Presentation Skills Vs. Conversation Skills
Jessica Chen
Author "Smart, Not Loud" | 2 Million Learners | CEO @ Soulcast Media | Emmy-Winner | Global Speaker on Communication & Executive Presence
Communication ?is all about exchanging thoughts and ideas with other people.?You may be in a conversation with someone, or you could be presenting to an audience. Both of these are forms of communication.
However, each form of communication requires you to use communication skills differently.?This could be because of several reasons such as:
It is important to understand the difference between conversational and presentation skills. Below we will discuss this difference and how you can apply it.
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1. TONE OF VOICE
Your?tone of voice ?can be used to showcase how you feel about your message.?There are varying types of tone of voice:
Your tone of voice will be different when presenting vs. when you are in a casual conversation.
Presenting?– When you present information to a group, your tone should be more professional. This is because you represent your company and yourself in the workplace when you present. You will want to vary your tone to keep your audience interested.?This means not being monotone.
In our e-course,?Mastering Presentation Strategies , you will learn to make every speech stand out.
Conversation?– Conversations allow you to explore almost all of the different types of tone of voice. This is because conversations range from simple exchanges about weekend plans to stories about past heartache. Your tone of voice may change to a more serious tone as your conversation moves forward, or you may recall a funny story and interject with a lighter tone. The key is to make sure you use your tone to emphasize your message.
Your tone of voice should always reflect the message you are trying to send. This goes for both presenting and conversations.?
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2. LISTENING
Listening can help you understand how your audience feels about your message. However, there is a difference in how you approach listening when presenting vs. in a conversation.
Presenting?– Even though you are most likely the only person speaking during your presentation, it is still important for you to be listening to the audience.?This is because your audience will show you whether they understand your message or resonate with your message.?
Conversation?–?Listening ?is a critical skill necessary for conversations. This is because you cannot truly connect with someone in a conversation if you aren’t listening to what the other person is saying.?
In our e-course,?Mastering Non-Verbal Communication , you will learn to engage your audience without saying a word.
When you listen to your audience, you will be able to tailor your message so everyone can understand your point.
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3. DELIVERY
How you deliver a message can significantly impact whether your message is understood or not. This is because your intent doesn’t always match your impact. Your delivery is more about how you say your message.
Presenting?– When presenting information, your presentation needs to be very clear and effective.?This is because you want your audience to understand your message.?
Conversation?– Your delivery is just as important when you are in a conversation.?You still want to be mindful of your intent matching your impact.?Casual conversations can lead to job opportunities and more.?Your conversations will be better when you are mindful of your delivery.?
You can practice your delivery in both instances by recording yourself speaking.?Listen back to the recording and see if your intention matches your impact.
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4. BODY LANGUAGE
Your body language during a presentation and conversation can enhance your message.?
Presenting?– When you present, you want to have confident body language.?This means standing or sitting up straight, with your shoulders back, and your head held high. You can also use your body language to emphasize your points.?
Conversation?– Your body language during a conversation is similar to tone of voice; you can explore the different types of body language. Casual conversations allow you to have exaggerated facial expressions and grand gestures. However, if you have conversations in the workplace, you will want to keep your body language more professional.
Your body language will help you emphasize your message and show others you are open to their message.
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5. AUDIENCE
Who you are speaking to or with is your audience.?Your audience will determine many different aspects of your message.
Presenting?– You want to keep your audience at the forefront of your mind as you present. This is because the entire presentation is for them.
??We recommend the e-course?“How To Present And Stay On Point” ?to help you prepare for your next presentation.
Conversations?– Even though conversations are less formal, you will still want to keep your audience in mind. While your conversations don’t need specific points, you will still want to make sure you aren’t speaking just to speak. Make sure you don’t dominate the conversation and allow others to talk.
The way you present to an audience will look different than casually conversing. However, you always want to be mindful of who you are speaking to or with.
Conversations and presentation skills may be different; however, they require strong communication skills. The more confident you are in your communication, the better presenter and conversationalist you will be.
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This article is part of the?Soulcast Media Newsletter, which has over 10,000+ subscribers. If you like this article, feel free to?subscribe .
Be sure to follow Jessica Chen on?LinkedIn ?and?Instagram ?for regular communications tips you can use at work immediately!?Her videos can also be seen on?YouTube .
If you'd like to learn more about our communications services and how we work with individuals and companies, check out our website:?www.soulcastmedia.com .?
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1 年Very good article. Under listening to the audience we should not only watch our body language but their facial expressions