4.11.24 Mass Incarceration and the New Jim Crow.pptx
Good & poor
1. A guide to good communication skills even if you are shy.
Good communication skills are extremely important to have, through your entire life span, and in
every possible situation you can think of. If you consider yourself to be shy in nature, I urge you
to get over it.
People are shy for many reasons, they may have a withdrawn personality, be insecure, feel like
they aren't good at socializing, have a hard time expressing themselves, and so on.
People who are shy, usually do not like the fact that people point out that they are shy, quiet, or
both, and chalk it up to " That's just the way I am."
However, the sad reality is that if you don't open up, voice your opinions, and learn to be more
outgoing, your communication skills will suffer. If your communication skills are poor you will
experience a great deal of trouble in your personal, working, and general relationships. You may
have even noticed that being shy causes you aggravation in your day to day life.
Some people experience bouts of shyness, for instance, someone who might normally be out
going, may be afraid of public speaking, or talking to their boss, or talking to a member of the
opposite sex--- you get the idea.
Bad communication ....be it written, oral, or body language, can send the wrong message in more
ways than one. Most people would rather be around those who are easy to communicate with,
and are open, than those who need "special treatment" like shy people.
Here are some tips that will improve your communication skills:
In a conversation, really listen. You can show you are really listening my smiling, tilting your
head to the side, nodding, inserting signs/words of agreement and so on. If you want people to
hear you, you need to hear them.
Have good body language. Stand up straight, it will show confidence. Smile , you will seem
approachable. Don't cross your arms over your chest, this tells people you disapprove. Keep your
hands to your side, or if you are sitting, keep them in your lap.
When having a serious conversation with your boss, or a higher up, always turn a negative into a
positive... for instance, if your boss says, I heard that they work pretty slowly, you should say
something like " That's true, they didn't meet the original deadline, but the final product was of
really high quality." I know its easy to vent, and skip adding a positive in, but employers want
you to be a "yes" person, not a complainer.
Have confidence when you speak. If you are shy AND quiet, project your voice. Always look the
person in the eye when you are speaking to them. If you avert your gaze, you will look nervous
and not trust worthy. Never turn your head away from someone when you are speaking to them,
it may show them you don't care enough to give them your full attention, and it will make it
harder for the other person to hear what you are saying. Don't mumble and enunciate your words.
2. Even if you feel intimidated, make sure you project your voice enough so that you are being
clear. If someone has to keep asking " I'm sorry, I can't hear you, what did you say?" They will
get irritated with you and the conversation. If you aren't sure how you sound to people when you
are talking, record yourself and listen really closely to how you sound. Then pick out the areas
you need to improve upon and get to work.
Don't let people intimidate you. If you feel intimidated by someone you are in a conversation
with, DO NOT let it show. Think before you speak. Speak in an even tone of voice.
Never answer with " I don't know". This will make others feel like you don't care enough to give
a response, or that you aren't knowledgeable enough to answer. When people ask questions, they
want answers. If someone puts you on the spot, you don't have to answer them right then and
there. Say something like " I'm in the middle of something, can I get back to you?" or " I don't
want to ill advise you, let me find out for you."
In written communication, always be clear. Before you send an e-mail, or any type of written
communication, read over it AT LEAST once, to be sure it makes sense. If you aren't sure its
clear, have someone else read it before you send it. Avoid spelling and grammar mistakes. Write
in clear, concise, declarative English. Written forms of communication can be tricky, because
there is no way to put your tone of voice in, so if you feel like you are writing a message on a
touchy subject that could be misconstrued, its probably best to have a face to face conversation.
The most important part of having good communication, especially if you are shy, is to remain
relaxed, open, and confident. This will give you the appearance of being easy-going. People like
to communicate with easy going people, because its easier to communicate with them! Its all
about confidence. If you are confident in yourself, you will automatically speak more clearly and
have better communication than someone who is not confident ( and quiet, shy, and mumbles,
etc). You simply have to say to yourself " I QUIT BEING SHY" and GET OVER IT.
Diagram of good communication
3. Poor communication
Although there are different ways we all perceive poor communication there are some common
ones that we can all relate to. If you want to have any kind of success in life you need to be able
to communicate with others. Not everyone will be easy to communicate with and some will be
very difficult.
However, if you are running a business you need to learn how to deal with the different kind of
people you will come across. People no matter where they come from or what they do need
proper communication, not only to know where they stand but also to know you care.
If you have decided to be a business owner then the most important role for you is to be a good
communicator. Poor communication will be the first thing that will help you succeed in failing.
We all have bad days and sometimes react to people and situations in ways that are not useful. It
is doing this over and over that will make you fail.
Here are 6 Poor Communication Skills To Avoid!
1. Not following up as you said you will.
2. Not returning phone calls and emails.
3. Not using basic courtesy (which we are all aware of).
4. Not listening.
5. Telling outright lies.
6. Constant negativity.
Some people think that no one is aware of their behaviour and they can get away with it, well
maybe they will but their work load will be much bigger then a person who communicates
openly and honestly. I am sure you would prefer to be a good communicator with a success
business then to be a poor communicator constantly trying to cover your tracks.
Communication is essential for people to be more productive and enthused in general. If you are
serious about your business then take the time to learn the correct communication skills to help
those in your business or to make your customers feel you care. Don’t let poor communication
skills ruin your business. Let strong, effective communication be the building block of your
business.