Jody White, Speaking Directly

If you’re like most people, walking into a room full of strangers can be overwhelming and downright scary. The reality is that small talk is very important for networking events, interviews and social events. Preparing for a speech or presentation is critical to ensure your information or message is understood by your audience. Training yourself for impromptu speaking opportunities is no different. I’ve always admired people who have a knack for talking about anything and everything to just about anyone. It’s a joy to be around people who make small talk seem so easy and fun that it’s been a goal of mine for many years. The key is to practice and keep inventing ways to make it easy for you that it becomes “second nature.” Below are tips I’ve learned from observing other “small talkers” and have proven successful for me: Hello ! The first thing I do now is to be the first to say hello to people as I walk into a room; shaking hands and introducing myself if time permits. Ano...

Here are some steps to be confident in all that you do: •Be your own best friend and pat yourself on the back, often. •Focus on the positive things in your life. •Surround yourself with people who support you and want you to be successful. •Never allow another person's negative comment or rejection to bring you down. •Wear clothes suit your body and style. •Keep your word…always! •When you are w ... rong, admit it and apologize. •Do your best every day. •Don't be defensive; remember people have different perspectives. •Remember that action speaks louder than word; follow through on your commitments. •Be easy on yourself; we all make mistakes but learn from them. •Remember life will always have ups and downs; keep a positive attitude.

If you search “listening” on the internet, you will find countless articles with great tips and ideas to listen better. No matter what you read, listening is a big challenge but it’s so important! Why it’s tough to listen. Many times we are distracted by what is happening around us that we disengage from the conversation. Perhaps other people are talking around us or walking by and interrupts our focus. Other distractions might be that we are thinking of things we need to do later in the day; grocery shopping, paying bills, homework, laundry and countless other duties. And yet, another distraction is within ourselves; we might be thinking of what we want to say next that we just don’t listen. What does listening have to do with communication? Everything! I used to believe I was listening intently to others on a regular basis because I could remember “bits and pieces” of a conversation. However, that WAS the problem! I realized I was “hearing” (sound of their voice) and not “liste...