When asked to do question and answer sessions during presentation, I am always extremely nervous. For most of the time, it was not due to the uncertainty of my knowledge with the topic, but was because of the afraid of being misunderstood. I would wonder whether my choice of words, gestures, facial expressions can help in my explanation. In my opinion, to convey the message in short time using the most succinct words, like other communication skills, is one of the most difficult yet important skills that could represent a person.
We are interacting with people and exchanging messages all the time, ever since we born. To many of us, communication with others is instinct that we even do not realize the power of using it skillfully. We sometimes say too much during a conversation and lose the focus point; sometimes our voice become too tense in a public speech that the fear could not be covered by the sounding manuscripts; or sometimes we are so used to have emoticons in a message that accidently convert a formal report into a dairy. Most of all, we sometimes are just too confident in the way we express ourselves and interpret others (which are admitted, have been used for so many years), that we could not realize that one chance of being promoted in the workplace has been missed during our conversation with the boss. In one word, communication is an art that if used properly, it can do things more than convey a message.
Dear Cangming:
ReplyDeleteLike you, I am also quite fearful of presentation as I am not too confident to speak in a crowd. I would like to share what I usually do to prepare for presentation. As the saying goes “Practice makes perfect”. I would make sure that I have enough practice and rehearsal till I become very familiar and fluent in what I would be saying before the actual presentation. I think that once you are very familiar with your presentation, the facial expression and gesture would come naturally. If your fear is due to the question and answer process only, I think you can first pre-empt the questions that would be asked and prepare your answers before the presentation. I am sure that your presentation skill would improve as this module goes along.
I also agree with you that communication is an art that is difficult to master. Inevitably, it is necessary for us to acquire it as good communication is required to complement the knowledge and technical skills that one may possess.
Lastly, I do not quite get what you mean by this sentence in the second paragraph of your post “sometimes our voice become too tense in a public speech that the fear could not be covered by the sounding manuscripts”. Can you please clarify?
With regards,
Kar Liang
Hi Cangming, glad to read your post. I do agree with you that appropriate gestures is vital especially during presentation as it can aid in delivering the message across to the audience. Moreover, I feel that knowing the communication skill is easier but often we just do not apply to our daily conversation. I guess it is a habit to remind ourselves to be a good communicator as to deliver our messages across to others effectively.
ReplyDeleteHey Yvonne,
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to understand your take on how much effective communication means to you.
May I make a guess to the reply to the last paragraph of Kar Liang’s comment? I would believe that what Yvonne was referring to was that sometimes we become so tense that fear in our voices just shows through so explicitly no matter how perfect the script was crafted (in a bid to garner confidence) or how prepared we can be before the public speech. For this point, I have to agree, but it may yet again be treated with practice, practice and more practice.
To end on a quirky note: Practice makes perfect, but nobody is perfect – so why should we practise? Of course it is to be a step closer to perfect. Thus, I hope that through this module, it may just be a wonderful platform for you to practise and develop your communication skills, which is frightfully broad in scope and an uphill task to master.
Cheers,
Sam
Hi Cangming,
ReplyDeleteThe first paragraph is good as you talk about yourself. However, the second paragraph talks about communication in general; it would be better to talk about what it means to you.
Kar Liang's question suggests that clarity is lacking. The other C that you have to be concerned with is correctness. Examples of a lack of correctness are your second sentence of the first paragraph and your first sentence of the second paragraph. While the errors did not impede my understanding, I had to read twice to get your meaning. Perhaps, you could get someone to help you proofread before you post.
A very big thanks to Kar Liang, Kent, Sam and Ms Goh, sorry I haven't responded to you earlier. Yes, as Sam had pointed out, for the voice part, I am actually referring to the situation when we are very nervous, there will be a tremor in our voice. And sometimes we do not notice it (this could also be the reason why we are recording the peer teaching presentation.).
ReplyDeleteSorry for the confusion caused by the language inaccuracy and thank you very much for point this out. I will practice more and pay more attention in my next post.