Leadership Communication Strategies and leadership skills coach

How To Win your audience with your personal style

1 Comment / Communication, Presentations, Public Speaking, Speaking Skills / Archana Parmar

An effective public speaker should be able to utilize devices that will be able to capture the attention of the audience. One effective means for them to give you that much needed interest is this: get them to go on stage. Make them participate. When someone is on stage and he or she happens to be a member of the audience, the rest will almost always stay attentive. Why? Because they would like to see what you will be doing to one of them. Also, because they are thinking they could be up there themselves and so to save their precious egos from embarrassment they at least need to know what is going on. No matter how good or excellent you are as a presenter or as a public speaker, nothing beats the excitement of getting someone to be on stage who really should not be there in the first place. What is going through their minds at that moment when you pull an unsuspecting someone from their complacency is that, Oh my god, what if the speaker selects me to go up there next? What am I going to do? Then later, I need to pay attention to this. A little bit later as you go through your presentation, the audience will then most probably think, What point is he/she making? And then as you take your point across, the audience will then get to think, Now I get it. Because you made them pay attention, you have forced them to listen and respond to your statement in the privacy of their minds. However, there are those extremely shy and very sensitive members of the audience who might withdraw from going through the rest of your presentation if they hear you will be calling on them up on the stage. The objective is to gain an audience and not to lose any of them. Make it clear prior to your asking someone to come up on stage with you that you are asking for a volunteer and that no one will be forced if they do not want to. Notice that if the majority of your audience are shy, once you finally get someone to be on stage, all of them will almost always heave a sigh of relief that you would actually feel a breeze pass you by, really. Another way to get the audience to participate as well as pay attention is by giving them due recognition. Try to acknowledge a single member of the audience for a specific achievement or a moment of a good performance, or also acknowledge a group of the audience. To take it further you can get on a call with me at a time convenient to you. Just click here and choose your slot.

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6 Steps That Will Make You a Better Communicator

Communication, Non-verbal, Presentations, Speaking Skills, Uncategorized / Archana Parmar

Here are six tips for improving your communication style: 1. Identify your style: Knowing how to improve communication skills will come easier once you become aware of your own communication style. Each person has a unique way of communicating. Listen to your own speech. What sorts of words do you use? Which sort of body language and what tone of voice are you using? Now, think of someone who, in your opinion, is a good communicator. Compare your style to theirs. You’ve just taken an important first step in how to improve communication skills. 2. Observe others around you: Now that you are aware of your own style, study the style of those around you. How do the most important people in your life converse? How do they say things? Look for approaches you can model and make your own. 3. Adjust to the other styles of communication: Don’t think it is too late to change your way of conversing because its been years. You had to learn to communicate in the first place and you can unlearn certain behaviors or change them. Sometimes we get stuck in a communication rut. A father once was having a hard time with his teenaged daughter. She was growing and he thought she didnt tell him what was going on in her life. They were in a heated discussion when he asked, Why didnt you tell me? Her answer was that she had, but he was too busy lecturing her to hear her. He learned that adjusting his style to his daughter would involve listening first before jumping right into solving the problem. 4. Rapport: To build rapport, during a conversation try and match the other persons movements, posture and verbal style. Don’t do everything they do, but mirror one or two things. For example, if the person gives mostly short answers to questions, you follow suit. Or, maybe they talk at a slower pace than you usually do-slow your speaking speed to match theirs. This may sound simplistic but it is a very potent way to make someone feel very relaxed and comfortable in your presence. 5. Be mindful of your surroundings: The way you communicate at home may not be the same as in a different environment. Make sure you change your style to suit the different setting. Some comments you might want to tell your best friend, in private. Other things can be shared in a group setting. Learn how to improve communication skills by altering your style for the appropriate setting. Many of us know someone who offers far too much information in a group setting. 6. Avoid imitation: Don’t criticize others for communicating differently. If we all communicated in the same way, we’d soon be bored with each other. Getting a good grasp of your communication style and finding ways to accommodate other peoples styles, is a good way to improve your communication skills. All of these are steps to be taken every single day. The more you implement, the more you master.

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Grammar- to focus or not to focus

Business Emails, English language, Uncategorized, Writing Skills / Archana Parmar

Whether we are talking about a ten year old who is about to sit for his English test paper or whether we are talking about a thirty year old who is attempting to write a thesis for master’s degree, we cannot turn down the fact that picking up proper English grammar is important. Whenever we discuss English grammar, the prompt reaction of many people I know is to cringe. They are reminded of junior high and high school English class and the way that their English teachers made them to English grammar exercise after exercise. Surprisingly, English grammar is usually seen in such a negative sense, it is all the more important that people replace those lies with the truth that learning English grammar really is important for anyone who wants to have a proper perspective of the English language. When we learn to communicate in English, not too many of us take the time to think about the fact that English grammar is the very thing that allows us to communicate with and understand one another. It is not so much because we use the same words of the English language, but it is because we all put our words together in certain ways to form thoughts and sentences that we can understand each other. This, in short, is the purpose of English grammar. English grammar is the mechanics of the English language that allows for two people who use the same vocabulary to be able to communicate without misunderstanding. Certainly there will always be some level of misunderstanding that happens when two people communicate, but so much of our problems will be lessened if we all take some time to learn English grammar. Many schools today are moving away from making English grammar a part of the regular curriculum. So while students may learn how to read and write successfully, they will likely never learn the English grammar or the reasons why they are speaking and writing as they are. So if you or someone you know is struggling with any element of the English language, or if you know a child or someone who is attempting to learn English for the first time, then make sure English grammar is included as an important PART of the learning process. Being able to speak, understand and write a language is an important part of being successful no matter what you do in life. And taking the time to learn even the basics of English grammar will go far in helping people communicate even better. Book your Free 30 mins call with me to know how my 3-step approach will help you in becoming an effective communicator of English Language.

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What is your purpose of learning Business English ?

2 Comments / Business English, Communication, Presentations, Uncategorized, Writing Skills / Archana Parmar

So you decided to advance your conversational skills in English? Congratulations. Improving your language skills can be a great way to move into a better job or even get the job you’ve been dreaming of for a long time. But, have you asked yourself this very important question? Exactly what profile/industry are you aiming for? This is a question many English language learners never really ask! Why am I asking you this question? You see the language we use changes depending on the situation. The type of industry, the work environment, and many other factors will influence the language used in one field from another. Of course some language and communication purposes stay the same, but a lot is different. This isn’t really too hard to understand, but let’s look at a simple example to simplify what I’m talking about here. Imagine two people who work for different companies in different industries. One works for http://microsoft.com as a programmer in the IT industry, and another works as a check-in attendant for Ethiad Airways in the airline transportation industry. Both require business English, but quite clearly the language the programmer uses to talk with “client/colleague/partner” will be very different from the language the check-in attendant uses. You won’t hear the programmer asking a client “Do you want an aisle or window seat?” very often. Nor will you find an airline attendant telling his or her supervisor that the latest sub-routine has a bug in it that is causing client’s computers to crash. This just makes simple sense. The work you do, the place you work, and the people you work with will all affect the language that you use on a daily basis. So, when you are studying English for business purposes, you need to remember a very important thing. You need to study the general business English that will be common in most business situations, but you also need to focus on the language that is specific to the business world that you will be working in. A combination of both of these is critical to your success. If you cannot use the language of your industry because you don’t really know it, you will have a very hard time getting (or keeping) a job. Pro tip: when learning Business English make sure it industry specific as well. What’s the Difference Between Business English and General English? Drop me a line at archana@archanaparmar.com to learn about the ways you can incorporate industry specific content to your Business English lessons.

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3 reasons you cannot speak fluent english

Business English, Communication, English language, Non-verbal, Presentations, Speaking Skills, Uncategorized / Archana Parmar

Speaking skills cover a wide range, from engaging in simple conversation to formal public speaking. It certainly plays a vital role in communication process. It is the most important type from the types of linguistic activities. Developing speaking skills help in creating an effective connection among the individuals’ network. Yeah! I am getting overtly expressive with the importance of speaking skills. Now some technical part, speaking is a complicated mental process and a productive skill. Producing speech is not a single skill, rather speaking is an interactive process of constructing meaning that involves producing, receiving and processing information. Effective Speaking includes two categories; accuracy and fluency. This means that developing speaking skill involves the correct use of vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and having the ability to speak spontaneously. Doing all of this at the same time brings in the ‘unwanted guest’ here: ANXIETY. Speaking is affected by these variables; therefore, foreign language speaking anxiety is one of the most prominent factors that has a negative influence on the oral performance of speakers of other language learning English whether as a second language or a foreign Language. Anxiety is a negative way to present human feelings. When we are anxious we feel nervous, worried and fearful. It is usually associated with unpleasant feeling and is similar to fear. Anxiety in communicating in a second language, especially when that language is English can have an adverse effect and can influence the speakers’ targeted goals. There can be different reasons behind these anxiety attacks: Lack of preparation Feeling of covering too many points in a short period of time Fear of being judged by the audience Now that we know the problem, let’s have a look at the solutions to cure these problems. Identify your fears: you can’t work on improving yourself until you identify the problems. Introspection is the key here. Accept the problems and share your feelings with others or write them down- read aloud for as long as you are unaffected by how it sounds. Mistakes are the best way to learn so that we are less likely to keep making them. The most important step is to keep practicing. Always remember you are learning to master a second or may be a third language while many native speakers do not even speak a second language. Schedule a free 30 minutes session with me to understand how you can overcome this anxiety. Or write to me at archana@archanaparmar.com

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7 steps to better Email Writingbuei

2 Comments / Business Emails, Business English, Communication, Vocabulary, Writing Skills / Archana Parmar

Professional emails are an important part of Business Writing. Nowadays, there are very few jobs that do not involve the daily use of emails, and due to the pandemic and remote working concept the adoption of lean media conversation is of unparalleled significance. We all know that the medium of communication in the business world is mostly English, also known as Business English. Emails have become an inseparable part of our business communication. Whether we are at office, co-workspace, or working from home, one thing that we keep checking/sending/responding to, is email. Email is incredibly important in the Business Communication. In order to make your emails communicate well, you must write them effectively. Business emails tend to serve two purposes: a. Giving information b. Asking for information. To make sure your emails do justice to these two purposes, follow the 7 steps to effective business email. Always start your email with a greeting (being polite is important in business). Tell the recipient who you are (state your name and how you would like to be recognized as). Clearly state the purpose of email (clear sentence to the point). Provide essential details (mention the attachments as well). Do state what action is needed. Close the email with suitable sign-offs Don’t forget to end with your signature. When the main purpose of your email is to communicate a problem and your proposed way to resolve it, you can follow the SCRAP structure. Situation: Start positively, explain the situation and your purpose for the email Complication: explain clearly the problem Resolution: explain your proposed solution to the problem Action: clearly state what you would like to happen next, the actions for the recipient and for you Politeness: includes thanking or praising the recipient. Write Better! Drop your email address here or drop me a message at archana@archanaparmar.com to join my free email writing course to learn more about writing better emails.

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Are you sabotaging your professional communication with these mistakes?

Communication, English language, Presentations, Speaking Skills, Uncategorized / Archana Parmar

Most of us are English-medium pass-outs, yet we mumble-fumble when it comes to express ourselves in English language. Ever thought of it? Most of the non-native speakers have learnt or studied the English language as a subject and not as a life skill, this contributes to the incompetency or the lack of confidence while communicating in English language and this very lack of confidence affects not just our job performance but also our capabilities as a professional (we all are afraid of being wrong/being judged/made fun of). To a great extent it hampers our growth as an individual. Different people have different problems, to some it is just about not getting the appropriate vocabulary, some find the words stuck in their throat, others doubt their usage of the correct tense, and then there are some who unconsciously use fillers. Fillers, most commonly seen, add to the break in your speech. They serve no purpose, fillers are better labeled as empty pauses. If you use- ‘ummmm, uhhhh, well, you know, ahaa,’ frequently… you know what I mean. Most of the times, the speaker doesn’t even realize that he/she is using these fillers. These empty pauses become a habit. This habit broadcasts insecurity and stifle effective communication. Fortunately, language problems are easy to identify and fix. All you need to do is start talking consciously. Talk slow- consciously- notice in what situations you take these fillers. Whenever you are on the verge of using any filler- You take a pause. Confident speakers pause, pausing as the punctuation of speech, a period is a pause when you’re reading, so are the colons, and the commas. PS: an easy method to get rid of these empty fillers is to record yourself and listen to it. Most commonly used fillers are: ah, um, actually, literally, I mean, like, you know, only, etc. Drop me line here or shoot an email at archana@archanaparmar.com if you want to know more about the tips and tools to become a confident speaker.

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Presentation Skills

Communication, English language, Presentations, Speaking Skills / Archana Parmar

Myth- Great speakers are born; well some of them are certainly gifted, they are born with the ability to stand in front of people and deliver a dynamic speech. While others, the not so gifted great speakers, they usually have invested years of their life in developing and practising their oratorical skills. These are the people who have been through the continuous process of learning, unlearning, and re-learning the basics of Public- Speaking. Just like your favourite sports-star or your favourite film-star, your favourite speaker also puts in great deal of time and efforts. Yes, presentations are a part of Public Speaking with a specialized audience; here the audience is well aware of the topics, intricacies, terminology, outcome, methodology of the topic. The whole concept of these presentations is as old as the Aristotle and Socrates’ times, it is just that the advent of technology has glorified it to its ‘modern work skill’ form. I have put the essentials of Presentation Skills in three pillars- Assess your speaking skills Plan and Prepare your presentation Deliver you presentation effectively Assess your speaking skills: With response to an individual’s behaviour towards Public Speaking, the speakers can be categorized in four groups: Avoider- This group avoids every single opportunity to be on stage to interact with audience. to network or talk to strangers to be in lime-light. Resister- Speakers who belong to this group may resist to be called upon to address an audience, they may unwillingly accept to interact with an audience if it gets an unavoidable situation altogether. Acceptor- This is the group for people who take up the role of the speaker as a part of their job. They occasionally offer to deliver presentations. Seeker- as the name itself suggests, they always seek the opportunities to speak. The difference between all of these categories is the way they manage their stress and anxiety. For avoiders, the anxiety creates roadblocks, whereas, for the seekers, it fuels their passion. Plan and prepare your presentation: Well planned is half done, it applies in the case of presentations as well. Plan everything about the event, right from your personal appearance to your outline and the details of your presentation. Personal appearance- plan everything- keep your attire according to the occasion, colour coordination, hairdo, footwear, accessories. I would like to add a note for the people who wear glasses- wear them if them you really need them during the event or you may invest in a pair of rim-less glasses for such occasions. Prepare your presentation- start with your ‘Why’- why do you need to create this presentation Who is your audience Where would you be delivering this When- time What- all would it be covering How- methodology. Working on these ‘WH’ questions will help you in creating a solid structure of your presentation. Body of presentation- Brainstorm all the possible ideas you can think of, related to the topic of the presentation. Prioritize these ideas and shortlist 3-5 topics (depending on the time allotted to you). Write these ideas and 3+1 bullet points hinting what would you be talking about for explaining these ideas. Rehearse- a full dress rehearsal will help you prepare for the actual event. Practice using a conversational tone, humour (in context), avoid chasing perfection- rather develop your own style of presentation. Delivery of the presentation: There is only one way of delivering any presentation effectively, i.e, engage with your audience. The way you connect and engage with your audience plays a key role in delivering a successful presentation. You should be able to communicate not just your word but you enthusiasm as well if you as a speaker want them to be enthusiastic about your ideas. Here, your non-verbal communication and your body language come to play. “It is not just what you say, but the way you say”, makes all the difference. Pay attention to your: Style- choose conversational style of speaking. Movement- move around to connect with them effectively and it will also let your energy flowing. Hand-gestures Facial expressions Voice-tone, pitch, fillers Posture Pace Pauses Learn to listen to your own self- it will tell you how you say what you say. Concluding a presentation: Be open to take up questions at the end of the presentation Be attentive to your audience’s questions and concerns Be honest with them is you don’t know any answer, tell them that you will get back to them and do get back to them. Feel free to Like, comment, share. Drop me a line @ archana@archanaparmar.com if you want to learn more about delivering effective presentations or to improve presentation skills.

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Components of non-verbal Communication: Paralanguage

21 Comments / Communication, Non-verbal, Uncategorized / Archana Parmar

The study of non-verbal Communication is divided into three main areas. Paralanguage- the way we say what we say. Kinesics- body language and facial expression. Proxemics- how the physical space is used. The study of Paralanguage focuses on the way we say what we say. Two identical verbal messages may communicate different meanings altogether, depending on the tone of the voice. Here, I would like to add that while speaking, apart from the words, a great deal is conveyed by the tone of the speaker’s voice, the rate of speech, the pitch, and the stress on the words. The way you speak a sentence can change the meaning by playing with the emphasis on certain words. Listeners can interpret various meanings from any sentence depending on the tone, volume, pitch, and other non-verbal cues. There are different components of Paralanguage-1. Voice qualities2. Voice qualifiers3. Voice characteristics4. Vocal segregation Voice quality:Components- volume, pitch, rhythm, rate of speech, pronunciation, and enunciation. Let’s take a look at the volume and the role that it plays in Communication. * It acts as an essential parameter of effective communication- people sometimes speak louder to grab the attention of their audience. * Speaking loudly (overly loudly) can be disturbing or annoying, speaking really softly will act as a barrier to effective communication. Volume of your voice has to be attuned to the situation. Voice Pitch:This one is in response to our emotions. Shrieking indicates excitement or nervousness and anger at times while a low pitch commands attention and respect. Your volume pitch plays a vital role in showing your audience if you are in control of the situation or not. Rhythm:It is about the pattern and the music of your voice. A smooth rhythm will project you as a confident speaker with an authoritative attitude. On the other hand, being out of rhythm may convey lack of clarity and preparation. Rate of speech:People speak about 150 words a minute on average. Speaking fast signifies a nervous, impatient speaker, while a slow speaker sounds boring and clueless about the situation. Pronunciation and Enunciation: Pronunciation plays a crucial role in building an individual’s image. Yes it varies from country to country so the best solution would be to adopt a clear way of pronouncing words that can be understood by everyone. Pronunciation is about making correct sound and paying attention to word stress and pitch. Enunciation is how correct a word is pronounced. It deals with the move movement of mouth and speed of speaking. Poor enunciation indicates carelessness at the same time overly precise enunciation may seem artificial/ phony. Vocal characteristics: Sounds which are audible such as- crying, whistling, clearing the throat, sighing, all these audible sounds serve to communicate something are called vocal characteristics. Noticing and understanding these sounds can help improve #communication. Last but certainly not the least is- Vocal segregates: Vocal segregates are also called ‘fillers’.Ummmm……, Ah……, Errr…….., I mean…., Actually…., You see….. Etc.They are the awkward components of speaking and should be avoided as much as possible. These empty fillers indicate the lack of confidence and lack of clarity. *********** Some interesting facts about non-verbal communication: Verbal communication can be planned, whereas the non-verbal is spontaneous and continuous. Verbal communication can be started and stopped abruptly, while the non-verbal can’t. Whenever the verbal and non-verbal communication contradict each other, non-verbal cues are considered to be more reliable. Drop me a line at archana@archanaparmar.com to learn more about the art of communicating effectively.

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Impromptu Speaking- a skill to learn

35 Comments / Communication, English language, Presentations, Speaking Skills, Uncategorized / Archana Parmar

What is impromptu speaking? Impromptu speaking is giving an unprepared talk. The typical characteristic of this form of speech is the unprepared delivery and the suddenness with which a person is confronted with a speech situation. Impromptu speaking is often conducted at those times when a person is called upon without warning ―to say a few words mostly at social/professional gatherings. Many people assume that impromptu speaking is easy. In reality impromptu speaking is extremely difficult. There are methods, however, if used properly, will enable a person to perform acceptably on the spur of the moment. The thought of public speaking intimidates many people. This fear can be reduced to a good extent when there is time to prepare and practice before getting up in front of an audience. What happens, though, when there is not time to prepare? When you are asked to speak without notice? This can make the most confident presenters nervous. The key to success in these situations is to have strategies you can use to compose your thoughts quickly and communicate the message clearly. 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 personal brand when you learn to speak effectively under pressure. It can also equip you with the techniques to conduct a successful question and answer session or make important connections at a networking event. By developing this skill, you can learn to speak with eloquence, humor and confidence, and you’ll ensure that you can communicate your messages clearly. This can be very advantageous as you pursue future leadership roles in near future. The easiest way to prepare for impromptu situations is to anticipate. Anticipating situations where you may be asked to speak unexpectedly. However, it certainly is not practically possible to anticipate every possible situation in your personal as well as professional life, so having a couple strategies to deal with those unexpected situations or to be able to handle those situations effectively, it is better to anticipate, prepare and practice for an unforeseen opportunity to speak. While preparing for these impromptu conversations, consider the two most common scenarios that people face: Being asked to share your thoughts, answer some questions Give an update, on a project/filling in for someone, without being told ahead of time. How would you feel if you face either of these situations? How do you deal these? What do you do? What do you say? How do you say it? What if you can’t think of anything worthwhile to say? ***** Let’s take you through this, for that, start with brainstorming… You may have many ideas, thoughts, expressions, fears, anxiety and opinions running through your mind when you are chosen to speak in front of a group. The first thing you must must and must do is to calm yourself down in order to convey your thoughts in a coherence and cohesion. Take a deep breath or two. That should always be the first thing to do. A common mistake most people make is that they start speaking before they have gathered their thoughts. Give yourself enough time absorb and observe the question or topic you are supposed to talk about. These deep breaths are strategically put to help you collect yourself and your ideas. It slows you down, relaxes you, and makes you appear more in control of the situation. As a personal brand you don’t want to project yourself as overtly anxious/nervous/perplexed. In this short time span, or this window of opportunity, try to interpret what is being asked in the question or request and why you? Repeat the question yourself before answering or better if you can rephrase the question or changing it slightly into what you want to answer. Ask for clarification if you have not understood the question, it will help you be more specific about the answer. At this point you may even ask the speaker to explain it in simpler words. Deal with one aspect/one point of view/ one topic and one supporting piece of information at a time. Remember: This technique gives you focus and allows you to answer accurately and with conviction. Say it clearly. Do remember: the way you say something is almost as important as what you say. Speak in a confident voice (not just a loud voice!) Use pauses strategically to emphasize a point Avoid sounding monotonous Maintain the eye contact with your audience When you convert your thoughts into coherent speech you are making a conscious effort of making yourself heard. You come across as being confident, persuasive and trustworthy. So by now, you might have had a fairly good idea how to handle situations where you are asked to respond to a question/situation extempore. Moving on to the situation where you are being asked to deliver an extempore speech. It is indeed difficult to prepare for an unknown topic, but you can prepare a method to deal with such encounters. One system of doing this is to have in mind various orders by which to develop your ideas. For example, you are asked to talk about ‘Family’. Here, you can talk about the this term indifferent contexts- family as social unit, your family members, values, importance of having a family, structure of family (joint/nuclear), extended family, professional family- your organization/department/unit. In addition to all these, you may also talk about things like: Why is this topic important to your audience? Give a back-story of the importance and relevance of having a family. What are the overall effects of your topic (such as,________) on your audience, the state, the nation, the world? What are the effects geographically? What are the effects politically? What are the effects economically? What are the effects socially? What are the effects religiously? What are the effects educationally? What are the effects morally? What are the effects agriculturally? What are the effects emotionally and

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