Enhance your writing career with improved speaking skills
STC Philadelphia Metro Chapter Annual Conference
March 27, 2010
Willow Grove, PA
Barrie Byron: writer, speaker, listener
Professional Over 25 years
Newspaper publishing softwareSoftware trainerTechnical writerPublishing managerConsultantInformation developer
Always: learning, earning, yearning
Leadership and speaking15 years
STC memberSTC volunteer STC leaderSTC mentor
10 years
Toastmasters member Toastmasters leaderToastmasters mentor
Fear of public speaking might be hurting your career
Surveys and research results show that most of us would rather die than talk in front of a live audience
Technologies changeTools changeTeams changeJobs change
Effective verbal communication is a timeless and fundamental business skill that can be learned
Learn to give quick and accurate responses
Fundamental business skill
Content plan for enhancing your verbal skills
Effective verbal communication starts with being presentTechnical writers are producing the best content that is matched to particular user needs.
Be sure that you are invited to the strategy and planning meetings by offering good content to help reach the common goalsBuild community by listening, responding thoughtfully, and earning trustRespect relationships above publishing mechanisms
When you are present, be fully present and listen hard.
Listening is an activity.
Framework technique to organize your thoughts and reduce thinking
Organize your thoughts into frameworks.
Frameworks include:past, present, futurewhy, what, howaccomplishments, obstacles, next actions situation, action, resultI believed this before, but I don't think that way anymore because...dreamer, realist, critic
Techniques to capture your audience
Pause. Silence is golden.
Apply the frameworks to any topic You can quickly communicate for 1 to 3 minutes about that topic without having to give much thought.
Activity: personal demonstration
Random questions from audience
Framework of response. Several responses in 1-2 minutes.
Interactive activities
Practice using the framework technique to answer questions that occur frequently in our writing jobs.
Can you document these changes and still make the deadline?Can you meet an earlier deadline?Can you extend the review period?Can you publish without my technical approval?Can we add new content?Can you hire my sister-in-law?
Exploring verbal communication further
Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills Toastmasters International is the leading movement devoted to making effective oral communication a worldwide realityFind a club
Shop around: try different clubs, size and culture varies
Attend a meeting, any meeting
www.toastmasters.org
Questions, review
Risks? Are you ready to stand out and practice your verbal skills.
Questions on using the framework technique? Organize your thoughts. Frame what you want to say.
Barrie Byron
Digitally distinct, just google
barriebyron.wordpress.com
[email protected] www.linkedin.com/in/barriebyron
Follow me on twitter @barriebyron
www.toastmasters.org
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