Effective Communication
Credibility is an imperative requirement for communication effectiveness. No doubt, I must have the expertise to make the presentation. During the presentation, I should have adequate knowledge in the subject area and be perceived as having high credibility in the eyes of my client. Erosion of my credibility can quickly spell disaster in the conference room. In order to enhance my credibility, there are many specific behaviors that I can use for my presentation. The first aspect is to communicate effectively with my client. Both verbal communication (volume, changes in speed and tone of voice) and nonverbal cues (changes in facial expression, eye contact, body movement and gestures) are used to help communicate the topic. My presentation should be highly organized and well-developed and as free as possible of errors such as grammar, pronunciation, and enunciation. To prepare thoroughly for my presentation, I need to know the issues, arguments, and different viewpoints on the subject. The second issue is building mutual trust which means placing confidence in each other. When delivering my presentation, I should be genuinely sincere and honest. I may introduce and explain why the sources of information
or data are used for my presentation. We can sign a confidentiality statement so as to ensure privacy of both parties. If the client asks me a question that I lack the information for, I should not be afraid to say "I don't know." That in itself is an honest answer. Of course, an "educated guess" or a response that suggests the willingness to look for answers can further enhance my sincerity and honesty. I must present the strengths and weaknesses of my plan from my past experiences in order to enhance believability and greater insights. The third point is reliability. In my presentation, I need to be clear and consistent. By expressing certainty about what I want and what my intentions are without being stubborn, I can reduce uncertainty and thus develop trust with my client. If, for some reason, my client does not agree with my points, I think I should articulate and reinforce my point of view to some extent. Changing opinions or perspectives indicates confusion as well as my lack of confidence and thus inhibits credibility. Additionally, my nonverbal behaviors such as my tone of voice and facial expressions must correlate and be consistent with the right meaning of my verbal presentation. Last but not least is the personal appearance and image. The key idea is, "Actions speak louder than words." The perception of my credibility begins when my client first steps into the conference room. By the
Some common words found in the essay are:
, Whetten Cameron, tone voice, facial expressions, enhancing credibility, professional image, delivering presentation, eye contact,
Approximate Word count = 968
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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