All about the Environment

                                                    

     It’s really important to be in or create an ideal ambiance in order to have creative yet structured discussions. There are many different things that need to be considered for in preparation for a telephone interview, face-to-face interview and training/developing sessions. Some things to ask yourself before conducting a telephone interview would be to prepare in advance by jotting down some points in logical order. As soon as you connect, immediately making your name and your corporation known. Most importantly you should ask if this is a good time to speak for the interviewer, if not schedule another time that is good for both of you. Though these things may not seem "non-verbal" at first, they play a big role in the atmosphere and feelings that are being conveyed to others.

     For a basic face-to-face interview there are more factors that will concern you, people will generally feel more vulnerable when they are with you in person. It’s important to make them feel comfortable by ensuring that they will be in an undisturbed environment. You can do this by keeping your phone on silent, alerting other co-workers of your interview and making sure the room is clean, safe and appealing. It is also important that when making your questions you apply both open and closed ended questions, this allows the interviewer some time to elaborate on their answers. Don’t forget to sum up the main points of the interview at the end so you can ensure that you are both on the same page!

     Some things that you should not do during the interview is talking about yourself constantly, this makes it seem as though you are too self-interested and bragging about your position. Make sure to not let any emotions or preconceived notions affect your decisions or get the better of you. An important note is to never speak negatively about your job or co-workers, even if you feel strongly at the moment, it’s not worth it. Overselling the position or jumping to assumptions about the interviewee's answers are also red flags. The biggest thing to remember is that the point of the interview is to get to know the interviewee, this means taking your time with it and showing your undivided attention, no rushing!

Here’s a look at two different interview rooms, it is very clear which one gives you a better feel.

   

Can you point out some things that went wrong with this interview?

A Look at Morse Code and Sign Language

   

M o r s e   C o d e
In 1836 a man named Samuel Morse invented the “Morse Code”, this code was able to send information over wires through dots and dashes. It took him 12 years to perfect his code through his version of an electric telegraph. This device was able to allow the user to tap out a special code for each letter of the message with a telegraph key. The telegraph would than change the dots and dashes into electrical impulses, transmitted though telegraph wires. In addition, it is very well known today for sending distress signals such as SOS. It won't be something that you will use every day but its great understand how to use it in case one day you're stranded in the middle of nowhere!

Samuel Morse (1791-1872)

Today Morse code is a really interesting way to transmit text information through a series of lights, on-off tones, mirrors, clicks or even by people with severe disabilities to communicate. The international Morse code actually encodes the basic Latin alphabet combined with Arabic numerals. These are sequenced as dots and dashes and are most used by amateur radio operators. Every letter is separated by a short pause, and every word is separated by a long pause (three times longer). Repetition is the key to remembering anything, including Morse characters, give it a shot! Here’s a look at how to use Morse code.

This website allows you to type in sentences, converting it to Morse code for you!

 http://morsecode.scphillips.com/translator.html


S i g n   L a n g u a g e 

Sign language constantly uses body language and manual communication to convey messages to others. With practise, using sign language can effectively and fluidly express the speaker’s thoughts. This combines hand shapes and movement along with expressions from arms, body and face. It’s a common misconception that signs are the same worldwide but every country has their own way of signing, there are currently hundreds of different ways of signing around the world. In addition, there is said to be not as many signs as things that exist. Keep in mind that an average deaf six-year old entering first grade already knows about 4,000 signs!  Learning how to sign is very complex and challenging, here are some key factors of a successful signer:

·         Invested a large amount of time and effort

·         Regular daily practise and study

·         Good Memory!

·         Ability to organize and process data in a timely manner

·         Ability to gain intricate hand control

Give the alphabet a try!

Here's a cover of the song "Happy"by Pharrell done fully in sign language to show you how much fun signing can be!

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

Nonverbal communication in general is more immediate and very easily noticed over verbal communication. Between men and women many things can be misinterpreted through body language, voice tone, touch and appearance. The biggest reason why men and women differ in their use of nonverbal communication is men communicate to transmit information and solve problems, while women use communication to express feelings and achieve emotional intimacy. Learning to understand some of the differences in the complex communication process is key to success. The better you can communicate with men and women, the more opportunities you can take advantage of!

When you’re face-to-face, men and women will constantly be giving signals about their personality, feelings and attitudes. Decoding them is the tricky part, but with practice and knowledge you will be on your way in no time. For example, let’s say if a women makes a negative remark but she is smiling while doing so, she’s meaning it very lightheartedly as a joke. If a man was to do the same he will have a greater chance in offending a women, especially if he is not very clear with his facial expressions.

But with age you will gain and develop the ability to accurately decode body language better. Both men and women have very strong messages that are conveyed such as leaning in and nodding which signals that they are listening and understanding. Generally women want intimacy in a conversation, to feel connected to others. Men want to give information while remaining independent of the other party. Neither focus is better than the other, they are just how we are wired. We must acknowledge that there are many differences that exist among us. We can now be more alert with some of these differences and work with them, non-judgmentally, rather than struggle against them.

Here are some interesting facts about differences of the sexes:

·         Tall men get hired more often, they are perceived to be more attractive and have higher self-esteem.

·         While driving men rely on mapping out the area, women rely on the assistance of landmarks.

·         More body motion while walking is associated with femininity.

·         Women remember the appearance of others better than men.

·         Women use more words than men to make a point and express feelings.

·         Men think through a problem privately before they express a solution or the bottom line.

·         Women often change the topic in the middle of a conversation and return to it later.

·         Men will tend to finish a topic before moving onto the next.

If you're interested in learning about more of these differences and how to respond to them, “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus” is an amazing and insightful book to get your hands on!

                                                     

Cultural Communication

   

   
                                                                                                A smile is one of the most common examples of a very controversial facial expression that we wouldn’t think twice about. It may be crazy to think that in other cultures they may even be offended by something that we do to show happiness. That’s why there is a huge importance of understanding how we can make everybody feel more comfortable by doing a little research. In Russia a smile is considered very strange and even impolite. A smile can even convey weakness in Scandinavia because you’re not encouraged to show your emotions.

     Even hand and arm gestures vary widely among cultures. For instance, the “thumbs up” and “OK” sign have vulgar meanings in Latin America, Greece, Brazil, Russia, West Africa, and Iran, while in other countries the “OK” sign just simply means zero. The appropriate physical distance is also a huge factor that varies from country to country. In the Middle East and Latin America people tend to be comfortable very close to each other when in Canada we would feel as though someone is invading our personal space.

     Eye contact is where I find the differences in cultural meaning is the most striking. In Latin America not looking the other person in the eye can come off as a sign of disrespect, it may even make you look suspicious to them. In Asian culture you should avoid prolonged eye contact at all costs because they will most likely take a huge offence to it. One huge offence to Asia, Europe and the Middle East is resting your feet on a chair or a desk. I repeat, DO NOT DO THIS. EVER. Enough said.

     As you can see, because of these differences between cultures it makes sense to learn well in advance about somebody. This way you can understand and respect them and their culture reasonably. It’s easy to fall into believing that how you were raised and your culture has everything right, but the big picture is that nobody is right or wrong. Different cultures make the world a new and exciting place to be and odds are you will learn amazing things from every country you visit. 

     Here's a short video of 10 things you could do that would offend other cultures. Can you think of any others?

Dress for Success

Finding your own professional style can be a really fun and interesting experience that helps you discover more about yourself. On the contrary, for others this may quickly become a daunting task spiralling into a world of confusion. Either way how you dress is an essential step to ensure that you are giving off a good vibes and showing that you take yourself seriously. The main focus is on making sure that you feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing so that others will show you respect and want to listen to you.

Let’s say that you walk into an interview for a position at a bank. You’re currently wearing ripped jeans, your favourite baseball cap and an oversized hoodie. You probably were trying to dress for comfort but truthfully they won’t be able to look past your attire. To them you look unprepared, unprofessional and…..a slob! Remember that you are marketing the most important product there is, yourself. It’s critical that you make the effort to dress properly for the job that you are seeking, it won’t necessarily get you the job but it will give you a competitive advantage and a positive first impression. Don't forget that first impressions are critical and will be remembered forever!

So how exactly should you dress?  Conservative outfits are always the safest routes, but you should also try to investigate your prospective employer so that what you’re wearing will reflect the company and help you fit in. To find out what the dress code is you could even call the Human Resources office where you are interviewing and simply ask!

You don’t need to run out of the house and spend your life savings on the “right” clothes for interviewing. You should make sure that you have three well put together outfits to get you started, as you attend more interviews or get accepted for a job you will learn more about what items fit in your wardrobe. On a side note hygiene in general plays a big role in dressing for success, below are some things that you should make sure you have:

·         No body odor

·         Nothing in your mouth including candy or gum

·         Clean and polished shoes

·         Well- groomed hair

·         Fingernails are trimmed and clean

·         Minimal perfume or cologne

·         No body piercings that are beyond conservative

·         Well-brushed teeth and fresh breath

Finally, don’t forget to have a final look of yourself in the mirror before the big interview!

Below is a video that highlights what you should avoid when making your interview attire and helping you prepare yourself so you can walk in looking and feeling confident.

Posture and Gestures Speak for Itself

The most important message that you can convey to people is that you are confident in yourself and what you are saying to others. Sometimes when we get nervous of feel uncomfortable we tend to forget or not be aware of distracting things or movements that we may be displaying. Posture plays a major role in showing confidence and reassurance to others. For instance if you were in an interview slouching and giving a weak handshake, it would show that you may not want to be there and are not taking an opportunity or job seriously. Instead you should have your feet firmly planted on the ground and give a solid handshake, this reassures them that your are the right candidate because you care about this job and want to make a good impression. It’s amazing that making a small change like that could lead to you getting the job!

Take a second to review the pictures below and think about how these people make you feel?

Making these small changes will have a huge impact on how people see and communicate with you. Having an open posture instead of a closed posture will better the atmospheric mood. It also reassures them that you believe in what you are saying and want to make sure that they understand your point fully. In turn this will help them feel comfortable around you so that they may convey any thoughts they may have and feel as though you care about their input. For example, if you were sitting in a desk chair, you would rest your hands on the arms of the chair comfortably instead of crossing them over your chest. This gives off that you are ready and eager to listen or that you are confident in what you are saying to others.

Some common gesture mistakes are:

·         Fidgeting with your hands

·         Gesturing at waist level or below

·         Pointing at the audience

·         Holding your hands behind your back

·         Using overly rehearsed gestures

·         Slouched or bad posture

·         Avoiding eye contact

·         Elbows being locked at your side

·         Constant one-handed gestures

·         Keeping hands in your pocket

·         Crossing your arms

Practicing to eliminate some of these things will be needed, this allows you to feel confident enough to not rely on some of these gestures to ease nervousness. You want the people to naturally flow along with you and not be concentrating on other things. The basic key to creating the right gestures and postures are that they reinforce what you are saying, rather than distract people from it. An awesome tip would be for you to videotape yourself while you are practicing a presentation so you can see firsthand any negative or distracting things you do. It could be a small thing like scratching your head, twitching, or just looking downright nervous! Don’t worry, anything can be changed with practice. Writing down a list of things you do and working on eliminating them will put you on your way to success!

Don't forget, you should keep in mind that you will be using non-verbal communication in your everyday life, try to practice these things in daily conversations...so this doesn't end up happening to you!