I recently stumbled upon this article:
http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-3584-Career-Growth-and-Change-9-ways-to-sound-like-you-know-what-youre-talking-about/?SiteId=cbmsn43584&sc_extcmp=JS_3584_advice
The title of the article is "9 Ways to Sound Like You Know What You're Talking About." I found that it goes hand in hand with the concepts we have been learning in class about what makes a good public speaker. Below are the nine tips from the article:
1. Record yourself and play it back.
2. Identify and break your bad habits.
3. Be aware of your body language.
4. Find your "optimal pitch."
5. Speak at the "rate of no mistakes."
6. Take advantage of pauses.
7. Focus on continuity of phrase.
8. Remember to breathe.
9. Let your enthusiasm show.
Most of these are self-explanatory, but for details on the specifics of each item, you'll want to check out the original source from the link above. I found these tips very helpful, though, so I just thought I'd share! Especially since I just got assigned to speak in church on Sunday, I will be able to implement these sooner than I prefer.
On that note, if anyone has any amazing references or insights on faith and/or hope, feel free to pass them along!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
Visual Design Inclined
Even though it wasn't worth any points, I really enjoyed the challenge Professor Middleton gave us to revamp that crappy Valentine's Day poster. It reminded me how much I really enjoy graphic design.
When I get going on a project like that, I just have to keep going and going until I have it just how I want it. My fellow MComrades and I had it looking really good during our meeting, but once I got home, I just couldn't stop myself from adding a few things here and there. So there I was, with a million things on my to-do list, and how was I spending my time? Tweaking a project, that likely already exceeded expectations, that's worth nothing more than a shot at winning a mystery-treat.
Maybe I should change my major--or at least take a few graphic design electives.
When I get going on a project like that, I just have to keep going and going until I have it just how I want it. My fellow MComrades and I had it looking really good during our meeting, but once I got home, I just couldn't stop myself from adding a few things here and there. So there I was, with a million things on my to-do list, and how was I spending my time? Tweaking a project, that likely already exceeded expectations, that's worth nothing more than a shot at winning a mystery-treat.
Maybe I should change my major--or at least take a few graphic design electives.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Social Skills: My Confessions
My disposition seems to fall into the "slow-to-warm-up" category. I have some shy tendencies but when I'm with people and in a situation where a feel comfortable, most people are surprised to hear that I'm naturally shy. Standing in front of a group with all eyes on me is not usually a situation where I am feeling in my element.
Some advice that Professor Middleton gave yesterday that stood out to me is to just have a conversation with the audience. For some reason that perspective caused me to relax a little about the idea of public speaking. We'll have to see if that will help me relax in the moment when my palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy (you gotta lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it, you better never let it go...sorry...I digress). Seriously, though, I shake so bad I''m afraid people think I'm having a seizure. I just need to relax a little!
So anyway, the conversation thing is a good idea; however, I honestly don't feel I'm all that great at that, either! I'm better than I used to be, but I think sometimes I'm too busy to make time for just casual conversation, or I'm too wrapped up in my own world to really make time to care about someone else's, or sometimes when there is a situation where I have plenty of time with someone then I overly worried about what we could possibly talk about for so long.
So what now? I think just like we learned in class, that sometimes you have to rehearse your presentation many times to make it look unrehearsed, I might just need to make more time to practice my conversation skills. Instead of shying away from the large group of people shooting the breeze at work, I can jump in and contribute. Instead of working on homework at the beginning of class, I could chat with the classmate next to me. I think I'm gonna do it. At least for a little bit.
Some advice that Professor Middleton gave yesterday that stood out to me is to just have a conversation with the audience. For some reason that perspective caused me to relax a little about the idea of public speaking. We'll have to see if that will help me relax in the moment when my palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy (you gotta lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it, you better never let it go...sorry...I digress). Seriously, though, I shake so bad I''m afraid people think I'm having a seizure. I just need to relax a little!
So anyway, the conversation thing is a good idea; however, I honestly don't feel I'm all that great at that, either! I'm better than I used to be, but I think sometimes I'm too busy to make time for just casual conversation, or I'm too wrapped up in my own world to really make time to care about someone else's, or sometimes when there is a situation where I have plenty of time with someone then I overly worried about what we could possibly talk about for so long.
So what now? I think just like we learned in class, that sometimes you have to rehearse your presentation many times to make it look unrehearsed, I might just need to make more time to practice my conversation skills. Instead of shying away from the large group of people shooting the breeze at work, I can jump in and contribute. Instead of working on homework at the beginning of class, I could chat with the classmate next to me. I think I'm gonna do it. At least for a little bit.
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