Communication Lessons From A Piece Of Blarney Stone

Communication Lessons From A Piece Of Blarney Stone

Do you believe in magic?

Legend has it that there exists a magic stone. Many people troop to the place where this magic stone is located, mainly for a single reason: it bestows the gift of gab.

People refer to this magic stone as “The Blarney Stone”. This historical stone is actually part of the Blarney Castle in Ireland.

Tradition has it that by kissing the stone, people acquire a powerful skill -- the gift of effective communication. Yeah, it seems strange particularly in this day and age; but who are we to question tradition?

What exactly comprises the gift of gab? What are these powerful communication gifts?

Communication Skill # 1 - Eye Contact
In face-to-face communication, eye contact is very important. This reinforces the emotions that we wish to communicate.

When communicating with a large audience, there is a lot to say when it comes to directing attention to our audience with an eye-catching gaze. It is important to maintain our focus when talking to a large group in a meeting or a gathering. Through eye contact, we are reaching out to every one in the audience.

Communication Skill # 2 - Humor
A little bit of humor can do wonders to ease the tension. Injecting humor can also eliminate boredom and make the audience alive. That way, we will get the attention of the majority of the crowd. They will also feel that we are just as approachable and human to those who listen.

Communication Skill # 3 - Connection
Interaction is all about mingling with other people. This establishes a strong bond or connection with the person or audience. This connection will allow us to get many ideas and discover people’s wants, aspirations, expectations, and concerns.

Communication Gift # 4 - Smile
A smile says it all. This is very much like eye contact. There is no point on grimacing or frowning in a meeting or a gathering, unless it is a wake. We can express better what we are saying when we smile.

Communication Gift # 5 - Preparation
Prepare ahead of time. Make the best out of preparation and this is more than just scribbling notes often in a hurried panic.

Some people like to write things down on index cards, while others resort to being a little sillier as they look at their notes written on the palm of their hand (not for clammy hands, please). We must be comfortable with what we know and enjoy what we are doing.

There you have it. These suggestions may sound rather amateurish, but some of these techniques work for people.

Let us try them out when speaking in face-to-face situations or in a public arena. Seek more opportunities to be with people to learn how to make conversations and meetings more enjoyable as well as educational. We must realize that each one of us has a piece of the blarney stone within.