Communication Skills in the Workplace - PowerPoint Presentation

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Communication Skills in the WorkplaceSlide2

What Does “Communication Skills” Actually Mean?

Non-verbal communication skills (NVCS) refers to the ability to convey a message

without words

through facial expressions, body language, eye contact, etc.

http

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfDWQG47pAQ

Communication skills (CS) refer to the ability to speak, listen and write carefully, with particular attention to the message and the audience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjF4rKCR81o&playnext=1&list=PL342797B4A74C5711Slide3

Communication Skills: Why Do They Matter?

Effective non-verbal and communications skills (CS) enable your audience to understand your precise message, thoughts and feelings.

For example

Ineffective CS: “We have to make sure we get the paperwork to administration.”

Effective CS: “The 5

th

week progress reports must be delivered to administration by 8:30am on Tuesday.”Slide4

Non-Verbal Communication Skills (NVCS)

One of the most powerful forms of communication.

NVC often sets the tone for verbal communication.Slide5

NVC

Elements of NVC –

Facial Expressions

Identifying facial expressions – poll

everywhereSlide6
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NVC

People all over the world can identify the primary 6 emotions regardless of culture (happy, sad, anger, fear, surprise, disgust) –

Why do you think this is?

When email and then texting became more and more popular there grew a need for emoticons because people were lacking NVC in order to decode tone



Has anyone ever experienced some sort of miscommunication while texting or

emailing because your tone could not be

conveyed accurately without

nvcs

?Slide13

NVC

Elements of NVC –

Body Language

(the way people stand, sit, walk and gesture)

Identifying Gender and Emotions -

http://www.biomotionlab.ca/Demos/BMLwalker.html

Ex. Men and women who have a youthful walking style (sway their hips, bend their knees, lift their feet, and swing their arms) are seen as happier and more powerful

than

people who walk slowly, take shorter steps, and stiffly drag their feet

Open vs. Closed body language

Everyone examine your own body language right now – what does it say about you? Share. Slide14

NVC

Elements of NVC –

Eye

Contact

Avoiding Eye Contact = evasive, cold,

fearful, shy, indifferent

Frequent Eye Contact = intimacy,

sincerity, self-confidence, respect

Constant Eye Contact = tense,

angry, unfriendlySlide15

NVC

Elements of NVC –

Touch

An expression of friendship, nurturance,

sexual interest but also perhaps power

and dominance

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What is the NV message being sent?Slide17

What is the NV message being sent?Slide18

What is the NV message being sent?Slide19

Examples of NVCS

Think-Pair-Share

Brainstorm 1 example from your own lives of NVCS

.

Ex: I stand in front of the class and wait when I want your attention

Key Issues to Consider:

What is the non-verbal action?

What were you trying to communicate?

Was your non-verbal action successful? In other words, was your action understood?

You will have 2-3 minutes to complete this task

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Importance of NVC

We make judgments constantly based on NVC (who to hire, date, trust…) – 1 second clips of political candidates faces strongly influence people’s attitudes towards those candidates

Standing confidently can actually make you more confident –

how is this information useful?Slide21

Communication Skills

An essential skill in the workplace is the ability to SPEAK, LISTEN and WRITE clearly.

How can you speak clearly?

Remember Bert and Ernie –

What was their problem?

Speak slowly and clearly

Remember your tone

of voice

Consider what your message is before you deliver it. You want to ensure the message you are trying to send is not lost in translation!

Ex: Two friends, Jack & Robert, go hunting. Jack accidently shoots Robert. Jack immediately calls 911 and says, “Oh my goodness, I think I killed my friend!” The 911 operator says, “Well, go make sure your friend is dead.” Jack says, “Ok, give me a second.” Jack then walks over and shoots his friend. “ Jack comes back on the phone and says, “Ok, I’m sure he’s dead.” Slide22

Communication Skills

How can you listen well?

Be an active listener!

Pay attention when someone is speaking to you!

Maintain eye contact

When appropriate, repeat back what has been told to you

If you are asked a question, do not feel you have to respond right away. Think about it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VOubVB4CTUSlide23

Communication Skills

How can you write well?

Use proper English – not the following:

Ex: @

wrk

, g2g, l8tr, ha

ha

ha

, any1, r, u,

gotta

, i etc.

“Hi…I

gotta

go 2 the meeting 2night but I’ll c u l8tr

.”

What is the impression that is made if the above language is used in your writing?

Grammar is important:

A panda bear eats shoots and leaves vs. A panda bear eats, shoots and

leaves

What is the difference between these two statements? How was the meaning changed?Slide24

Communication Skills

Fully express your ideas, do not assume the reader knows what you are talking about.

“Why weren’t you in class?” vs. “I noticed that you were absent from Careers on Dec. 3

rd

and was just wondering if everything was ok, where you were at that time and whether or not you had permission to be away

.”

What is the difference between these two statements?

Provide a list so your needs are clear

“Hello John, I require the following: pencils, erasers, etc.”Slide25

Communication Skills

Why is it important to know non-verbal communication?

How is this lesson on communication important in a careers class?Slide26

Reflection

Write a brief, 2 paragraph reflection detailing how you can improve your communication skills.

Discuss what you need to improve.

Discuss how you can improve it.

Let’s Brainstorm some examples together first

THIS WILL HELP YOU WHEN IT COMES TO INTERVIEWING SKILLS, AS WELL AS EVERYDAY COMMUNICATION.