Communication Archives

Body Language: Fidgeting and Guarded Movements

What does it mean when someone fidgets a lot during an interaction? How does fidgeting influence people’s impressions of you? When it comes to body language, fidgeting is one of the things you should avoid. Your fidgeting may have nothing to do with your intentions, but people interpret it as insincerity. To make a positive impression, remove physical barriers and maintain an open stance when you are talking to someone. Here’s why you should avoid fidgeting in your body language.

How to Have a Deep Conversation With Someone

Do you want to learn how to have a deep conversation with anyone? How can you move beyond superficial topics and talk about things that are more personal and profound? If you want to move beyond superficial conversations, you’re going to have to build an emotional connection with your conversation partner. To put it simply, emotional connection is when people trust each other enough to reveal more about themselves—who they are and how they really feel about things. It’s at this stage that conversations move from being superficial to being meaningful. She suggests four techniques to help build trust so

How to Connect With People on a Deeper Level

Do you find it easy to connect with new people? How do you move beyond superficial conversations and get a person to talk with you on a deeper level? The key to connecting with anyone on a deep level is to show the person that you are like them. People interpret their similarities as a form of agreement that convinces them that their approach to life is correct—this increases their self-confidence and makes it easier for them to relax in your presence. Here’s how to connect with people on a deeper level, according to communications expert Leil Lowndes.

How to Make More Friends: Fake It Till You Make It

Do you find it difficult to make friends? What’s the key to making lots of friends? According to communications expert Leil Lowndes, the key to making friends with anyone is to pretend that you’re already close friends. Pretending to like others feels so good that it eventually turns into genuine affection. Here’s how to make more friends, according to Lowndes.

How to Have Interesting Conversations Every Time

Do you find it difficult to keep a conversation going? Do you often run out out of interesting things to say? If you often find yourself in a situation where you’ve run out of things to say, you’re not alone. Interesting conversations don’t always flow organically. Sometimes, you’ve got to put some effort into it and research interesting things to say in advance. Here’s how to have interesting conversations every time.

Why the Lack of Emotional Intelligence Creates Discord

What happens when leaders lack emotional intelligence? What effect can this have on their followers? Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions while also being able to understand and influence the emotions of others. The authors of Primal Leadership claim that emotional intelligence is the most important trait of a leader. Here’s what it looks like when leaders lack emotional intelligence.

How to Close a Speech: 5 Strategies for Success

What’s the best way to end a speech? What are some things you should avoid doing as you close your speech? A spectacular talk can be ruined by a bad ending. Your speech ending will determine how your audience will remember it. Avoid boring endings, asking for money, or alluding that there was more you couldn’t get to. With this in mind, here’s how to close a speech on a high note.

Public Speaking: Body Language and Movement Tips

Should you sit or stand during a speech? Is it better to move or not to move? There are no hard rules about body language in public speaking. Do what feels natural and comfortable—it projects confidence and helps you focus on delivering your speech as opposed to holding your body in a certain way. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

How to Prepare for a Speech: Stage Setup, Aids, & Tips

Does public speaking come naturally to you? What is the key to delivering an effective speech? Preparation is key to delivering an effective speech. If you aren’t an experienced speaker, consider using props. Props can be especially useful if you tend to get nervous when speaking in front of an audience as they can help you jog up your memory if nerves get in the way. Here are some tips on how to prepare for a speech, set up your stage, and keep your anxiety at bay.

How to Use Visual Aids in Public Speaking

What exactly are “visual aids”? What are the benefits of using visual aids in public speaking? Visual aids are any visual elements that are used for the purpose of enhancing or clarifying the speaker’s message (e.g. graphs, charts, slides). Visual aids can also serve as anchors to help you streamline your speech. If you choose to use visuals in your presentation, keep the following dos and don’ts in mind.