NSBE - January/February 2008 - (Page 14)

Saying It Well G By Calvin Mackie, Ph.D. rowing up in New Orleans means you speak “funny,” and I often joke that when I went to college I could not conjugate the verb “to be.” As far as I was concerned, it was, “I be, you be, we be, all of us be!” During my first internship, my immediate supervisor brought me into his office and recommended that I spend additional time during the year in English and public speaking classes. The conversation was very painful, but his recommendations turned out to be life-changing. I enrolled in a speech and public speaking course the following semester and have been improving my verbal communication ever since. When developing your personal brand, you should pay close attention to your ability to communicate your thoughts, ideas and vision through speech. To communicate effectively, we must address all four components of the communication model: sender, message, channel and receiver. Sender: The sender must be authentic and real. Authenticity is not in your clothes, car or title but in the spirit of the words and actions that must emanate from a concerned heart. Message: The message must be consistent, coherent, specific and, most of all, validated and supported by our actions. Channel: The channels must be diverse and varied. Receiver: The receiver must be accessible, targeted and understood. Communication is more than just saying what is obvious or what’s on your mind; it’s the way you say it. Verbal communication, free of environmental “noise” or “interference,” is composed of these key elements: tone, vocabulary, word usage, dialect, grammar and articulation. If you are an ineffective communicator, there are several steps you can take to improve your skills: 14 • january/february Think before you speak. The second response that comes to mind is usually the most effective. It contains less anger, passion and emotion and is a more logical and rational approach. You want the receiver to accept your message, not focus on the energy or strength of your message. Use positive words. Positive words are useful in setting a tone of mutual respect, which can result in a more productive and balanced conversation. Attempt to speak about the best in a situation or a person. Reduce your use of verbal fillers. Listen to yourself, and become aware of unnecessary verbal cues such as “ah,” “um,” “well” or “you know.” Pause with silence. Listen. Listening is the most effective way to become a great communicator. To test your listening skills, repeat back to the speaker what you thought you heard. Many times, we are prematurely developing a response to a statement and miss the intent of the communication. Focus on effective language usage. Ensure your subjects and verbs are aligned; avoid slang; pronounce your words correctly and clearly; know the meaning of the words you are using; request feedback from a teacher or mentor. It is important to have people you trust who will be honest with you regarding your ability to communicate. Seek out people whose communication skills you admire. Ask those individuals to rate you and give you advice. Start your journey to becoming an effective communicator today. ■ NSBE Lifetime Member Calvin Mackie, Ph.D. — speaker, author, professor and inventor — is a former associate professor of mechanical engineering at Tulane University. He is president of the Channel ZerO Group, an organization committed to maximizing the effectiveness and potential of individuals and organizations. www.nsbe.org “Communication is more than just saying what is obvious or what’s on your mind; it’s the way you say it.” 2008 • http://www.nsbe.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NSBE - January/February 2008

NSBE - January/February 2008
Contents
The Pursuit of Excellence
Using Our Power
The Power of Belief
Saying It Well
Premier Profile: Owen Weston of U.S. Steel
NSBE Protégés Receive White House Honor
Regional News
International News
Fostering Competitiveness Through Innovation and Diversity
'Netting a Job
Why Graduate School?
NSBE Love
NSBE Calendar
"Igniting the Torch: Engineering in Action"
NSBE Golden Torch Awards
The AE Niche
Thinking Green
AE Members On the Move
CE Cover: Rough Road, Fun Ride
Join NSBE's Journey to Mars!
Advertisers Index

NSBE - January/February 2008