Communication Best Practices

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Let's take a look at best practices for the primary modes of communication. We'll explore what makes a good speaker as well as focus on the three V's of communication: verbal, visual, and vocal. You will also learn how to recognize nonverbal cues in yourself and others. Professional speakers have an array of tools to choose from that enhance their communication and make them more confident whether they're motivational speakers, politicians, or CEOs. Having concrete goals and knowing how to navigate challenges can greatly enhance any speaking engagement. Here are some tools that the best professional speakers use to communicate with confidence according to Forbes. Start your speaking engagement with a strong opener. This can be an icebreaker, a joke, or a story that lightens the mood, or something that grabs their attention immediately such as a stimulating anecdote or a statistic. Getting your audience's attention from the beginning is a reliable way to keep them engaged and it will help you boost your confidence. Effective professional speakers are often motivating people into action. It's easy to grab an audience's attention when what you have to say is invoking a specific goal. If you can provide your audience with an incentive or at least convey a sense of urgency with your topic, you're more likely to engage people. Another useful tool is knowing your audience. Understanding who you are speaking to can make all the difference in getting your message across, so it's important to have an idea of who your audience is. Not only will this help you tailor your message to maximum effect, but knowing your audience can also prevent you from alienating people. When you know what your audience wants and doesn't want ahead of time, it gives you an opportunity to craft a more effective message. Professional speakers practice. You'll want to rehearse what you're going to say, ideally more than once, and pay close attention to all the words you use. Be mindful of unnecessary phrases or fillers, such as words like um or uh. The more you eliminate words that don't serve your message, the clearer your point will be. Finally, professional speakers use confident body language to project an air of authority. As a public speaker, occupying your stage with confidence can lessen anxiety and help you connect with your audience. This can be as simple as making eye contact with your audience, standing with your feet planted wide and holding your shoulders back. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy says that using powerful body language can help decrease stress hormone levels in your body and produce more testosterone even in high-stress situations.