“Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.”
–Plato (ca. 427-347 B.C)

Nonverbal messages speak much louder than words

Verbal communication means the words we use (spoken words and written words); nonverbal communication means everything else. For instance, non-word vocalizations would include sighs, grunts, moans, and groans, tone of voice, pitch, and loudness. Non-vocal would include gestures, movement, appearance, facial expression, touch, and so forth. And, of course, silence.

Scholars estimate that nonverbal behaviors account for 65% to 93% of our total meaning when we communicate.

Here are some ways to improve your nonverbal skills and therefore ensure your success at the job interview:

Do . . .

1. Plan the image you want to project. Dress according to the position and corporate culture.
2. Stand erect. Walk with confidence. Sit with a relaxed posture. These body positions announce self-assurance.
3. Look at the eyes of others. People often focus on the eyes to judge others’ honesty, intelligence and attitude.
4. Gesture appropriately. Use your hands expressively, but don’t overdo it as this can be distracting and signals nervousness.
5. Listen carefully; listen actively. Focus your mind on the ideas and signal your interest and understanding. Ask questions.
6. Use a strong handshake that communicates confidence.




Do not . .

7. Show up late. How you handle time can indicate if you take time seriously and could be an important nonverbal cue as to how committed you would be to the job.
8. Overlook the power of a good first impression (artifacts such as jewelry, hairstyle, cosmetics, shoes, glasses, and so forth tell others the sort of person you believe you are).
9. Slouch in your chair or shuffle your feet; bounce or kick your leg. These give a poor impression.
10. Sit with crossed arms, shrug your shoulders, lower your eyes, frown, look away, yawn, look at your watch, or show irritation. These indicate a mood of indifference.
11. Scowl or stare as these show disapproval and resistance (poets call the eyes “mirror of the soul”).

People will evaluate your professional credibility and potential job performance within a mere 3-30 seconds. Communication often occurs without words; thus, nonverbal messages often say much more about you than you realize.

But take heart! If you follow these 11 tips you will ace your next job interview!

Want to change the way you sound?
Check out my e-book Your Voice Is Your Image: Four Ways to Improve the Speaking Voice. Find it at: http://www.communicationmarketplace.com

“Some workers turn losing a job into the best time in their lives.”
–a CBS news reporter

There are numerous self-employment opportunities available to you. Try these Web sites for more information:

http://www.franchiseopportunities.com
This site is the largest directory of available franchise and business opportunities, and has a special link: “Women’s Franchises.”

http://job.franchisesolutions.com/
This site also includes hundreds of franchise opportunities and businesses for sale.

Caution:
Be wary of so-called work-at-home opportunities, many of which are scams. Do your due diligence!

However, here is one resource you can trust; this book tells you how to find many legitimate work-from-home jobs:

Will Work From Home: Earn the Cash Without the Commute
By Tory Johnson and Robyn Freedman Spizman

Tory Johnson is the workplace contributor on ABC News Good Morning America; Robyn Freedman Spizman is a nationally recognized television and radio personality and consumer advocate that appears weekly on NBC’s affiliate in Atlanta, GA.

Purchase their book on Amazon.com.

If you decide on self-employment, be sure to take advantage of FREE and confidential business advice from SCORE: Counselors of America’s Small Business. There are offices in every state. Reach them here: http://www.score.org

Want to learn more about this career tip?

I recommend the book The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss, a “serial entrepreneur and ultra-vagabond.” In this #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, you will find a wealth of useful ideas for the entrepreneur who chooses not to go from working a 40-hour workweek for someone else to working 80 hours for herself.

My favorite tip from the book: “How to outsource your life to overseas virtual assistants for $5 per hour and do whatever you want.” (As a business owner, I outsource everything I am unable to do well.)

The Way You Talk Can Hurt You: 3 Tips to Better Communication

By Rosa Chillis

Joseph worked hard. As a customer service telephone representative, he showed respect and courtesy to everyone who called the company. But he wanted to get ahead. He wanted an outside sales job. He applied for open positions over and over again; his manager turned him down each time. Finally, Joseph went to his boss and demanded to know why.

“Joseph,” he said, “Your enunciation is so lousy, I wouldn’t dare send you out to meet my customers face to face.” Joseph felt crushed. He resigned the next day.

Are you getting the career results you want in the workplace? If not, take a few minutes to assess your vocal habits.

Why? Because your voice is your image; people will always judge you based on how you talk. They will listen to the way you speak – how you say what you say – and evaluate your credibility, professionalism and competence.

For example, an office worker who constantly drops his or her word endings will be viewed as lacking intelligence, or at best, a sloppy speaker – no job promotion. A female manager who has a high-pitched, squeaky voice will be viewed as uncertain or unsure of herself – no control over her team. Or a college instructor who lectures in a monotone voice will be viewed as dull and boring; and will put his students to sleep – no learning occurs.

But there is hope . . .

Tip #1: Tape-record your voice. This is important because when you’re speaking your voice sounds different to you than to others. Ask yourself: is my voice crisp and clear? Does my voice have a pleasing and pleasant pitch level? If you answered no to these two questions . . .

Tip #2: Begin a self-improvement program at once! To help you speak crisply and distinctly, say your words to the end.

For instance, say ‘subject’ not ‘subjeck’; ‘bend’ not ‘ben’; ‘reading’ not ‘readin’ and so forth. To control your pitch level, breathe from the diaphragm; learn to relax. When you’re tense, you’re self-conscious, and the tension reveals itself in a strained, high-pitched voice. Speak slowly. This will lower the pitch of your voice.

Watch your posture! If you slouch, sag and hunch over, you can’t breathe efficiently and this will show in your voice. In fact, these postures will actually restrict the sounds you produce in you voice box.

Finally, some believe the effective speaking voice is like a musical instrument. Thus, to practice vocal variety (and not sound monotonous and boring), move your pitch around by singing up and down the musical scale: do (doe), re (ray), me (mee), fa (fah), sol (soul), la (lah) ti (tee), do (doe).

Tip #3: Practice, practice, practice. Habits are difficult things to change, and bad voice habits that have persisted for twenty of more years can not be replaced with better ones in a few short weeks. However, if you are willing to work to learn a new way of speaking you can overcome the obstacles.

Conclusion: This article suggested 3 tips to improve your communication skills. Through clear, distinct speech you can change perceptions, improve your credibility, and project a more competent and professional image. Your goal should be to develop a voice that is intelligible, flexible, vital and expressive. Why not get started today!

“Speech is a mirror of the soul: as a man speaks, so is he.” – Publilius Syrus

Article excerpted from The 7-Day System for Gaining Self-Confidence, Popularity, and Financial Success by Dexter Davis, 1955

You sell your ideas with words, but the actual vehicle that you use is usually your voice. Have you ever checked up on your voice appeal?

Your voice has powerful emotional effect on your listener. If it is pleasant, your listener instinctively feels a certain amount of goodwill toward you. If your voice is disagreeable, the listener has a tendency to want to get away from you.

This is simply human nature. We don’t like squeaking, rasping, nasal, indistinct, monotonous, or otherwise irritating speech. We put up with it only when we have to.

Advertisers know that a soothing, buoyant radio voice can sell much more of a product than a monotonous, dull voice. And of course, a radio voice that is squeaky, rasping, nasal, or indistinct would be lucky to sell anything.

Yes, your voice has dollars and cents value in your career. It is a success factor in all of your human relations.

Don’t think that your voice is unimportant simply because no one has ever criticized it. The effect of voice is a subtle thing, often specifically unrecognized by the hearer. And even when it is noticeably faulty, “your best friends won’t tell you.”

What can you do about it? First of all, hear a recording of your voice. Notice your speech habits for several days. Then ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I speak at a pleasant volume, or too loudly or softly?
2. Do I vary my tone or speed, or are they even and monotonous?
3. Do I articulate my words clearly, or do I have “lazy” lips, tongue, and jaw?
4. Do I slur my words when I am enthused, or do I retain clear articulation?
5. Do I make use of effective pauses?
6. Do I have a clear, pleasing tone, or is it nasal, hoarse, squeaky, or otherwise unpleasant?
7. Is my voice expressive or do I talk about everything in almost the same mood?
8. Does my voice always radiate confidence, or does it give me away when I don’t feel sure of myself?

Be honest and searching in answering these questions. You have accomplished something when you know and admit your faults. Then correct them. Anyone can do it with determination. However, it may be necessary to consult a voice teacher or book for helpful exercises.
**** ****
Do these ideas from Dexter Davis actually work?

A True Story:

I recently had a job interview by phone. Do you know what the corporate recruiter said to me over and over? “You speak with such great confidence. I know you can do this job.”

I later spoke with the associate provost. My interview skills (ability to provide cogent and succinct responses to questions) along with my vocal quality impressed him also.

What happened?

I got the job!

I didn’t meet with the corporate recruiter or the associate provost face-to-face. All interaction was by telephone. Yes—I submitted a strong resume and professional references; but without dress appearance, eye contact, body language, and firm handshake, how else could they make a decision?

They made their decision based on the quality of my speaking voice: clarity, pitch, loudness and projection, color and variety.

They said yes!

Thus, I was able to “sell” my experiences, skills, and accomplishments based on the strength of my vocal quality.

“There is no index of character so sure as the human voice.”
–Benjamin Disraeli

What does your voice reveal about you?

To find out, play a recording of your voice and answer the questions suggested by Dexter Davis.

And then . . .

Follow this link for instant download of my new e-book Your Voice Is Your Image: Four Ways to Improve Your Speaking Voice.

What are the rewards of an effective speaking voice?

1. Credibility. Change perceptions. Project a more competent and professional image through clear, distinct speech.
2. Confidence. Express your ideas, feelings and opinions with boldness.
3. Control. Gain power over two of the most important tools of interpersonal communication—your voice and articulation.

Through practical, easy-to-use exercises and techniques, you’ll discover how to develop a voice that is intelligible, flexible, vital, and expressive.

No question, a pleasing, expressive, confident voice adds valuable emotional impact to your words. Add it to your assets!

“You can learn anything you want by reading; you can get anything you want by networking.”
–A human resources manager

Networking is staying in touch with people you know to exchange information; but more broadly to create a pool of contact from which you can receive leads, referrals, ideas, and information to help you in your job search. Why should you network?

Most people get their job by networking.

Surveys show that 80-85% of job-seekers find work as a result of a referral from a friend or colleague, and only 2-4% land jobs from Internet job boards such as Monster.com and CareerBuilders.com or want ads.

Who should make up your network?

• Former co-workers
• Alumni from school
• Relatives
• Personal friends
• Professional service providers (dentist, doctor, pharmacist, etc.)
• Hairdressers
• Waiters
• People you meet at organized events such as:
• Trade or professional meetings in your industry
• Lectures
• Workshops
• Conferences
• Fundraisers
• Receptions
• Sporting events
• Job centers
• Everyone you speak to (most of them have been out of work at one time)

If you are comfortable doing so, try social networking. Sign up and create a profile. The most popular are Facebook.com, MySpace.com, Twitter.com, and Linkedin.com

Tip:
Don’t forget to follow up every time you ask your network (or contact) for their help. Thank them for their input and give them as much credit as possible.

Want to learn more about this career tip?
http://www.networkforgood.org/

Visitors to this site will find links to charities in need of donations as well as opportunities to do volunteer work.
http://www.jobsearch.com/

On this site, scroll down and click on “Job Search Networking” and learn how to develop contacts and how job search networking can help you find a job.

“The only thing more expensive than education is ignorance.”
–Benjamin Franklin

Some experts believe there are only two ways to gain self-confidence: 1) achieve success and 2) learn new skills.

What is a skill? As defined in Oxford English Dictionary, “The ability to do something well; a particular ability.” Everybody has skills!

But on what skills should you concentrate?

If you are not computer literate, you must become so.

Other job skills include:

• Interpersonal
• Oral and written communication
• Listening
• Teamwork
• Persuasion
• Assertiveness
• Organizing & planning
• Time management
• Problem solving & reasoning
• Leadership & management

I recall an interview where the manager said what most interested him was whether or not the job applicant could “fit in.” More than the applicant’s GPA, choice of college, or high tech skills. This particular manager wanted someone with strong interpersonal skills and habits above all else.

Also, employers look for these attributes:

• Honesty & integrity
• Hard-Working
• Professionalism
• Positive attitude
• Ability to follow directions
• Willingness to learn
• Adaptability

Lifelong learning is no longer a choice; it is a necessity. Do volunteer work as this will keep you in touch with your skills and strengths. Temporary or part-time work is another option to sharpen your skills.

Want to learn more about this career tip?

http://www.naceweb.org

Association of College Employers (NACE)

http://www.psywww.com/careers/skills.htm

Psych Web (skills employers seek)

“Assertiveness is not what you do, it’s who you are!”
–Shakti Gawain

Assertiveness is the ability to communicate feelings and ideas directly and honestly. It’s standing up for yourself.

Aggressiveness, on the other hand, is assertiveness to an extreme. An aggressive person demands her rights at the expense of others, caring about her needs and no one else’s. Aggressive behavior is not attractive; people will avoid you and resent you.

Your aim is to be assertive.

Here are a few dos and don’ts to keep in mind as you develop your personal power:

Do . . .

1. Listen only as a hearer, never do someone’s bidding. Because you listen does not mean you go along or pay attention to what is said.
2. Talk at a pleasant pitch, speed, and intensity as in the “phone voice.” If your pitch is too high, breathe from the diaphragm. Rate is also important because it has an effect on people’s perception of you. If you speak too rapidly, people can’t understand you; too slowly and people lose interest, or worse, view you as less competent than individuals with a fast rate of speech. And finally, your tone should convey sincerity.
3. Achieve the posture of power. If you slouch, sag and hunch over, you can’t breathe efficiently and this will show in your voice. Stand tall. Sit erect.
4. Let others see you and recognize you as in control of every situation or conversation. You may turn your charm, pleasantness, and friendliness on and off and use when you feel necessary, but self-power must be “on” constantly!

Do not . . .

1. Allow others to say what your feelings should be. A woman with a strong self-concept, high self-esteem, and good communication skills does not invite others to speak for her. Only powerless women and timid women are victims of unassertiveness.
2. Let people advise you. No matter what they try to advise you on, and no matter how innocent, don’t let them to it. Politely question everything is said by way of advice in such a manner that the would-be advisor gives you the fact, situations, probabilities, and so forth. Use a series of “why’s” if necessary.
3. Let people order or command you. When a person issues a command, even a small one promptly say, “Did you ask something?”
4. Talk apologetically. When you talk apologetically, people see you as lacking backbone . . . they look at you as weak and, yes, unassertive. Avoid “maybe-ing.” When you think before you speak, you are fully definite in what you will or won’t do.

Want to learn more about this career tip?

Don’t Say Yes When You Want to Say No: How Assertiveness Training Can Change Your Life, by Dr. Herbert Fensterheim, published in 1975.

For hard-to-find books, try Alibris.com

“They are the weakest, however, strong, who have no faith in themselves or their own powers.”
–Christian N. Bovee

Perhaps you’re thinking easier said than done, especially if you’ve been out of work for a period of time. But it’s important to not have negative beliefs about yourself. Never make negative statements about your body, looks, face, weight, and so forth.

And having a negative attitude about the possibility of landing the job you want and about achieving success in life, will influence your motivation, effort, and drive to attain your goals. Instead, try self-affirmations.

Self-affirmations are one-line “I” statements of self-belief. They cover areas related to who you are, what you can do, and what you will do.

Each morning look in the mirror and make these statements:

• I am spiritual
• I am gifted
• I am a lifelong learner
• I am worthy of respect
• I can handle this situation
• I can change my life
• I can be positive
• I will be a more profitable person
• I will ace the job interview!

Your perception of yourself has an impact on how others perceive you. Why not make your list of positive self-affirmations. Think about your personal abilities, strengths, and talents.

Want to learn more about this career tip?

http://www.more-selfesteem.com/

This is an interesting site. Their motto: “Helping you build your self-esteem and confidence.” The site offers ideas to protect your personal mental health, such as “Smile and laugh more”; “Do things you love as often as possible,” and many other suggestions.

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.”

–Abraham Lincoln

Everyone has dreams; but a dream is not a goal unless you turn that dream into a reality. So what is a goal? A goal is an aim, a clear path, toward a desired result. It is a tangible result to strive for and which you’re willing to commit time and effort to achieve.

Why set goals? They can get you where you want to go.

But goals must be written and internalized to strengthen your commitment towards achieving them.

Here are 10 tips to get you started:

• Set attainable goals. Goals must be practical and set according to what you are able to accomplish. Everyone is different in makeup, mentally, and emotionally. Therefore, do not expect to accomplish something just because someone else does. Take your circumstances into account.
• Don’t set your goals excessively low. When goals are set too low, this is due to fear of failure. Failure can serve as a means of learning. After all, you learn to walk by overcoming the tendency to fall down.
• Set long-term goals first. Those you plan to achieve over a lengthy period of time: in a month, a year, or two years. Long-term goals don’t have to be lifelong goals.
• Divide long-term goals into smaller goals you hope to accomplish within a short period of time: in one day, one week, one month, or six months.
• Set goals according to your values in different categories. For instance: health & fitness, family & relationships, education & training, financial, and career.
• Create a list of goals as you accomplish them.
• Use small rewards to stay motivated. For example, a book, CD, DVD, costume jewelry.
• Set another goal after you reach one.
• Follow the S.M.A.R.T method: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time bond.
• Keep pushing and don’t get discouraged when you fail. (“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb)

Goals empower you to achieve real success!

Want to learn more this career tip?

http://www.myGoals.com –This site has been around since 2000 and offers excellent tips on how to set goals in all areas of life.

http://www.nightingale.com – Click on “Success Tools” and access “Free Mission Statement Builder.” This is an excellent tool to help you create a personal mission statement.

“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.”

–Harvey MacKay

Take control of how you use your time. This is the #1 time management tip. When you plan your activities, keep in mind your most important goals. Life happens; you cannot always choose your circumstances. This can make you feel out of control. But you might be able to control how you handle life situations.

Dr. Stephen R. Covey author of the bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People says using language such as “I have to” and “They made me” robs you of personal power. Instead, Covey suggests in order to be effective and to be more in control, you practice Habit 3: “Put First Things First.” Only you can define what importance means to you. What is your vision? What is your dream? What is the purpose of your life? Once you do this, you can say no to demands that may be urgent but not important, and those that are not urgent and not important.

According to Covey, concentrating on activities that are important but not urgent (relationships building, planning, professional development, etc.) is fundamental to achieving success. It also helps you better manage those activities that are both urgent and important.

Here are a few other ideas to help you manage your time:

• Build a schedule.
• Make a to-do list.
• Post weekly, monthly, and yearly calendars.
• Schedule time for relaxation; and be flexible.
• Delegate. Ask for help when you need it; avoid pushing yourself too far.
• Take a walk. Take a nap!

Want to learn more about this career tip?

http://www.timemanagement9to5.com
Time management is mostly a matter of discerning what activities yield the best results and spending your time on those whenever possible. Learn time management strategies to help you balance school, work, and play.

http://shopping.franklincovey.com/
I recommend The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey, and also his latest book The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness. Learn to do what you love and love what you do with The 8th Habit.