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Newsletter | Summer 2010 • Volume 18 • Issue 2Dear Readers, In this issue we are going to touch on a couple of different topics. In keeping with our tagline of Awareness, Action and Advantage, Pat Smith-Pierce emphasizes the importance of not only saying the right things when communicating with someone, but more importantly, saying things the right way. If your vocal traits don't match your intent, your message can be lost. Improper use of personal space can also negate the message you are trying to send. Who among us has ever walked out of a presentation, seminar, or training class and said "Wow! That was really good!"? It doesn't happen as much as it probably should, so we touch a key way to get the "Wow!" Finally, many people out there are still struggling to find jobs and for many reasons, are not successful. While many of them are not the job seekers' fault, the interview process is one on which the seeker has at least some influence. Pat offers some interviewing tips that can help, plus some insight on what to expect from coaching sessions. Sincerely, Dennis Hamilton WHAT YOU SAY + HOW YOU SAY IT = MESSAGE RECEIVED!Patricia Smith-Pierce
People often misunderstand what we say - not because of the words we use - but because of how we say it. Vocal Tones If your voice goes up at the end of the sentence or phrase when you are making a statement, it sounds as though you are asking a question. Try saying “It’s a beautiful day out.” and go up with your voice at the word “out”. It will sound as though you are asking whether it is a beautiful day out, not telling someone that you think it is. This is a common vocal pattern that can genuinely confuse your listener. Space Fillers How many times have you talked with someone who uses “Um”, “uh”, “you know”, "like" or other space fillers (as we call them) so much you begin to mentally count the number of times you hear it? The minute someone begins to count the space fillers they hear, they are no longer listening to what you are saying, they are paying attention solely to how you are saying it. Your message is lost! If you use any type of space filler, try to eliminate it so it doesn’t distract from your meaning. Personal Space
Do you get uncomfortable with someone who gets too close to you when they talk with you? Our use of the space surrounding us is very personal. One person’s personal space can be way too close or way too far away for someone else. One client said an interviewer made that very clear to him. The client likes to be close to the people with whom he is talking so at the end of the interview, he approached the interviewer to shake hands and say thank you. He felt uncomfortable with how far away from him the interviewer was so he moved closer. Imagine his surprise when the interviewer began to move back, actually beginning to move backward across the room. We, as Americans, usually feel most comfortable with about 1 ½ to 2 feet of personal space. Other people like to be much closer, as if they believe they can understand someone better by feeling the person’s breath. Yet some cultures like even more space between themselves and others. If a person feels their space is being invaded or that someone doesn’t want them to get close, they can easily misinterpret what you are saying. They may feel uncomfortable, threatened or, conversely, that you don’t really care about them. By paying attention to how you say something, specifically vocal tones and inflections, and use of personal space, you can improve the impact you have on others and make sure your message doesn't get lost. HOW TO GET THE "WOW"Dennis Hamilton
My friend explained that he is an experienced trainer and has taken many courses in his career and has walked out of a few and said, "Wow! That was really good!" He has also taught many classes and occasionally has received some "wows" on the participant evaluations. But in neither circumstance was the "wow" related to the technology! In fact, in many instances the only technology used was a flipchart and a whiteboard – sometimes not even those. It was then he realized that technology engages the eye. If you want a "wow," you have to engage the brain. How do you engage the brain? Everyone is different, so there are probably hundreds of ways, but here are a few. These can be done in an instructor-led class or e-learning.
Years ago when computers were first making their mark in Corporate America, I attended an annual goals presentation for the company for which I was working. The goals were projected onto a screen and when one particular goal came up, a starburst blossomed on the slide. The entire audience "oohed" and "ahhed" over this special effect and was mesmerized! At the conclusion of the goals presentation, people were filing out of the room and were still talking about the starburst. I asked a few people what the goal was and if it was a worthy goal. No one could tell me! No one remembered what the goal was! If your audience can't remember the goal, you probably won't reach it. That was a real lesson for me. Like special effects in a movie, they should support the storyline, not take its place. You don't want them to overshadow the message you want to deliver. Recently there was an article in a local west suburban newspaper about a physics teacher who had won an award for his teaching. He attributed his success to his teaching style, which, among other things, utilized the Socratic method. Put simply, that's asking questions to stimulate thought. His multimedia technology? A whiteboard. Multimedia and technology engage the eye. "Wow" engages the brain. A nice presentation is essential and technology can help, but getting people to think and process relevant information will get the "wow". Or, as Plutarch said, "The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited." RESULTS OF INTERVIEW COACHING
A few years ago when the job market was similar, there was a marketing executive in the Milwaukee area who was laid off. He was interviewed by Business Week magazine about how he re-entered the workplace and he said that although he was getting a few interviews, he wasn't getting hired. A friend suggested that maybe he was having trouble with his communication style, and suggested he meet with Pat Smith-Pierce for some coaching. The executive followed through, contacted Pat, and had a couple of eye-opening revelations. Pat showed him how to relax his posture and stop fiddling with objects on the desk. Both habits that made him appear indecisive. He had only two sessions with Pat, plus a few phone consultations on some other issues, and very quickly landed a consulting job for a major human resources consulting firm. The Business Week article continued, If you suspect that the way you are perceived by others is hurting you either in your job search or at the office, then this is what you might expect from some coaching sessions with Pat and The Insight Communication Group.
Personalized coaching will to enable you to better relate and establish a more congenial environment in the job interview. According to Pat, the interviewer can then focus on your message and skills, the things that are important to making a positive impression.
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The Insight Communication Group 1425 W. Schaumburg Rd #311 Schaumburg, IL 60194 (847) 895-6527 (847) 895-6576 FAX office@ticgltd.com www.theinsightcommunicationgroup.com |
Editor Dennis Hamilton CEO and Founder Patricia Smith-Pierce |
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Copyright 2010 The Insight Communication Group Ltd. |
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Have you ever said something to someone else only to receive little or no feedback? Or, worse yet, feedback totally different from what you expected? It might be that the person could simply not have heard you; could have decided to change the subject; or could have misunderstood you.
A few weeks ago a friend showed me a lengthy job description for a training position at a large international firm. Among the duties listed for the applicant was the ability to advocate the use of multimedia and technology to bring the "Wow" factor to the training classes.
As everyone is aware, the U.S. job market is still hurting very badly. While Wall Street may be creeping up bit by bit, millions are still unemployed and companies are continuing to be slow in hiring.