Published on April 13, 2021

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7 Reasons for Enrolling in an Effective Communication Course

• Post author By Rishi Jalan
• Post date April 13, 2021
• No Comments on 7 Reasons for Enrolling in an Effective Communication Course

 

 

We have this belief at the back of our mind, that because we’ve been uttering words since we were children, we know how to communicate well.

‘Because bro.. I speak.. and words come out.. and that’s communication…’

And in a way it’s correct. Communication is something we all do, which is throwing out information. But effective communication is when that info is actually received by the listener. You could be talking to a wall for all it matters. So you think and wonder that maybe you could just learn this along the way by making mistakes. Well, you could, or you could possibly join an effective communications workshop. Here’s why:

1. Nobody teaches you this. Sadly they just don’t teach this to high school students. You learn languages in school, sure. But most of our time is spent being told to shut up and bury our heads in the books. And then there is an expectation for you to have magically learned effective communication. How? This is truly a 21st-century skill that needs to be learned somewhere.

2. Talking to people you know is easy. Talking to strangers is tough. When we’re comfortable in a group setting with friendly faces, it’s easy to relax and talk. But when you’re in a room with unfamiliar people, that is when we tense up and our worst fears come crawling. Being in a course with strangers helps us get comfortable in our own skin.

3. Your workplace is now Global. Even if you have lived in multiple cities in your own country, today’s landscape has shifted drastically in terms of your job requirements. You’re going to interact with people from different countries and different cultures. One thing might mean something here and the complete opposite elsewhere. Most courses will help you learn how to navigate these choppy waters.

4. Communication mediums are changing rapidly. At one point in time, all you could do was write letters. Even if it was to a person in a different country. Today’s tech has thrown that out the window, and we’re constantly finding novel ways to communicate. With each of these platforms, there are new rules and new obstacles which come up. Do you really want to learn it the hard way?

5. Technology has destroyed in-person communication. Sounds a little extreme, but consider why we don’t pick up calls anymore and ask people to text us instead. We’ve become too comfortable hiding behind a screen, especially with this Zoom-obsessed world. It’s made us a lot more reliant on technology and reduced our readiness to interact in person. When you’re in a course you are literally forced to speak to each other, and cannot hide behind your phone.

6. You first need clarity in your head. The biggest myth of effective communication is that it’s all about external words. But how can we forget the communication in our head? If we don’t have clarity of our thoughts, the words that come out will always be jumbled. There are tricks and methods that you can learn, which help focus the mind first, then allows the thought out to the world.

7. Because why not? This isn’t school. You aren’t getting graded. You literally cannot fail. Even if it helps you a bit, isn’t it worth it? It could provide mentorship for high school students like you. To cut out the crap and help you connect with others in a straightforward and simple manner. Maybe in university. Maybe at your future job. Maybe with every person you meet. We communicate with everyone, and that is what makes us human.

There are many ways to learn effective communication. You could do a leadership workshop, you could go through tons of videos online, or you could just create your own rules and practice on random people. The point is about always trying to improve your communication, to help get your point across with the least effort.

Can you say ‘What?’ in 10 different ways? It’s a simple exercise to learn from. Your mind is probably already running and trying different versions. We know all these things at some level, but we just don’t pay attention to them. Wouldn’t it be great if we found more ways to improve ourselves? Think and see what other exercises come up in your mind, and share below.

Published on March 6, 2021

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What is Most Important in Public Speaking?

• Post author By tbrg
• Post date March 6, 2021
• No Comments on What is Most Important in Public Speaking?

Did you know that there is a championship for Public Speaking? People literally get on stage, talk, and then a world champion is selected. Just imagine your poetry or debate competition, but put it on a global stage with millions of eyes.

And this has probably created some pressure in your mind already – ‘Do I need to be world champion…?’

No, you don’t. We generally think of public speaking as getting on stage at a TED Talk and giving a rousing speech. Then you come off and are surrounded by hundreds of people trying to shake your hands and take selfies (pre-pandemic of course).

But public speaking is just, Speaking in public. Be it one person or a thousand, it’s about putting an idea into the mind of the person in front of you. It isn’t just about talks and speeches, it’s about getting a point across. Sure it sounds easier when it’s just one person instead of an auditorium, but effective communication is tricky either way. And the key to that is understanding who you’re talking to.

Listen. Learn. Enjoy

Most believe that public speaking it about them, the speaker. But it’s not, it’s all about the Listener. If you didn’t have anybody listening to you, it’s the same as talking to a wall. So remove yourself and your ego, start paying attention to what the listener wants. The fear of being judged also comes from not understanding who we’re talking to. What would the listener want to hear? Good speakers will always read the crowd and adjust their words. If your audience removes their phone, you’re talking to no one.

Comedians are great examples to look at. Their words need to have an immediate effect – Laughter. So they focus entirely on delivery. They understand their audience and what would be familiar to them, so they tweak their words to get an effect. Now they aren’t born with perfect lines. They try multiple versions in different settings, to see which gets the best response. They love making mistakes and being embarrassed because when they hear laughter, they know they are hitting the right note. So try the same, experiment with the way you speak in smaller groups.

Another trick is to think about your favorite teacher and your worst teacher. We all have both. Think about what is different between the two. See what makes you listen to one and switch off from the other. Be observant and maybe you’ll realize a thing or two.

But Why Should I ??

That’s a great question. Why should you care about public speaking? Maybe you feel that you’ll never be on a stage. Maybe you feel that with the tech boom, you’ll be safe behind a screen. And this is when the cliché reasons pop up – It helps in resumes, it helps in becoming a leader, it’s a 21st-century skill, it helps in entrepreneurship, it helps get you a job, blah – blah.

The main reason is that it makes you a better person. To be a good speaker you have to be concerned about your listener, so it teaches you to think about others. It makes you confident and more centered. It makes you face your fears one step at a time. Careers and work and resume, all happens later. But right now, it helps you connect with those around you.

So How?

– The more you do it, the less afraid you become.

– Be genuine. Everybody can see through an act. Even if you stumble, at least people understand that you’re human.

– Body language is key. Learn how your posture can throw people off.

– Keep it simple. You aren’t trying to win an award for the most arty-farty speech. You want to get your point across.

– Let your ideas be strong, make them interesting and worth sharing.

– Join fun workshops on public speaking.

– Speak like a person you would want to listen to. If you wouldn’t listen to yourself, why should others.

– Don’t confuse people by throwing too many ideas out there.

– Breathe and don’t be afraid of the pauses. If there is silence, it just means that you have their entire attention.

People always talk about politicians as great orators. Churchill, Nehru, Obama. Maybe look at motivational speakers instead – Tony Robbins, Brene Brown, Deepak Chopra. Learn how they inspire through their words. You can also apply for our 6-day Effective Communication course if you would like to equip yourself with communication skills.

Who has inspired you? Do you have any fears about public speaking? Share your thoughts below and see if it resonates with others as well.