CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – January 11, 2021
Verbal Communication Skills
Verbal Communications with Clients: If a large part of your work involves one-on-one communications with customers, it’s helpful to have a “gift of gab” – particularly if you are a sales professional. Keep in mind, though, that your conversations need to be focused upon identifying and addressing your clients’ needs; using your verbal talents to encourage consultative dialogues will ensure positive client relations.
- Anticipating the concerns of others
- Asking for clarification
- Asking open-ended questions to stimulate dialogue
- Calming an agitated customer by recognizing and responding to their complaints
- Emphasizing benefits of a product, service, or proposal to persuade an individual or group
- Noticing non-verbal cues and responding verbally to verify confusion, defuse anger, etc.
Verbal Communications for Presenters: Public speaking is a talent that is honed both through practice and through formal training. Speaking articulately and persuasively to a live audience involves:
- Enunciating each word you speak clearly
- Introducing the focus of a topic at the beginning of a presentation or interaction
- Planning communications prior to delivery
- Projecting your voice to fill the room
- Providing concrete examples to illustrate points
- Restating important points towards the end of a talk
- Selecting language appropriate to the audience
- Speaking at a moderate pace, not too fast or too slowly
- Speaking confidently but with modesty
- Summarizing key points made by other speakers
- Supporting statements with facts and evidence
- Tailoring messages to different audiences
- Telling stories to capture an audience
- Using humor to engage an audience
Tips to Improve Your Verbal Communications
Even if you are a shy introvert who prefers to work independently, there are ways to improve your verbal communication skills so that you can more easily cultivate rapport with others.
Practice makes perfect, and so take the time to actively practice these communications skills for workplace success: active listening, clarity and conciseness, confidence, empathy, friendliness, open-mindedness, giving and soliciting feedback, confidence, respectfulness, and non-verbal (body language, tone of voice, eye contact) communication.
