Communicate clearly

Remember the fundamentals of communication

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Athletes and salespeople know that when they get in a slump it’s usually because they strayed from the fundamentals. Communicators face the same problem. Often in a hurry, they cut corners, only to see the quality of their work diminish.

These pointers will help you stay sharp.

become succesfulThink, then act: How often have you quickly blurted out a comment or pounded out an e-mail? Did you ever wish you could take it back? Always pause a few moments to compose your thoughts and emotions before responding. Your judgment must be based upon reason, not passion.

Edit your material: Few of us can write clean, concise copy in one pass. Review your text for wordy sentences, redundant adjectives, and other fluff. Grammar must be at professional grade. If you’re having difficulty here, seek out a remedial course.

Use active voice often to add zip to your material. Employ your mental knife to cut the fat from around the meat of your copy. Avoid clichés and minimize metaphors.

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Public speaking tip – Let your hands flow freely

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Newer public speakers often wonder what to do with their hands. They assume they’ll be nervous, and fear they’ll look foolish if they don’t have just the “right” gestures.

In this public speaking tip, I say: Let ‘em be.

By that I mean leave your hands free to do what they want. Don’t worry. Even if you are quite nervous, your hands won’t do anything bizarre. In fact, they tend to act rather naturally while you’re speaking.

Hands generally follow the flow of the presentation. As you look one way, you will naturally gesture in that direction. Then as you turn to the other direction, the other hand will offer a gesture.

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Handle media interviews with confidence and poise

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On occasion you may be asked to comment for a story. The reporter could be seeking information on a topic related to your industry or reporting on something that occurred at your firm. While a crisis requires special handling, an occasional phone interview is something you can address. These pointers will help make your interview go smoothly.
 
Know your facts Chances are the reporter will ask about routine matters. Try to imagine the types of questions you’ll be asked, and compose answers. (Also, when the reporter calls, have your assistant gather some idea of what will be covered.) Notes and other necessary information should be at your fingertips. The conversation may be relatively brief–perhaps 10 to 15 minutes–so make sure you can find the pertinent details quickly.
 

The first time truly is the first time

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When talking about an event that has occurred, avoid adding first unless you are referring to the initial event. For example: “When we were first married….” This would apply to two people who had been married to each other but then got divorced and remarried. Just say, “When we were married….” You may also hear … Read more

Bi- vs. Semi-

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These examples should help you use the two prefixes properly. The magazine is published on a bi-monthly basis. (Every two months.) Lawmakers are working on the state’s biennial budget. (The budget period lasts two years. Note change in spelling.)   Semi-, on the other hand, refers to one-half of a time period. We get paid on a … Read more