leadership development
24 Sep Simple & Effective PowerPoint Strategies for Non-Technical Listeners
When presenting to non-technical listeners, remember that your PowerPoint slides should clarify and emphasize your key business points. As a presenter, you may think all the information on the slide is important, but do your listeners need to understand it? Avoid overcrowding them with text and complex charts. Remember, your listeners should be listening, rather than reading your slides.
Here are four tips:
- Identify the main takeaway for each slide.
- Remove any unnecessary information.
- Add value by conveying information not shown on the slide.
- Ensure every slide is essential.
12 Sep Meaning Keeps Non-Technical Listeners Engaged
I recently met with a client who was concerned about presenting on a “dry topic”. His topic was full of data and technical concepts that he felt would bore the audience, and after hearing his first run through, he was correct.
One of the best ways to present technical information to a non-technical audience is to focus on what data means, not on the data itself. For example, if you analyze the stat sheet of your favorite athlete, the collection of numbers and statistics translate into how good or great the athlete is. Perhaps the data indicates that they are stronger on the road than they are at home, which is meaningful when you plan to bet on a game.
This example translates across industry from life-sciences to logistics. Instead of breaking down the scientific method, talk about how many lives your therapy saved, or how quickly life-saving supplies can be received after employing your new system.
Getting to the point or meaning behind your message will keep your non-technical listeners glued to your message. Then, when they seek you out to learn more, you’ll have the details in hand and ready for them to dive in.
5 Sep Cross-Cultural Conversations: Why Do We Misunderstand Each Other?
The topic of misunderstanding has many angles to discuss; it’s hard to pick one — tone, choice of words, inflection, context, etc.
Let’s look at teams that have members from other cultures. Now, remember, each group has its own culture, so when you see me use the word culture, it does not only mean different countries; it might mean other departments. The specific word I’ll focus on for this discussion is IDIOM.
Definition
an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for “undecided”) or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way) – Source: Merriam-Webster
While this may all sound like Latin to you, are we indeed that different in today’s modern world? Has the world changed that much? I like the topic of idioms because it’s how many Americans and other cultures communicate. Without awareness, it can be highly confusing for individuals learning English as a second language or those visiting an American culture.
A less formal explanation is that an idiom is a collection of words that together convey a specific meaning, but if you look at each word, they have very different uses.
Examples
These are just a few. As professional speech coaches, we train teams on cross-cultural communication often. During training sessions, we want participants to learn that what makes sense to them may not make sense to someone else. The other person might understand each word, but the collection of words together may have a different meaning. They should be aware of what they are saying, how they are saying it, and confirm understanding.
Imagine your daily conversations at work. How fast do you talk? How much information do you cover during a meeting? You see, your listeners nod and smile. Your talk makes great sense (to you). They express visual responses of understanding when, in reality, they have no clue what you’re saying. Then, you are surprised when the project comes out differently than expected.
Great communicators make an effort to maximize understanding. Perfect? No. However, we can improve our speech to communicate with clarity when we recognize the idioms that have become so ingrained into our speech. The sounds and words we use to communicate our thoughts can make perfect sense to us, but do they make sense to our listeners? If you use an idiom, try explaining it or consider how your listeners will or will not understand it. Give it some thought, and see how being more careful when communicating with people from other cultures does not improve.
26 Aug Pause and Consider Your Pauses
Pauses in conversations serve several important functions and are an integral part of effective communication. A pause can signal the end of one thought and the beginning of another; a break between two related thoughts can give the speaker a moment to gather their thoughts or indicate that the speaker is searching for the right words. Pauses can also convey the speaker’s emotions, such as hesitation, uncertainty, or discomfort.
In some cultures, long pauses are considered a sign of disrespect or disinterest; in others, they are seen as a sign of reflection or respect for the listener. For example, in some Asian cultures, pausing before answering a question is customary to show respect for the person who asked the question and to show that the speaker is considering their response carefully. SSee Talk is silver, silence is golden: A cross-cultural study on the usage of pauses in speech for more information.
Pauses can also be used strategically in conversation. For example, a speaker may pause to emphasize a point or create suspense. A well-timed pause can indicate the speaker’s confidence and control over the conversation. In contrast, an awkward or lengthy pause can signal nervousness, discomfort, confusion, loss of control, or a lack of preparation on the speaker’s part.
It is important to note that the length and timing of conversation pauses can vary depending on the speaker’s culture, language, and personality. Some speakers may naturally use longer pauses, while others may use shorter pauses. The context of the conversation may also determine the length or type of pauses used. The best way to determine the appropriate length and timing of pauses in conversation is to observe others and practice using pauses in your conversations. If you find yourself stepping on another’s words or vice versa, you may want to pay more attention to the length and timing of your pauses.
In conclusion, the importance of pauses in conversations cannot be overemphasized; pauses play a crucial role in effective communication and should not be underestimated. By understanding the various functions of pauses and practicing their use, we can improve our ability to communicate effectively and build stronger relationships with others.
19 Aug Are You Seeing What I’m Saying?
In a fast-paced digital-hybrid work environment, effective communication is crucial for success. Speakers want to be both heard and understood. One of the best tools we use to help clients is lining up their verbal and nonverbal cues.
Our message becomes clearer and more impactful when our words and body language sync. We listen with our eyes.
By using appropriate hand gestures, facial expressions, and body posture, we can emphasize key points, convey confidence, and establish rapport with our listeners. This alignment enhances understanding, engages attention, and helps overcome distractions in a bustling workplace. Your body posture can convey enthusiasm, confidence, and sincerity, reinforcing the spoken words. A good speaker coach will help you master the art of synchronized communication, leading to more effective communication and collaboration.
12 Aug Where Do Attitudes Come From?
Attitudes are developed in five major ways; a comprehensive understanding of these contributing factors may help you realize your attitude toward experiences and other people.
- Observation: As a very young child, you observed parents, family, and friends working, speaking, and interacting with others. As you observed their behavior, you were developing attitudes that would later shape your behavior in similar situations. Example: You observed your parent’s treatment of the service person who came to fix your refrigerator. You observed their language, tone of voice, and behavior before, during, and after his or her visit.
- Experience: Early in life, you experienced service that shaped your attitude. Rather than just observing, you actually participated in the service experience. Example: You were sent to the store to buy milk and bread. The service treatment you received had an impact on your delivery of service as an adult.
- Teaching: As a child, adults taught you what attitudes were appropriate in given situations. As an adult, you still may be learning attitudes from those around you. Example: Have you heard fellow employees say, “Don’t work so hard, you make the rest of us look bad” or “You can go easy on this part; no one checks up on you”?
- Peers: As a child, you were strongly influenced by the attitudes and behaviors of other children. Peer pressure is a well-documented and accepted contributing factor to the development of attitudes. However, peer pressure is not limited to childhood experiences. The attitudes and behaviors of your peers may also influence adults. Example: Many adults prefer to eat the same foods, wear the same clothes, drive the same cars, and frequent the same places as others because “It’s the thing to do.”
- Personality. At some point in your life, you must accept responsibility for these attitudes. You cannot simply attribute them to childhood happenings. Example: Are you still saying, “But; that’s the way I was brought up” or “We’ve always done it that way”?