Learning Objectives:
• Build on the communications ideas introduced during the Troop Assembly
• See, discuss and practice some of the basic skills of communicating effectively
When you speak, start in the speaker’s neutral position:
• Stand straight and tall, but comfortably
• Let arms hang freely at your sides
Where you stand in relation to your audience:
• Make sure the sun is not shining in your listeners’ eyes.
• Make sure they are in a generally comfortable place -- in the shade if the sun is out, for instance.
Moving around as you speak causes your listeners to follow you with their eyes, and keeps their attention focused on you.
If you notice that your listeners are not fully engaged, you can move toward them to regain their attention.
Hands are powerful communication tools.
• Use your hands and arms for emphasizing ideas and for controlling the flow of discussion. Move your entire arm, not just your hands. Make large gestures rather than small, tight ones.
• An open-handed gesture toward a listener invites them to participate. This is much more effective and welcoming than pointing at someone or not gesturing at all. An open hand with palm up encourages people to contribute ideas.
• Gesture with your palm down to calm someone who is talking too much.
• Keep your hands free so that you can use them to communicate. You cannot gesture with your hands in your pockets.
• Avoid crossing or clasping your hands or arms, especially in front of your crotch. This creates a V shape that pulls listeners’ eyes down.
What you say and how you say it are equally important.
• Speak clearly and loudly enough for the person furthest from you to hear you easily.
• Vary the pitch of your voice as you speak to add color and life to your communication.
A speaker’s eyes can lock in your listeners.
• Make eye contact with different people in the audience throughout your talk.
• Look at one person for about three seconds at a time before looking at another person for three seconds, and so on.
• Our eyes connect us. We communicate emotion and energy through eye contact.
Listening and paying attention to your listeners is very important in communication.
• Sharing ideas is a two-way process.
• You will use your ears and eyes to keep track of how your listeners are responding to what you are saying. Monitor them to see if they are paying attention, whether they seem bored, tired, hungry, or anxious to move to a new topic.
• Pay attention to your listeners and constantly adjust your communication to fit the listeners’ needs.
Feet, hands, mouth, ears and eyes are all important for communicating.
Your overall posture is equally important:
• Stand straight and tall
• Make eye contact
• Appear confident