Many times, we think that finding the right words will bring about understanding with others. With differences in culture, behavior, and personal history, there are many ways that communication that seems clear and concise can fail to connect. Here are 7 ways that communication can go off in a wrong direction.
1. A lack of organization can confuse the people you're trying to deliver your message to. If you haven't clearly organized your thoughts, your listeners can be spending time trying to connect the dots and miss out on your real message. Make sure that you don't confuse your listeners.
2. A failure to make eye contact can make people doubt your sincerity. While you're trying to make your point, they can be wondering about your motives - wondering why you won't look them in the eye. You have no way of knowing what direction that might take them.
3. A monotone will give your listeners opportunities to take their thoughts elsewhere. Everyone has many distractions and all of them will bounce in and out of their thoughts no matter how significant your topic is. Even if what you have to say is important to your listeners, a monotone will cause you to lose contact.
4. Not engaging the audience in the presentation, especially if it's a long one, is a big mistake. The longer you talk without involving your listeners, the more likely they are to start missing parts of your message. Pull them back in with a question or an exercise.
5. Underestimating the value of stories. Even before we had language, stories conveyed messages in gestures and pictographs. Stories connect with common experience. That's why you can find the same kinds of stories across cultures. They are a universal way of passing on important values and concepts.
6. Excessive attention to notes or to slides is a show stopper. If the audience is where you want your message to go, you definitely don't want to make them feel left out. You've been at presentations where you can't help but wonder if the presenter would notice if you all left. Don't ignore the people.
7. Letting others take over your presentation. You've been in those presentations, too - the ones where some know it all seems to think it's an opportunity to take over and it turns into a battle for time between the presenter that you came to hear and the audience pirate. Maintain control.
Conclusion: Your presentation will be more effective and achieve the results you're after with relevant, clear, concise communication and a conscious effort to maintain the connection you have with your audience.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joy_Montgomery
1. A lack of organization can confuse the people you're trying to deliver your message to. If you haven't clearly organized your thoughts, your listeners can be spending time trying to connect the dots and miss out on your real message. Make sure that you don't confuse your listeners.
2. A failure to make eye contact can make people doubt your sincerity. While you're trying to make your point, they can be wondering about your motives - wondering why you won't look them in the eye. You have no way of knowing what direction that might take them.
3. A monotone will give your listeners opportunities to take their thoughts elsewhere. Everyone has many distractions and all of them will bounce in and out of their thoughts no matter how significant your topic is. Even if what you have to say is important to your listeners, a monotone will cause you to lose contact.
4. Not engaging the audience in the presentation, especially if it's a long one, is a big mistake. The longer you talk without involving your listeners, the more likely they are to start missing parts of your message. Pull them back in with a question or an exercise.
5. Underestimating the value of stories. Even before we had language, stories conveyed messages in gestures and pictographs. Stories connect with common experience. That's why you can find the same kinds of stories across cultures. They are a universal way of passing on important values and concepts.
6. Excessive attention to notes or to slides is a show stopper. If the audience is where you want your message to go, you definitely don't want to make them feel left out. You've been at presentations where you can't help but wonder if the presenter would notice if you all left. Don't ignore the people.
7. Letting others take over your presentation. You've been in those presentations, too - the ones where some know it all seems to think it's an opportunity to take over and it turns into a battle for time between the presenter that you came to hear and the audience pirate. Maintain control.
Conclusion: Your presentation will be more effective and achieve the results you're after with relevant, clear, concise communication and a conscious effort to maintain the connection you have with your audience.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joy_Montgomery
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