by Carrie Wilkerson

Communication is something that is necessary, but folks still seem to have difficulties with.  In order to perfect your method of communciation or rather EMPOWER it, you must begin learning by learning about yourself.

• Begin with what you know – to become an effective speaker, you must practice what you have learned.  Education is about learning,  but that is not all you need to become an effective and powerful speaker.  You must learn your limitations and only you know your limitations.

• Learn to listen – Yes, we all know that you learn by asking questions, but listening is just as important.  Learn to listen to your own voice.  When you speak, do you speak with confidence? Conviction? Listen to what you say and how you say things and start believing it what you say and say it with conviction.

• Keep your eye contact – This is one of the most important gestures that must be practiced in order to learn it and perform it without hesitation.  When speaking to others eye-contact is very important.  Keep your focus when speaking to large groups and direction your attention with your gaze, your audience will be entranced and not want to miss a word you are speaking.

• Humility – It’s okay to make mistakes, after all no on is perfect.  In fact others will relate to you more because you are not afraid to show your weakness.  It’s okay to ask if you are pronouncing a word correctly, this shows humility and others will respond more to this than to arrogance.

• Humor works – When in a situation that you may feel uncomfortable or perhaps in a room of people you are preparing to speak to, humor will help tremendously.  Breaking the ice with humor will make the time go quicker.  The crowd will feel that you are approachable and will listen to what you may have to say.

• Smile - A smile says it all much like eye contact. There’s no point on grimacing or frowning in a meeting or a gathering, unless it’s a wake. You can better express what you’re saying when you smile.

• Practice, practice, practice -  Admit it, there are times you sing to yourself in the shower. I know I do! Listening to the sound of your own voice while you practice your speech in front of a mirror can help correct the stress areas of your pitch.

• Relax – There are many tips that you will find in books or online regarding communication, public speaking and so on.  However, the most important tip to remember is to relax.  Take a deep breathe, and relax.  Nothing will ever come out right if you are nervous, or jittery.  Be comfortable with what you know and it will show.

These tips are some that will help empower you when it comes to communication of any form.  Sure public or private speaking can be intimidating, but only if you allow it to be.  Be confident in your knowledge and it will show in your poise and words and people will listen and enjoy.  http://blogbarefoot.com/

This entry was posted on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 10:25 am and is filed under Home Based Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.