Blowing Your Own Trumpet - How To Communicate Effectively

Article contributed by Kamal Kant

Jazz musicians often speak of the experience of learning to communicate their unique music as finding their own voice. If you want to communicate in your own unique style, you need to compose your own 'music' and 'orchestrate' your own personal message. As a Career Management Professional, I often come across many clients who are at a lost on how to communicate effectively. Some even have difficulty responding to "Tell me something about yourself" at interviews.

Whether you are a secretary, a PA, a high-powered executive or a knowledgeable professional, you need to have a personal script to introduce yourself when you meet clients, participate at a professional meeting, or attend a training workshop or a job interview. Enabling yourself for both effective professional and social interaction requires your personal introduction to focus not only on your professional image but also your image as an individual person who has interest and life outside work. This is where a good command of the language, vocabulary and grammar are critical. Articulate yourself with the right words and phrases, accompanied with the appropriate body language.

The opening sentences must be sufficiently crisp and clear to break the ice between you and your audience or the person you are conversing with. It must prompt the audience or other person to not only know more about you but also begin to provide connectivity to build a relationship bridge. Convince your audience of your earnestness, sincerity and conviction. It is critical to know about your audience so you can convey a natural and true image of yourself. If it is a professional seminar or training workshop, find out ahead of time the type of people likely to be present. If you are attending an interview learn about the organisation and who is likely to interview you. Tailor your 'script' appropriately.

Here are some more tips on how to communicate effectively:

Organise yourself to communicate

Your goal is to sell yourself and your own ideas. Organise your approach so that you make sense to other people on their terms. Especially, if you are meeting clients and customers, it is important to be aware of their needs and wants. Understand the product or service you are offering, marketing, communicating about or selling. It is therefore vital to have a good command of the vocabulary and understanding the meaning of the phrases you will be using. More importantly, understand any implied or subtle messages your communication can carry.

Show what you mean

Use your body language to ensure that your audience receives the same message through their eyes as through their ears. A gesture is effective if it helps people understand your message. It is not about acting but giving expression through facial and body movement. Express yourself with clarity and fluency. Explore vocal variety to convey your sense of friendliness. Be natural, show your true personality. Express vitality; be forthright and open. Paint shades of meaning with your voice, if necessary.

Work with your words

Select precisely the right words required to communicate your ideas clearly, vividly and appropriately. Expand your vocabulary. Apply your linguistic skills optimally. More significantly, choose topics of interest or concern to your listeners. Know how you want them to react. Research your subjects thoroughly, using the relevant resources. Know your facts and organise your ideas. Communicating thoughts and ideas is a skill that can be learnt.

Phrase your appeal in terms of others' self-interests

Make it persuasive. Your message must never sound rhetoric. Support your message with facts and figures. Convince your listeners that your interests coincide with theirs. Analyse their situation to choose your approach. Reveal your emotions positively. Translate ideas and insights into your own words. Your words and phrases should be inspiring, meaningful and helpful.

Challenge your audience

Challenge them to embrace noble motives or achieve their highest potential, but select subjects that have deep meaning to you. Ensure you organise the thoughts and beliefs you share with others. Try to seek common ground for discussion and exchange of ideas. To creatively communicate your own personal message, it is also critical to speak from your own perspective and conviction and in your own style. The only messages worth sending are on subjects in which you really genuinely believe and subscribe to or are a subject matter expert.

Managing and growing your career for progression and succession needs an astute ability with linguistics, a wide vocabulary, effective communication skills, relation management competencies and the ability to be your true self. A tall order ... but achievable, with effort, perseverance and diligence.

Copyright © Kamal Kant 2004
Contributed by Kamal Kant, Career Guide at Next Transition.
Website: www.nexttransition.com

« back to Articles

↑ top