The Communication Channel

28/09/2024

DEFINING THE WORK WE WERE BORN TO DO
We are all unique and precious. And, whether we realize it or not, we all have talents and gifts. Our first task is to discover these gifts, which we will do by finding and following whatever gives us joy. As we do so, we will discover a reservoir of energy within us. We will begin to create our own niche in life, which will lie in whatever comes naturally to us. We may need to face and shed old self-concepts and doubt. The work we were born to do leads us to find previously untapped strength of will and inner power flowing from our own spirit.
From: The 12 Principles Of The Work We Were Born To Do.
Author – Nick Williams.

08/09/2024

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?
Emotional intelligence is a type of personal and social intelligence, which includes the following:
· The ability to perceive, recognize, understand, and react to the feelings of yourself and those of others (emotional awareness)
· The ability to distinguish between various feelings and to name them (emotional literacy)
· The ability to express and control your feelings appropriately (emotional control)
· The ability to listen to others, to have empathy with them and to communicate effectively in terms of emotions and thoughts, and
· To use the information in directing your thoughts and actions so that you live effectively, are motivated and have a goal in mind (relation between thoughts, feelings, and behavior)

18/08/2024

HOW TO SERVE A TOAST

There are many occasions when proposing a toast is appropriate and desirable: births, birthdays, graduations, bar mitzvahs, weddings, anniversaries, promotions, and so on. The occasion could be a large gathering or simply an evening with companions. No matter what the occasion, the toast should be brief, meaningful, and sincere.

A good exercise is to try to write down as many short toasts for as many situations as possible and keep the list handy for various occasions. Whenever you hear a clever toast, jot it down, perhaps rewording it to fit your own personality. The following are examples of toasts for various occasions:

 Births:
To Brian Walter, may you have the strength of your father, the patience of your mother and, until that time, may you be as quiet as your teddy bear.

 Birthdays:
May the joy of this day be the forerunner of the many, many more to come. Happy birthday, Marisa.

 Bar mitzvahs:
To Andy, may the helping hand of God be always near as you leave boyhood and enter adulthood. Shalom.

 Graduation:
As you leave the community of academe and enter the community of the business world, we wish you the best for unlimited success and happiness. Congratulations, Lloyd.

 Weddings:
To two beautiful people who have found each other, Richard, and Janet. May life shower on both of you torrents of love, health, and happiness.

 Anniversaries:
To Arthur and Sylvia, may the happy memories of yesterday and today be multiplied tenfold for all you tomorrows. Congratulations.

 Job promotions:
To one of your company’s wisest investments from which it’s bound to reap substantial dividends – your promotion. Good luck, Barbara.

 A toast to you:
Here’s to the student who may be called on to say a few meaningful words on someone’s special day. Be the request from a friend, a loved one, or boss, when you open your mouth, may you never be at loss.

SERVING A TOAST
Refer to the occasion. Why is everyone here?

If the toast is to a person, refer to an achievement and link it to their name in the toast. For Example: “To my daughter Jane, who turns 21 today”.

Express everyone’s good wishes to the recipient of the toast.

Remember not all toasts will be to an individual, some will be to the launching of a new venture and its future success, etc.

When proposing a toast, it is your duty to ensure that, for example, all present, do have something in their glasses before you start. If they do not, call for a pause or recess while their glasses are filled, or just ask them to fill their glasses for a toast.

The procedure then is to ask them to stand (or rise) and wait briefly while they do. If you speak while they are all getting to their feet not everyone will hear you.

Then you ask them to raise their glasses and drink a toast to ……. and give the words of your toast. Remember to give the words in a simple form and correct from the audience’s point of view because they will repeat what you say.

Then you can tell the audience to be seated.

RESPONDING TO A TOAST
This requires you to say thanks and show appreciation and then turn the attention of the audience back to the proposer of the toast or the occasion. For example, the subject of a 21st birthday toast could say, “My mother and father have been wonderful parents”. Someone being honored could refer to the support and cooperation of colleagues, etc.

18/07/2024

PRESENTING A GIFT, TROPHY, CERTIFICATE OR GIVING A FAREWELL SPEECH.

Refer to the occasion.
Call the person to the front.
Talk about the achievement of the recipient.
If appropriate, mention something personal such as how hard they worked for it or wishing them luck in some new venture.
Express goodwill and make the formal presentation.
Try and check what the “thing-to-be-presented” is beforehand and check that it is present at the event, and you know where it is in relation to your speaking position. It is also wise to handle it before the presentation to check that there is no part that can fall off or break as you present it!
Your words could be something like “On behalf of this Club, I present you with ……. For your excellent ……”
If you must do a farewell speech:
• be brief.
• thank the person for his contribution while knowing him.
• wish him all the best.
• congratulate him on his new venture.
• do not embarrass him with old “history.”
Start with words like “On behalf of the company, (staff, etc.) it is my privilege to greet you and wishing you all the best with your new venture………..
We…………..
If there is a farewell gift, shake his/her hand on behalf of the audience and hand him/her the gift.

• Lead the applause.

21/06/2024

14/06/2024

OCCASIONAL SPEAKING
INTRODUCING A SPEAKER

• Avoid stale clichés (“He needs no introduction” or “It is indeed a pleasure”)
• Be brief.
• Be specific.
• Get names and details right and pronounce them properly.
• Ask for information about anyone you must introduce, from the person themselves if possible.
• Do not anticipate what the speaker is about to say or create unrealistic expectations in the audience by expressing any opinion about the quality of the presentation.

An easy way to remember what you have to do:
1. Refer to the particular audience.
2. Speak about the occasion.
3. Mention why this particular person, experience, profession, and short background.
4. State why this particular speech.
5. Finally present the speaker to the audience, finishing your speech with the name of the speaker and leading the applause as they come up to speak.

HOW TO INTRODUCE A SPEAKER
The main problem with introducing a speaker is that, all too often, the introducer talks far too long.
If you’re responsible for introducing a speaker, consider the following guidelines:

BE AWARE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
Your primary function is to prepare and motivate your audience to listen to the featured speaker. If you can instill such interest, you’ve done our job.

BE FAMILIAR WITH THE SPEAKER AND THE TOPIC
As soon as you know who the speaker will be, find out as much as possible about his or her background and the subject of the speech. If she is well known, information about her will be available through her press office or in newspapers or the Internet. If he is not well known, call him for a profile.
If possible, try to meet the speaker before the event to ensure that your information is accurate and current and that you know the speaker’s topic. You don’t want the speaker to have to correct you during his or her opening remarks. Sometimes the title of the speech will suffice; at other times it may be appropriate to mention the subject matter.

BE BRIEF
How often have you heard a MC (Master of ceremonies) say: “Our speaker this evening needs no introduction,” and then give a biography from birth to the present? If the speaker needs no more than a short introduction, then give it.
The length of your introduction should not exceed two or three minutes. No better example of brevity and simplicity exists than the introduction you’ve heard so many times, ‘Ladies and Gentleman, the President of the United States.”

BE CAREFUL NOT TO EMBARRASS THE SPEAKER
Sometimes a chairperson can go to extremes in praising the speaker as one of the most brilliant, eloquent, and humorous orators of the day. This is embarrassing for three reasons:
(1) the speaker very likely cannot live up to such an introduction,
(2) the speaker probably realizes that, and
(3) the chairperson may be preparing the audience for a resound letdown.

BE NATURAL
If you’re good at telling anecdotes and jokes or at being humorous, great. Nothing sets an audience more at ease and puts them in a receptive mood than a few laughs. It will benefit you to spice your introductory remarks with humor that directly links the speaker, the subject and the occasion. However, if you’re not a naturally humorous person, don’t try to be. Humor in the wrong hands can be disastrous. As any professional comedian will tell you, trying to make people laugh is a very serious business.

BE INFORMATIVE
It’s important to know and present a balanced blend of the following pieces of information:
 the speaker’s background
 the subject of the message
 the specific occasion
 the audience

Ponder each of these items separately and completely when you’re preparing the introduction.

BE CAREFUL NO TO MAKE PERSONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE SPEAKER’S SUBJECT
This is not the time and place to editorialize. When you introduce the speaker’s topic to the audience, don’t elaborate on the topic. That is the speaker’s job. You may mention the importance of the subject, its relationship to the audience, and the speaker’s knowledge of it, but leave the contents to the speaker.

BE SURE TO PRONOUNCE THE SPEAKER’S NAME CORRECTLY
If you’re not positive about the exact pronunciation of the speaker’s name, ask how to pronounce it in advance. If you must, write it down phonetically.

PRESENT THE SPEAKER TO THE AUDIENCE
If you feel that the speaker is not well known to the audience, you may mention her name several times during the introduction. If the audience knows her and you want to use a dramatic approach, you may announce her name at the very end of your introduction. After you’ve presented the speaker, face her and in a warm, welcoming manner, wait until she arrives at the speaker’s stand; then return to your seat. (You start the applause.)

14/05/2024

GIVING A SHORT TALK

As you mature and start your ascent in the business or social community, the odds are that you will be called on “to say a few words.” Industry executives agree that there is no surer way for an employee to earn recognition in the company than to display an ability to communicate effectively before an audience. The same holds true for your fraternal (brotherhood), political, or other social activities. You’ll be amazed at the respect and admiration you earn when you can comfortably give a short talk.

No set of rules encompasses all the situations that may surround a special occasion talk. Many factors impinge on the talk: your personality and position, the circumstances of the occasion, the time element, the type of audience, the main speaker, and the reason for the particular talk. All these factors must be considered.

The most important characteristic of these talks is brevity. Usually the talk ranges from one to five minutes except for the toast, which is usually less than a minute. If you’re the chairperson, your function is to be an intermediary between the head table and audience. You’re not expected to give a long-winded speech or to spoke fun at the guest of honor. Your job is to move the proceedings along quickly and smoothly, with dignity and professionalism.

There are many types of special-occasion talks, ranging from announcements to sales talks to welcomes.

29/03/2024

IMPROMPTU SPEAKING
Is when you are asked to speak in public without prior notice. It can be one of the most terrifying speeches you will ever do; standing up in front of a crowd having to speak for a few minutes without preparation is daunting even for the most season speaker.

Becoming skilled at impromptu speaking can give you the self-confidence you need to give a last-minute presentation, sail through a challenging meeting, or convince others of your ideas. You can build your reputation when you learn to speak effectively under pressure.

Impromptu speeches are a wonderful way to practice quick thinking and concise speaking.

DURATION:
The duration of an unprepared speech is normally no longer than 3-5 minutes.

NOTES:
You can use some cue cards, but do not rely on them during the whole speech and not making contact with your audience.

THE STRUCTURE OF AN UNPREPARED SPEECH
Just as in your prepared speech, you must follow the following structure according to the length of the presentation. Divide the time in such a manner that the body will use most of the minutes but never make your intro and conclusion too short.

The following will be for a three to five minutes speech:

- An introduction – Between a half or one minute long. Always follow the guidelines of purpose, goodwill, and interest.
- The body with one, two or three pointers – Between one or one and a half minute long.
- The closure – The last half or one minute.
Take care never to skimp your closure. It must still have some value and not rushed.

Your voice will be your instrument to confirm your point of view.

IDEAS TO START YOUR PRESENTATION, IMPROMPTU SPEECHES, OR ANSWERS WITH:
• Thank you for this opportunity.
• I am grateful for your question I was hoping that you would ask it.
• Thank you for sharing your opinion with us. I hear what you are saying or asking. So let us take moment to discuss this.
• I was looking forward to this moment.
• Thank you for this opportunity to share my point of view with you.
• I think that…..
• Thank you for your concern and I respect your point of view, maybe if you would allow me to share my opinion we can come to an agreement.
• I was so excited when I learned about your company, so - firstly, secondly, and thirdly..
• Let me begin by saying.

CLOSURE:
• So I trust that you will agree with us.
• So I trust that you are also looking forward to our partnership in making this project a success.
• So thank you for your explanation, we are really looking forward to this.
• Thank you for this opportunity to share my point of view with you.
• I trust that I answered your question.
• I trust that you are satisfied with the outcome of our discussion.