take the following into consideration:
   
   a) Age range
   b) Level of education
   c) Level of experience or knowledge of the subject
   d) Who are they?--company personnel, outsiders, general public, etc.
   
   These are important because you need to make sure your information is appropriate for your audience. Knowing more about your audience or portential audience will help you make sure your matierial is at their level and appropriate for their needs.
3. **Mingle first if possible**
   
   A great way to establish a rapport with your audience before your presentation begins is to mingle a bit with them. This makes you more "human" rather than just a speaker. It will also help the audience members feel more relaxed. And it'll perhaps make them more receptive to what you have to say because they've gotten to know you.
   
   Now you don't want to get overly personal because you are a presenter and they're audience members. But making that personal connection goes along way! And can make your job easier because you'll be able to look out over more friendly faces. People who've gotten a sense that you're a "nice person" and seem knowledgeable before you even started your presentation.
4. **Don't overload people**
   
   It's better to keep things short and get your points across. Overloading audience members with too much information can make them turn away from you.
   
   So break your information into manageable chuncks. And don't provide every single detail unless you have to. You can present the main points, with perhaps some details, and then leave the rest for Q&A afterwards.
   
   You want to hold audience attention and not make their heads spin. Providing just enough information in blocks accomplishes this.
5. **Use handouts or other visuals**
   
   They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well that's true! You can say a lot with a visual or handout. So use them to your advantage! It can also make your speech more enjoyable because it requires audience members to participate.
   
   In other words, instead of just sitting there listening to your words, they have to look at something else or refer to something. This gives them the feeling that they're taking part rather than just having to sit quietly. You'll hold their attention more and make them more receptive to your points.
   
   And it will help you get even more information across. How? Because you can speak about one thing and have others in your handout or projected on a screen. It can also help address possible audience questions or raise some. This makes your presentation far more interesting and engaging!
6. **Use the power of your voice**
   
   The voice is a very powerful thing. So be sure to use it to your advantage. In other words, vary the tone and volume of your voice to add variety and keep things from getting boring.
   
   Use a more powerful voice to emphasize something. And use a softer voice to de-emphasize something. A more melodic voice is soothing. Yet a monitoned voice is very boring!
   
   So use an appropriate voice for your situation and particular point. If it's something you really want people to remember, then a more powerful voice is needed. If it's an aside, then a softer voice can be used.
   
   Also watch the pace at which you speak! Going too fast looses people. And going too slow puts them to sleep. So you want to balance and find a happy medium.
   
   TIP: Watch the audience reaction and faces
   
   If they appear confused, then perhaps you're going too fast and need to slow down. Or need to clarify something another way by using different words.
   
   An effective communicator is very in-tune with his or her audience and reacts accordingly. So do this! And of course, you always want to speak clearly so people can understand you. Don't overload them with technical jargon. Instead, use wording that's appropriate and more easily understood by your audience.

Tips & Warnings

• Relax and feel confident in your ability to do well
• Watch your "oos and ahs." In other words, try not to use them during your presentation. It's a sign of nervousness
• React to your audience. In other words, watch them and react accordingly
• Present your information in blocks for better absorption
• Don't overload with side things
• Use visuals to make things more interesting and get more information across
• Don't read your speech! You must sound natural and not robotic
• Don't be a know-it-all! You simply have some information to share with others