THE PERSUASIVE SPEAKER I

October 22-23

November 5-6 and 19-20

December 3-4 and 17-18

January 7-8 and 26-27

February 11-12 and 23-24

THE PERSUASIVE SPEAKER II

Think on Your Feet (and Seat)

December 12

March 26

July 16

September 10

THE CLIENT CONNECTION:

A Selling Skills Workshop for Professionals

November 14

CHECK OUT OUR BOOKS

Even a Geek Can Speak

 

Wooing and Winning Business

October 2003

SARS Changing The Way Biz Communicates.

Teleconferencing Replaces Some Travel.
The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak has had an unanticipated impact on how business people around the world communicate.  With international travel to the Far East down, use of teleconferencing has increased dramatically, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report. 

Which begs, the question, how can you communicate effectively during a teleconference? 

Here are some Speechworks tips on teleconferencing effectively:

  • Mute when listening. The biggest complaint about videoconferencing is sound quality.  The problem is tied to the sensitivity of the microphones on each end of the teleconference.  If your microphone in Atlanta hears a cough, the system will block out the sound coming from in from New York.  You can avoid the problem by turning on the “mute” when listening.
  • Wait before talking.  Before you start to talk, wait until the on-screen speaker finishes.  Most systems won’t let two speakers talk at once.  One or both will get blocked out.
  • Don’t ignore the videoconferencers.  Often a handful of people join a larger meeting by videoconference.  The videoconferencers sometimes get treated as second class citizens.  If you’re at the main site for the meeting, be sure to include the videoconferencers by looking into the camera and addressing questions specifically to them. And if you’re one of the videoconferencers, participate actively in the meeting.
  • Be energetic.  The technology sucks the energy out of your face and your voice.  To really come across effectively, you need to speak with greater passion in the voice and more pronounced expressions in the face.
  • Dress for the camera.  A light blue or pastel shirt with a medium to dark jacket is a good bet.  Certain colors and combinations confuse the camera and come across terribly.  High contrast (white shirt with a blue suit) is bad.  Patterns like plaid and stripes also get fuzzy and distracting.

Speechworks teaches professionals to communicate effectively in many different settings.  To learn how Speechworks can help your team connect with audiences call us at 404-266-0888.  Or check out our website at www.speechworks.net..