Part 2 Deciding Whether You Should Accept an Invitation to Speak

Second things first, too!

• Do you have something to say?

-Either you have bunches in your experience or

-You need to research!

-Sometimes it is just better to decline

• Must you accept immediately?

-You don’t have to accept immediately.

-It is often better to wait. Sleep on it.  Get back to the person after you’ve had time to think about the questions above.

English Communication: How to Say Good-bye

Greeting people is easy compared to saying good-bye, especially when at a social gathering.

Here are some of my favorite tips for graciously departing from a conversation.  The emphasis here is on “gracious.”

The situation: You have listened intently and participated in a conversation.  You deem it is  time to leave the gathering or you want to strike up conversation with someone else.

What to do?

Smile and tell the person “I am needing to go.”

Then call the person by name and acknowledge something they said.  This is to let them know you were indeed listening and taking in information.  For example,  “Bob, it sure was good talking to you.  I loved hearing about your hiking the Pacific Coast Trail.  It makes me want to start making a plan for hiking with my friends.  Hope you get to hiking again soon.”

Express your desire to see them again.  For example, “Hope I get to see you again at this gathering next time.”

Smile and depart.

What do I especially like?  The acknowledging of one of their topics of conversation.  I know it always feels so good to me when someone does that about what I have said.  So I make this a cornerstone of my leavetaking.

Gracious communication.  It only takes a few words.

Click here: www.cleartalkmastery.com/scheduler to sign up for a Free Sample Lesson with us!

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercises.

Deciding Whether You Should Accept an Invitation to Speak- Part 1

(Of course, if your boss asks you to give a speech, do it!)

First things first:

• Do you have the time in your schedule?

o   You need time to get to and from the event and answer questions

• Do you have time to prepare?

o   You want to prepare a speech you are proud of and satisfies the expectations of your audience

o   Preparing  a 30-minute speech can take hours, days, weeks or months depending on who you are speaking to and how important the speech is

English Communication: How Are You? More Angles of View–In Person & On the Phone

It’s not what you say, but how you say it.

“How are you?” is a ritual greeting in the United States.  But how you say it can move it from ritual to relationship.

Here are a few more angles of view:

Angle of view three:  For optimal connection, say the person’s name within your ritual greeting.  There is something particularly sincere about saying the other person’s name:  “How are you, Mary?”  By saying their name, you are demonstrating a bit of extra caring.  Depending on your tone of voice, the person knows if you sincerely want to know how they are really doing or if you are doing a pure ritual greeting.

Angle of view four:  55% of a person’s impression of you comes from body language.  Do you want to be perceived as being open and friendly?   Make your body posture open.  Legs and feet steady and straight.  Arms hanging naturally from the shoulders.  Be sure not to cross your arms in front of your chest.  Better to keep hands out of pockets.  Lean slightly forward.  Look in the person’s eyes.

Angle of view five:  Did you know that people can actually hear a smile over the telephone?  Try it the next time you are greeting someone on the phone.  The position of the lips makes different frequencies and tones and people can recognize that.  Combine that with a warm, sincere tone of voice, and you will warm the other person’s heart.

Angle of view six: For variety, try this: “I’m so glad to see you.”  Or, it’s great to see you.”

Yes, we have the same, classic take-home message: Communication is truly about connection.   So many angles of view—even for the ritual greeting, “How are you?” Do look and listen.  Do take the effort to know and say their name. Make your body language and tone friendly and open.  Express your pleasure. Remember to do connection.   Remember to be connected.  So satisfying for all.

Click here: www.cleartalkmastery.com/scheduler to sign up for a Free Sample Lesson with us!

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercises.

Make the Last Words Memorable

Here’s a simple formula for setting up your final line: just say, “I have one final thought that I want to leave you with.”  Or: “If you remember just one thing I’ve said today, remember this…”  Then give them a whopping thought.  Make it strong and make it relevant — to your talk and to your audience.