Communication Skills Basics

Many of our preconceived notions of what makes a great communicator don't match up with reality.

Verbal and non-verbal communication aren't taught in schools but can be a key factor for your success.

Being direct isn't always the most successful way to communicate or influence.

Fear of public speaking is perfectly natural.

Bad news causes many people to shut down, so it's helpful to start any communication with something good.

You don't need charisma to be a great communicator.

If you want to be a great communicator, don't use gimmicks to mask your problems.

Introducing yourself seems simple, but you can make your introduction memorable with preparation and practice.

Most people make a series of mistakes when introducing themselves and will most likely be forgotten when they're done.

What is your hook, and how can people connect with you in an easy, non-threatening way?

The only way to be supremely confident when introducing yourself is to record yourself on video and evaluate.

Will a friend notice the "hook" of your introduction? What do they like or dislike about your 30 second video?

Give people a reason to remember you or talk to you. What you reference in your introduction can start a conversation, which can lead to more.

There is no "perfect" voice, and many people succeed with traditionally flawed voices because they offer something unique.

Most people don't prefer the sound of their own voice, but recording it is key to improving it.

What don't you like about your voice? Compare your list to honest feedback from people you trust.

There are three kinds of feedback you can get from colleagues regarding your voice.

Listening to a recording of your natural conversation can reveal interesting ways in which you speak well about a subject you're passionate about.

Most people have perfectly good voices when they talk like to do in normal conversation and practice their material before delivering it.

Unnaturally lowering your voice to try and sound authoritative will have the opposite effect.

Confidence is the key to a strong voice and effective talk, and practice will significantly raise your confidence level.

Practicing on video is usually more effective than vocal exercises or other techniques.

Here's a quick way to eliminate verbal tics right now.

Our goal should be good communication, not perfect communication. So, focus on communicating ideas instead of preventing errors.

Speakers often try to sound smarter by using big words or specific phrases, but this is counterintuitive to good communication.

Narrow your messages down and use a cheat sheet to help yourself remember important points instead of relying on your memory.

Record yourself practicing an important talk to vastly improve your delivery and speech.

Outside perspective can greatly improve your performance, but your biggest problem may be a bad, ill-prepared speech.

The starting point for every presentation and speech should be answering this question: What do you want your audience to do?

What does your audience need to know? Focus on 5 (or fewer) important messages for your audience.

If you want to know what's most helpful for your audience, ask them.

The biggest difference between great communicators and everyone else is how they use stories to illustrate their key points.

Consider these rules to make your points come alive - and not bore your audience - during a presentation.

Prepare a plan and help yourself remember all your important points with a cheat sheet.

The best way to be confident when you speak is to practice - on video - until you love it.

Test your presentation video by asking friends and colleagues what stood out the most.