What to say and when

Like many well brought up people, I was told topics to avoid discussing with people, including money, politics and personal habits. "Stick to the weather and which books you like reading", was my elders' advice.

However, I've just read an amusing article about what we should avoid speaking about on the BBC website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11845363

Clearly times have changed; it isn't funny to mention 'bomb' in an airport and it is wise to take care when emailing, writing on facebook and tweeting.

You have been warned!

Business Networking Sites

Today in the Telegraph, there was an interesting article about business networking sites: like Linkedin and Ecademy.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/7482116/Have-business-networking-sites-finally-come-of-age.html

I use linkedin, and I have to say that for an initial connection with people it is invaluable. It has also been useful for establishing myself as an 'expert' and to promote events my businesses are involved in. You are able to join sector related groups and contribute to discussions. I have discovered information that is informative and invaluable. I have also been able to connect with old colleagues, and through my existing contacts, connect with useful people for my business.

However, I don't just rely on Social Networks for establishing business; human interaction is an invaluable and might I say, the most effective business tool. I have heard from clients time and again that picking up the phone or even arranging a meeting resulted in our business being taken seriously - and leading to us winning contracts. Of course, it is great to connect via a social network, but realise that it gets very 'noisy' in there. You can be set apart by picking up the phone for follow ups, or even arranging a meeting.

Two examples that have worked for me recently are: we had bid for work with a large, multi-national company. I had spoken on the phone and also emailed the client. I offered to go into the office to introduce myself and discuss the contract, which she accepted. When the meeting ended, she said that it made such a difference that I was 'bothered' to come into the office, and this resulted in the business, and we have repeat business from them now.

We had a targeted marketing campaign; instead of just sending information via email or post, one of my assistants contacted everyone on the list to introduce our company. All agreed to receive the information; and immediately we received requests for meetings, specific jobs and to be kept in touch with any developments. The 'human' interaction had made a huge difference to our campaign, and resulted in more work.

Small businesses in particular have limited resources and time available. Social media sites are a cost effective business tool, but don't forget the power of human interaction; either by telephone or face to face.

Below is an interesting article by Cloud Net about the effectiveness of using the telephone (i.e. the human voice) for sales.

http://www.cloudnetuk.com/news/bid/36931/Cloud-Net-Survey-SMEs-still-use-websites-and-telephones-over-social-media-to-make-sales

For more information about Executive Voice go to our website or call us on 0844 576 3015

Background noise hinders communication development

I came across this very interesting article about very young children's abilities to learn, being affected by background noises - for this we should read the TV being on constantly.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20101114/tuk-toddlers-learning-hit-by-noise-6323e80.html

I have mentioned before my concerns of very noisy classrooms and learning environments. Some classrooms are badly designed so that acoustically they are either difficult for pupils to hear the teacher, or for the teacher to project his/her voice; everything echoes in the classroom as the materials do not absorb sound, or even that the walls between classrooms are so thin, that noise from other classrooms travels, disturbing pupils and making the work environment noisy.

In our lives we are so used to having noise around us: whether it is traffic, the TV or listening to an ipod. Yet the TV and ipods are very passive; we do not involve ourselves or engage. My concerns are that children do not learn to listen; to engage someone else in a conversation; to question; to ask or even maintain a two way conversation, because there are things that distract them.

I read (but can't find the article - sorry) that research showed that students studying for exams, that played with Facebook; their mobiles etc whilst revising scored an average of 20% less in their exams. The sample and control were large enough numbers that this was significant research.

Given that this research could imply that distractions could cause 20% less learning and work outcomes, we do need to consider work environments - whether they are in schools or in business.

The occupational hazard of teaching

today I read an interesting article about a teacher that has received compensation for damaging her voice. Here is the article.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328093/Teacher-lost-voice-trying-make-heard-wins-150k-payout.html

I am very aware of the challenges teachers have using their voices, since one of the areas of training I offer is for teachers. I focus on vocal health; non-verbal communication and ensuring teachers use their voices in the correct way to prevent vocal damage.

Teachers receive, on average, a 1 hour workshop on using their voices, when they are training. This could be with 200 other students. When singers and actors learn to use their voices; to project and learn to pace themselves when using their voices, they spend hours on training, and often it is one to one tuition. Yet teachers have to speak every day for 40 weeks a day; they can't whisper but must project their voices.

Unfortunately many schools being built now are acoustically unsuitable for teaching; a well trained singer or actor would find it challenging to project their voice in some of the rooms being built. Add to that the challenge that many rooms are not sound proofed: noise in adjacent rooms carries, which disturbs classes and makes it more difficult for teachers to project their voices.

Another challenge is that many children don't know HOW to listen and concentrate. They are so used to passive entertainment from the television, computer or ipod and don't understand how to engage. More children have little concept of being quiet when someone is speaking, or they will be distracted by a text message on their mobile.

I am aware that some schools are buying microphones for their teachers and in fact one microphone manufacturer claimed that results improved when teachers used microphones. I would like to see the research first but suspect that the 'magic of statistics' was able to create this result... I have a number of concerns for using microphones in a classroom environment:

• Teachers still need to know how to use their voices healthily and effectively. If they are using their voices for 5 hours a day, poor vocal technique will still lead to vocal damage, whether they are using a microphone or not.
• Unless you are properly trained to set the sound levels for using microphones in the environment where they are being used, the sound levels not be set to appropriate levels. Given the acoustic of many classrooms, the sound will still be too loud in certain areas and too soft in others. Wraparound sound is not provided with these systems.
• The sound of the teacher's voice is likely to disturb classrooms adjacent to the class. If all the classrooms have sound enhancement, the work environment is going to become very, very noisy.
• When a voice or sound is loud, pupils will speak louder to be heard when having a conversation. Surely a classroom environment should not be about shouting at each other.
• Pupils are so used to loud background noises; why should an amplified teacher be any different.
• Pupils have to learn the skill of listening and concentrating.

The problem is that teachers are not taught how to use their voices. Teachers voices and body language are their principle communication tools. Teachers need to be given training - and more than an hour at college. They also need support to develop these skills; be self aware and be able to recognise when they are having problems with their voices.

Executive Voice offer one to one and group training for teachers. We focus on good vocal usage; vocal health; prevention of damage and non-verbal communication. Call 0844 576 3015 for more information.

We also have an excellent CD 'Make an impact with your voice for teachers and trainers'. Buy here.