Johannesburg, 18 Aug 2017
Lenore Kerrigan, Country Sales Director of OpenText Africa, recently addressed young, black women at the Maharishi Institute which is a BBBEE partner of the company. The sharing of skills is a societal imperative, says Kerrigan. The young women were enraptured throughout the talk on 'The Art of Communication'.
Know your audience
Kerrigan asked the young ladies if they communicate in the same way with their parents as they do with their friends. The result was an outburst of laughter - of course they don't. Kerrigan used this as an example of knowing which form of communication works best for which generation. "Your first job interview will likely be the most stressful communique you will endure. It is important for you to research not only the company, but the interviewer." Through the use of social media platforms like LinkedIn, one can learn a great deal about the person with whom you are to communicate. Their likes, dislikes, and overall philosophies can be garnered through what they post, what the share, and what they like.
Non-verbal communication and culture
Explaining a point practically is the best way to ensure retention of the lesson, says Kerrigan. Asking for an audience member to shake her hand, she demonstrated the need to be cognisant that different cultures hold different views on what is acceptable. The young women described her firm handshake as 'creepy', yet to the Baby Boomer in her, she views a firm handshake as respectful.
Digital communications
The world of social media has indeed brought about a change in how we communicate, whether personally, or in business. "If you wouldn't want something you post on a roadside billboard, don't hit send", guidance Kerrigan recently gained from a social media legal expert. Millennials are more likely to share content on the platforms than older generations, remember once it is posted, it is there forever. If a potential boss or business partner goes through your social platforms years later, would they hire you?
Presentation skills
As a seasoned speaker, Kerrigan is well placed to offer advice on how to reduce nerves. In fact, there are what she calls 'The 10 P's':
1. Plan
A benchmark is your planning time should be between four to five times longer than your presentation. This excludes research time. This is purely about ensuring the flow is correct, your presentation is well laid out and easy enough to understand.
2. Prepare
Ensure you have everything you need for your presentation, from a laptop to a double adaptor, you don't want anything to increase your nerves and running around for an item you could have brought yourself will lead to more stress.
3. Practice
In today's digital world preparation for a presentation is relatively easy. "Video yourself, play it back, perfect your methods, and repeat", says Kerrigan. Present to your parents, your friends, or even just to yourself in a mirror or on video, the more you practice, the less likely you are to be nervous.
4. Paint a Picture
In essence, a presentation is a story, so with that said, ensure that your presentation clearly communicates the content. Storytelling has been part of human culture for millennia, we are geared to understand and appreciate a good story. This will help your audience retain what you have said.
5. Props
The addition of props creates excitement amongst the audience, it breaks the monotony and activates audience interest.
6. Perform
Using your body and voice creates intrigue. Using different tones of voice for different topics makes the audience more likely to listen to you. This should be part of the practice stage, where you can play with various tones.
7. Posture
Your audience is watching you, so ensure that you are not slouching - if you seem disinterested, why should they listen to you?
8. Participation
Audience participation not only breaks the ice, but it ensures they remain focused and engaged. Ask the audience questions and engage them in the discussion.
9. Punctuality
"If you are early, you are on time. If you are on time, you are late", this piece of advice isn't just for presentations, it is across the board. If you are someone unable to keep track of time, ask a friend or colleague who is great at that to help you.
10. Payback
When the audience has left the room, you don't want them to think "I am so glad that's over, what a waste of time!", you want them to be as excited about your topic as you are and that they have gained something from their time spent. Following the steps above will assist if achieving this goal.
In closing, Lenore reminded the young women that their communication style is their personal brand, so be aware of how you talk, write, and interact with everyone around you.
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