Open Mic Night at the Covington Library
An Open Invitation
Please join me at the the Covington Branch of the Newton County Library System on Tuesday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m. for a lively evening of readings and discussion of published works by local authors.
Among the books being show-cased that evening will be Say What? Here's How You Can Say and Write it Better and the proud author will welcome your presence. Come and listen to some of the highlights of this valuable non-fiction and learn of the many ways it can help to enhance communication skills. Maybe you don't need it; but someone you know does. Bring your questions, your comments. You may even be tempted to purchase a copy or two.
You could also take a minute right now to see the announcement on the website of the Newton Library System about this event, which I am sure you would find interesting. I hope to see you there.
The Decatur Book Festival, 2010
Holding Fast to a Memory
I am acutely aware that this is no longer news, since it all occurred during the Labor Day weekend just gone. But before the memory filters completely into the past for some—it won't for me—I must record and share the rewarding experience of my involvement as an emerging author in the AJC Decatur Book Festival of 2010.
The three days of the Festival were exciting and chockful of interesting encounters and memorable occurrences. Congratulations must be accorded to those responsible for the smooth administration of a relatively new venture in the blazing open spaces of summer-time Decatur. Even if there were mis-haps, to all appearances, mine at least, this Festival, first instituted in 2005, seemed to have been run quite flawlessly. One saw all the trappings of a well-established, and perfectly executed affair. Even the weather complied. Yes, it was gorgeous weather, particularly on the second day, Saturday.
They Came in Large Numbers
Tens of thousands of book lovers converged into downtown Decatur Square for the better part of three days to witness or to be an active part of author readings and signings, panel discussions, activities for children, live music, inspired poetry readings, and several interesting workshops. (If only one could have attended all the workshops.)
Among well-established books and their stalwart authors, Say What? Here's How You Can Say and Write it Better had what was really its second launching. There, however, in the Decatur Bandstand, I had my first opportunity to address an appreciative group, made up of family, friends and wellwishers, about the motivation that prompted me to write Say What? and to highlight some parts of my book.
The Author—How sweet the name!Say What? for Better Communication Skills
During the time allotted to me, and based on an ever-present concern, I made a plea to:
- Corporate Employees seeking upward mobility
- To the Young about to enter the universities upon which they had long set their hearts
- To Business Executives who would demand the attention and respect of their colleagues in the board room and throughout the workplace
to find in Say What? the ammunition needed to help catapult them ahead of the pack in that important arena of communication skills.
Using the Apostrophe
In spite of the time constraint, I could not omit one of my pet peeves in written English; the constant confusion between its and it's. When it is, and when it is not necessary to use the apostrophe.
I sometimes wonder at the fierce attachment which some people seem to have to that curly little "monster", the apostrophe. (Actually, the apostrophe is not a monster at all. Some people make them so.) These same people become so attached, that it seems they feel the need to grab a handful of them each time they begin to write. And then, very deliberately, they proceed to sprinkle them lavishly all over the finished piece—allowing them to fall wherever they will. Amazing!
During the short talk, I was particularly pleased with the interaction I had with the audience in the bandstand that day. I even threw out random questions and got answers back.
And then the Signing
Smiles and a fabulous hat
The bandstand delivery over, many of the listeners, including a gentleman, who said his own children refer to him as "the word doctor", cheerily formed a line at the table to have me sign the copies of Say What? they bought. Some faithfuls even stayed on to have a picture or two taken in commemoration of the occasion.
It was, indeed, a good Festival; one that continued into the next day, offering more delightful encounters and memorable occurrences.
__________________________________________________________
FYI
For the benefit of, and with apologies to some kind people who asked last weekend where copies of Say What? could be obtained, and I lightly responded, "From the back of my car." True enough, this provoked laughter, as it was meant to do, but
1.Forgive me for not getting back with you and
2.Although my response was accurate, Say What? can also be obtained from www.Amazon.com and www.Barnes&Noble.com
Fine-tune your Communication Skills
Say What? provides the step-by-step guidance that will help you fine-tune your communication skills.
How often have you asked:
Is it "who" or "whom"? Should I say "lay" or is it "lie"?
Then there's "You and me" or maybe "You and I"?
My poor head is in a spin! I'm up the creek without a sail!
What should I do to get it right?
The answers are all here within Say What? Get your copy at the Decatur Book Festival during the holiday weekend, September 3-5, in the Square in downtown Decatur, GA.
Check out, also, the interesting schedules at http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2010/index.php
Contact us at one of the following:
www.miraclesoftskills.com
Phone: 404-641-3607
jcarmic@miraclesoftskills.com
How Good Workplace Behavior Can Impact Lives
How We Behave
It was a pleasure listening to Garrison Keillor's program, "A Prairie Home Companion", on July fourth, as he opened his program with a song about what his Mamma taught him. Here he was, charting a way for people to behave, to communicate with one another in a manner that would eventually produce a happier and kinder nation in the song he sang: "Happy Fourth of July."
Happy Fourth
(Source: public domain clipart)
In it, he dealt with the importance of saying "Please", “Thank you", "Excuse me" and how important it is to treat others in our everyday lives as we would like to be treated—the well- known Golden Rule. These are the known basics of any customer service training program. The importance of having these courtesies used by employees during interactions with a company's customers is paramount.
The Moment of Truth
Customers know the difference it makes to their impression of a company when employees of that company extend these courtesies to them. Customers feel respected and more inclined to do business with such a company. As a result, management expects and demands these practices within the work environment. But should they not also spill over into employees' personal lives—if they are not already there? It has been proven, time and again, that this much desired "spillage" can only serve to enrich the lives of all. Call them what you will—social graces, good manners, etiquette—they have a positive impact on both the giver and the receiver.
A Lost Opportunity
A few weeks ago, at a local Post Office, a young woman arrived pushing a stroller in which there was a sleeping toddler. At the same time, she was holding a little boy by hand, balancing a huge wrapped parcel atop the stroller, and frantically trying to get all of the above through the doorway and into the lobby of the post office. Obviously, this was much more than she could manage. But suddenly, a young gentleman stepped forward, held the door open for her, and she easily breezed into the building. Sadly, there was neither a glance in the young man’s direction, nor a word of thanks to him for his help. A smile and a sincere “thank you” would have been a fitting close to this scenario. But none of this happened.
It’s Not an Impossible Dream
The ability to acknowledge the smallest act of kindness is a sign of our humaneness, yet these opportunities are often lost. "Please", "Thank you", "Excuse me", and, at times, applying the Golden Rule, continue to prove their effectiveness in the delivery of excellence in customer service. However, the workplace is merely a microcosm of the greater reality. For even as they impact the individual businesses, these simple words, phrases, and behavior patterns when transferred into the everyday lives of a people, are sufficiently powerful to propel a nation, this nation, toward a happier and kinder place.
. Peace
(Source: public domain clipart)
Articulation
Listening and Good Speech
Speech is the first step a child takes in the process of first language acquisition. Listening is an important component in acquiring this skill. For this reason, parents and child-care providers sing lullabies to babies, chant phrases, and speak to them at every opportunity. The "baby babble" is a natural response at this stage; then with natural development comes the need to make use of those organs that were first used solely for eating—the need to communicate as only human beings can, the need to speak.
A Warm-up Exercise
In Say What? I introduced articulation in chapter one, "The Lips, The Teeth, The Tip of the Tongue". This phrase is a well-known warm-up exercise in speech classes. Say these words slowly at first, then increase the pace; but make quite sure that, as the pace increases, your diction or articulation does not suffer. In other words, say these simple words using the organs of articulation efficiently. Try it.
The Importance of Good Articulation
But you may well ask why is articulation so important.
Articulation is the correct pronunciation of every syllable of a word with the controlled activity of lips, teeth, tongue, and of course, the jaw. Never stiffen the jaw, whatever you do. Instead, let it hang free.
Laziness in any of these organs of articulation results in poor speech habits, which in turn prevent maximum communication from occurring. Are you articulating well? Listen to yourself and be sure before you answer.
Breathing
Because breath is the source of voice and speech, we will begin with deep-breathing exercises, using the abdominal and diaphragmatic muscles to control your breathing in and out—never your shoulders. Shoulders must not move.
When you breathe in, the tummy muscles will move outward while your shoulders remain down and back. Hold it there. Now breathe out, and as you do, attempt to flatten the abdominal muscles as you expel the air from your lungs. It is as simple as that. If you breathe like this then you are breathing correctly. Continue breathing in and out to a rhythm that you like for a minute or two then let us continue to some simple articulation exercises.
Articulation
Do these exercises by over-emphasizing the use of the organs indicated, yet at the same time, remembering that nothing can be accomplished unless the lower jaw moves freely. Let's go:
1. The Lips: Peter placed the pretty plants in Pansy's open basket.
2. Lips and Teeth: The vast forest was filled with the fragrance of its foliage.
3. Tip of the Tongue (and the Palate):Late last Tuesday night a tornado struck the city.
(Never substitute "Choosday" for "Tuesday".)
East, west, north and south.
(Hear the difference between the "st" sound and the "th" sound in the final consonants here.)
Determine the Cause
Poor articulation may have a number of contributing factors, some needing the help of a medical person. However, when it is caused by nothing more traumatic than a severe case of laziness, or too much time spent listening to sloppy speech, then the remedy is simple and obvious.
Once you get it right, try not to over-articulate unless you are doing your exercises, for fear of sounding scary, pompous, or both. However, when you come to speak, speak with the naturalness that comes with good and diligent practice of the drills.
For more drills request a copy of Say What? Here's How You Can Say and Write it Better. Available from the author for just $11.95.
Janet Carmichael, author
jcarmic@miraclesoftskills.com
404-641-3607
or online at Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com
Say What: Here's How You Can Say and Write it Better
Let's Wage War on the Non-Word
Prepare for Battle
Even as the publisher's ink was drying on the words in Say What? my new book, friends were reminding me of other words in the Non-Word category. These are words that we hear over and over again, but which we will never see in a dictionary; words that exist only in the minds of the people who use them. So now, we will move to attack these imposters—the non-words, mind you— and battle them out of existence.
First the Reconnoiter
To find them, however, we must know them. Some n
on-words are found in chapter two of Say What? and they include the following:Irregardlessinstead of regardlesscrisisesinstead of crisesbidnessinstead of business- conversate
But here are some other imposters for which we need more ammunition:
strimpinstead of shrimp,supposablyinstead of supposedlyannoymentinstead of annoyancemischeviousinstead of mischievous
And the list goes on. In the last example, we hear the word incorrectly pronounced mis-chee-veus, with the accent on the middle syllable, when it should be mis-chiv-us wth the accent on the first syllable.
A Break from the Battle Scene
Well we've had enough of wars. Let us, for a while, indulge in a delightful diversion as I present here someone whom I consider to be the epitome of the word, "mischievous"— inspite of the angelic facial expression. It's none other than Miss Rylie Elder.
Rylie
Welcome
Now, these are just a few of the steps needed to make our communication skills more effective. And believe me when I say that anyone who really wants to achieve this goal will find these steps very useful.
Say What? Here's How You Can Say and Write it Better
by Janet Carmichael
Welcome to Say What?
Please join me in my ambitious campaign to
But there are others.
Ah yes! There are others. As many have said before, excellence in communication does not deal only with the words we say, but equally with the way we say them. It has so often been truly said, "It is not what you say, but how you say it that matters." I am sure you would agree that this is important to good communication.
Active Listening
So! Are we done yet? Not by a long chance. Well, what's still missing in this required list that makes us good communicators? It is that important business of Listening. But even as we add "listening" we want to make sure that the difference is clear between listening and hearing. Hearing is a physical capability, while listening—to be precise, Active Listening— is a mental capability; one that must be learnt (or learned)and faithfully practiced.
The Lexical Utopia
Say What? started us out on the path—a delightful pathway strewn with so many juicy morsels of information just waiting there to be gathered and enjoyed. So now, let us first retrace our steps, savor them once more—or for the first time— and then continue on to that place of perfection—the lexical utopia—even as we add other tantalizingly succulent tid-bits about becoming great communicators.
And thanks for joining the campaign. You won't regret this decision.
