The “Selling Yourself” Handbook 179
14
The “Selling
Yourself” Handbook
C 179 c
HERE IS A summary of the major communication skills and tech-
niques that you’ll find helpful for a quick review before any speaking
assignment. Let’s begin with the things I urge you to do.Throw out anything I’ve suggested
that isn’t comfortable for you
It’s important to appear natural to your audience. If a tech-
nique feels fake, it will probably look fake. But before you decide
to discard a suggestion, try it out. You may find new freedom, new
naturalness, and new skill. The open face and the gesture come to
mind immediately. You may think you’re looking stupid, foolish,
and “bug-eyed” when, really, you may be barely elevating those
brows. One client told me, “I must never gesture. People are con-
stantly telling me I look like a windmill.” I suggested that he con-
tinue to use gestures but make a conscious effort to vary them. It
worked beautifully for him.Talk, chat, converse, and communicate
Conversation is the root of all oral communication. The goal of
communication is to implant in my mind what’s in your mind. And
that is done best when you talk to me. The burden of the effort is on
the communicator. Don’t ever forget that. Moving your mouth and
saying words in a common language won’t be enough.