Whilst researching effective techniques for improving verbal communication I came across many ideas that I had never heard of before such as positive visualisation. A blog called ‘Virtual Speech’ discussed the power of the mind and how if we think and breathe before we speak, it helps to avoid nervousness and speaking before thinking which can reduce the credibility of what it is we are saying. I often say the first thing that comeds to my mind rather than thinking about what exactly I wish to say. Positive visualisation is a tactic employed by athletes before a race and by visualising themselves winning and focusing on this idea intensely, they give themselves a mental boost which results in a physical one. I know a peer mentor meeting with seven people is not the same thing as a race or presentation in front of hundreds of people but due to my lack of confidence, it sometimes feels like it. By using this technique before my meetings I will hopefully be able to prepare for the communication my meetings demand and therefore feel more confident in verbally communicating with my mentees, especially if I take some time to think before speaking.
One thing I found interesting when conducting my research was the technique of using the full range of your voice. I had never previously thought about the tone of voice I was using when communicating with my mentees. The human voice is capable of 24 notes on a musical scale but we only use about three of these everyday. My research told me that using a wider range will allow me to develop my communication skills effectively and help me enthuse or persuade people that I am talking to. Another tip I found similar to this is to breathe deeply to communicate effectively. Maximising breath and filling lungs when you speak is important for building effective communication skills and I found an exercise for this:
- Stand in the Neutral Position and put your hands on your stomach.
- Breathe deeply.
- Try to push your hands out as you breathe in by filling your ribs.
- Increase your awareness of this happening as you breathe – the movement and expansion of the ribs.
As well as trying this breathing exercise, something I think will be helpful for me is to practice speaking, whether it be to no one or to my boyfriend but I think that practicing having to run a meeting, ask questions, come up with helpful answers will be beneficial. Although I dedicated specific time to research effective communication, I will continue to do so throughout the semester to find more techniques or advice that can help my progress. I think one of my biggest inhibiting factors that hinders my development is my confidence. I plan to research how to improve confidence when communicating to hopefully solve my lack of confidence and help me to be more comfortable when communicating in my role.