Effective Skills in Connecting With the Audience While Communicating - Article Example

Self Reflection) (Name) (Course) (Lecturer) (Date) Task 1 Given that oral presentations are integral part of learning, I am grateful for working on it in this subject. In taking this subject, one of my goals was to develop presentation skills and knowledge while working with other students in and off campus. Indeed, I had a good time working with my team members despite our cultural similarities. Amidst the laughter and jokes, I have gained skills and knowledge in oral required in oral presentation. However, it is important to note that since we were all from the same culture background. As such, there was no intercultural communication experienced and skills gained. Nevertheless, I was able to experience and gain skills in interpersonal and teamwork activities. As a team, we were able to plan, correspondence with appropriate authorities, accept and reject views and ideas with utter respect while making constructive decisions. Indeed, while working on the aforementioned activities, each member was credited while constructive criticism was encouraged while giving valuable feedback. Notably, this assisted the team to have an excellent oral presentation. Comparing the team work and my former individual work, I’ve made tremendous improvement in my communication and interpersonal skills. Working with the team, made me be aware of the fact that people with complementary skills may work together to achieve common goals with effective communication. Indeed, as a result of effective communication, we were able to speed up the preparation processes. We used Google Drive in sharing the contents when it was difficult for us to meet. The team work helped me to conquer fear to speak and therefore, I participated actively in the discussions. Partly, this was made possible by the fact that we used Chinese to improve the discussions. Prior, to the teamwork, I could not express my ideas clearly. Indeed, this was visible in individual oral presentations. However, given the fact that I was able to interact with different students, I have been able to cultivate good interpersonal communication knowledge and skills. At the moment, am able to express my thoughts and ideas in an effective and precise manner. In addition to this, I was able to learn how to approach information and have varying perspective towards interacting with different people. Despite the fact that I interacted with students from similar cultural backgrounds, I was able to gain skills that are extremely helpful in communication; therefore, equipping me with significant skills and tools of becoming an effective team player (Schwartz 2001). Task 2 Portfolio A: Article review The Preview, Question, Read, State and Turn back (PQRST) technique was used in reviewing the article. Firstly, I did a preview of the material, the headings were turned into questions which assisted me in reading the paragraphs under each heading; the answers to the stated questions were then recited using my own words; after thinking through the answers, I reviewed the material after a short break. From this assignment, I learnt how to review and communicate precisely the authors’ work. Portfolio B: Speech review While reviewing the speech, simple techniques were considered including analyzes of the speakers goals, the main message delivered, whether the person delivering the speech was appropriate and the objective attained. In reviewing the speech, I learnt that a speaker is expected to use various techniques in order to connect with the audience and communicate effectively. In addition, I realized that a speech has a particular structure; speech opening, body and conclusion. In comparison, reviewing an article is different from a speech. An article takes time to review given that it has more content divided into various areas. In order to improve my reviewing skills, I need to understand the PQRST method and use it frequently. Still, I should familiarize myself with other speech review techniques. Task 3: Develop posters Before working on the poster, I took to time to research on the poster; that is, review other posters, exhibition and flyers in order to have an experience on how messages are expected to be communicated visually to a particular audience. Having established the message to convey, I was set to explore the kind of imagery to use. I had to choose the correct images that would accompany the message to effectively communicate to the audience (Velliaris 2009). In developing the posters, there are several features that I considered including adherence to the presentations requirement; that is mandatory contents inclusion and poster dimensions, deciding on the message to pass to the audience and brainstorming the information that I had decided to include in the posters. In addition, I considered on the audience that I would communicate to and experimented different layouts in order to get the actual poster that would be realistic. In doing this, I had to make some drafts before coming up with the final product. I used computer programs that assisted me in preparing the poster. This included Publisher and Power Point by Microsoft. Other computer programs were available but were somehow expensive. However, the Microsoft programs saved time and enhanced the quality of the poster. Using the Microsoft techniques as one of the techniques assisted in obtaining quality graphics which are significant as the communicate relationships and themes quickly (Schwartz 2001). While working on this assignment, there some importance things that I learnt that appropriate in designing and creating posters. This including the usage of appropriate colors in order to avoid color clash and taking disability consideration serious; in order to create a good poster, it is appropriate to review other posters in order to familiarize self with the basics requirements, and academic posters are expected to be readable and eye catching to be appealing to the target audience. Task 5: choosing team members for oral presentation In selecting the team members for the oral presentations, I had to adapt past experiences and knowledge given that output in the assignment majorly depended on the sacrifice from the members. In doing so, I had to assess the kind of work required, abilities, skills and personal attributes needed including communication skills, attitude and knowledge in the given subject. In selecting the members, I applied knowledge gained on the factors that allows an team to be effective; this includes an understanding that in order for a team to be successful it should allow free criticism in a constructive manner, every individual understands the task at hand, range of individuals who clearly contribute in various ways; that is, complement each other. Therefore, in order to pick a successful team, I considered the following steps; picking members who are ready to demonstrate their skills in the presentation making a difference. Under this, I made sure that the individuals were interested in the main objective; picking members equipped with diverse skills and knowledge in order to be prepared to tackle any complication that may arise during the preparations; given that individuals in the team must play a role in the team; I clearly determined the roles of every individual and the relation of every role to the others. In addition, it was to be clear to all members that every each of them was accountable and responsible for the role assigned to. In doing the above, I had to consider individuals, who were detailed-oriented, cautious, compromiser, evaluator, ideas person, clarifiers and so on from the proposed members. Another step that was taken in selecting the team was seeking people who would be comfortable with each other given that we the students were from diverse backgrounds. Task 5: Team Experience Indeed, my personal knowledge and interpersonal communication skills assisted in making sense of the team experience. Personally, prior experiences have taught me that working with new faces might be tricky especially when it comes to doing assignment. Conflicts, disagreement and less communication may play a part in the downfall of the team and therefore, insufficient work on the assignment. However, having gathered sufficient experience in some areas of working different individuals, I was able to interact excellently with my team members. Prior to the oral presentation, as earlier expressed, I was not good at expressing myself; however, the team members offered a better platform for me to work on my interpersonal communication. Task 6 1. Despite the fact that it was a demanding subject; there are some things that have helped me learn this subject. One of these things includes team work. Indeed, without the team members, I would not been in a position to work perfectly on the oral presentation. In addition, having learnt interpersonal communication skills and ways to communicate in the subject, it made my work easier on the rest of the assignment. Basically, the subject has equipped me with needed skills of interacting and working with different individuals as well as having effective skills in connecting with audience while communicating. 2. It is usual for every student to have some difficulties in a particular subject. This is attributed to the fact that there are inhibitors that prevent the students from attaining the required knowledge and set objectives at the end of the subject. Indeed, being a student, I was also subjected to the same. One of the most outstanding inhibitors that inhibited me learning in this subject is related to the grouping which was done for the oral presentation. Given that were from the same culture background, I was unable to experience and gain intercultural communication skills. 3. Despite the fact that the subject was knowledgeable and interesting, I believe there still some areas that need to be changed and address in order to meet the objectives of this learning. It is important for the students to be exposed more to communication skills by allowing them to write their own speech instead of reviewing other speeches. Indeed, when students write their own speech will equip them with reviewing skills (before the students write their speeches they will review other speeches in order to know how to write) and writing speeches 4. There are areas that I need to improve in communication skills. This include; listening- in a discussion, I realized that it is hard to listen to others when need to put a point across; tailoring information as per the audience; the choice of appropriate communication channel . In order to improve my listening skills, I will have to cultivate patient in order to allow other to talk before giving my contributions. Before, working on my work, I will be researching so as to understand the kind of audience that am expected to target and this will also assist me in choosing the right channel to communicate. Reference Schwartz, A 2001, Communication skills. New York: Wiley Velliaris, D 2009, Academic posters. University of Adelaide Read More

In comparison, reviewing an article is different from a speech. An article takes time to review given that it has more content divided into various areas. In order to improve my reviewing skills, I need to understand the PQRST method and use it frequently. Still, I should familiarize myself with other speech review techniques. Task 3: Develop posters Before working on the poster, I took to time to research on the poster; that is, review other posters, exhibition and flyers in order to have an experience on how messages are expected to be communicated visually to a particular audience.

Having established the message to convey, I was set to explore the kind of imagery to use. I had to choose the correct images that would accompany the message to effectively communicate to the audience (Velliaris 2009). In developing the posters, there are several features that I considered including adherence to the presentations requirement; that is mandatory contents inclusion and poster dimensions, deciding on the message to pass to the audience and brainstorming the information that I had decided to include in the posters.

In addition, I considered on the audience that I would communicate to and experimented different layouts in order to get the actual poster that would be realistic. In doing this, I had to make some drafts before coming up with the final product. I used computer programs that assisted me in preparing the poster. This included Publisher and Power Point by Microsoft. Other computer programs were available but were somehow expensive. However, the Microsoft programs saved time and enhanced the quality of the poster.

Using the Microsoft techniques as one of the techniques assisted in obtaining quality graphics which are significant as the communicate relationships and themes quickly (Schwartz 2001). While working on this assignment, there some importance things that I learnt that appropriate in designing and creating posters. This including the usage of appropriate colors in order to avoid color clash and taking disability consideration serious; in order to create a good poster, it is appropriate to review other posters in order to familiarize self with the basics requirements, and academic posters are expected to be readable and eye catching to be appealing to the target audience.

Task 5: choosing team members for oral presentation In selecting the team members for the oral presentations, I had to adapt past experiences and knowledge given that output in the assignment majorly depended on the sacrifice from the members. In doing so, I had to assess the kind of work required, abilities, skills and personal attributes needed including communication skills, attitude and knowledge in the given subject. In selecting the members, I applied knowledge gained on the factors that allows an team to be effective; this includes an understanding that in order for a team to be successful it should allow free criticism in a constructive manner, every individual understands the task at hand, range of individuals who clearly contribute in various ways; that is, complement each other.

Therefore, in order to pick a successful team, I considered the following steps; picking members who are ready to demonstrate their skills in the presentation making a difference. Under this, I made sure that the individuals were interested in the main objective; picking members equipped with diverse skills and knowledge in order to be prepared to tackle any complication that may arise during the preparations; given that individuals in the team must play a role in the team; I clearly determined the roles of every individual and the relation of every role to the others.

In addition, it was to be clear to all members that every each of them was accountable and responsible for the role assigned to. In doing the above, I had to consider individuals, who were detailed-oriented, cautious, compromiser, evaluator, ideas person, clarifiers and so on from the proposed members.

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