Demonstrative Communication

Demonstrative Communication
Using demonstrative communication gives an audience one more way to understand the topic that is discussed. Many people use different kinds of demonstrative communication without even noticing that they are doing so. Some kinds of demonstrative communication are hand gestures, PowerPoint presentations, eye contact, body movement/positioning, and facial expressions. Most of these are usually used by the presenter to bring a group into a topic with the hope of them not losing interest.
Positive And Negative Effects
While using demonstrative communication one must remember the positive and negative repercussions of doing so. One could argue that their use of demonstrative communication has no negative effects, but that would be a simple case of ignorance on their part.
Positive Effects There are many positive effects given by using demonstrative communication. When a presenter is trying to keep an audience’s attention, they must do more than simply talk. Some people like to use PowerPoint presentations which on their own do not always keep an audience’s attention. To properly give a PowerPoint presentation, one must not only have brief and to the point bullets, but one must also include styling, such as pictures and even audio when the situation arises. Once all the pieces are properly put in place, there will be nothing but a positive impact on the audience’s retention of the information presented. Whereas PowerPoint presentations have their positive effects on their own, body language is also a key component. Using hand gestures while giving a presentation tends to bring an audience into what one is presenting. A simple hand gesture toward one’s self or towards the audience will make sure attention is on the presenter. As long as one is keen on the topic presented, this hand gesture grips onto the audience. Another positive form of body language is eye contact. Eye contact creates a personable atmosphere for the audience. Constantly scanning a room while presenting ensures that everyone feels included. Eye contact can also help the presenter when in a bind by finding someone in a crowd that makes one more comfortable.
Negative Effects There are many negative effects when using demonstrative communication as well. A poorly made PowerPoint presentation will bore an audience and lead to little or none in regard to information retention. Another example is using too many hand gestures. Waving hands around can distract an audience from the presented topic. Similarly, not enough hand gestures or fidgeting can lead an audience to believe the presenter is nervous or not very knowledgeable about what they are there to learn about. When using eye contact, looking at things one should not such as a woman’s chest could be very detrimental in a professional business setting. While there are both positive and negative repercussions involved in using demonstrative communication, one should not underestimate the effects demonstrative communication can have.
Listening And Responding Whereas there are positive and negative effects to demonstrative communication, listening and responding to what one’s peers are doing while one presents is paramount.
Listening
When presenting one’s self to others, it is important to listen to criticism and feedback (whether positive or negative). Listening to criticism serves to strengthen one’s ability to positively communicate on any level. An example of this would be giving an oral presentation in class and receiving the criticism of one’s peers. While many are not receptive to criticism, it is an incredible tool to use in order to strengthen weaknesses in presenting information to others.
Another incredibly useful tool in correcting and improving one’s ability to communicate is feedback. Feedback serves as a tool by allowing a presenter the opportunity to be told the errors they made and how to possibly fix them. Feedback in a learning environment is instrumental in helping one increase their ability to communicate properly and efficiently.
Responding
Whereas listening gives one a good understanding of what others think of their ability to communicate, responding allows one to question criticisms and feedback to promote a better understanding. One example of responding is paraphrasing. Paraphrasing makes sure that the person doing the criticizing knows that you understood the information they gave you about your presentation. Making sure that both sides understand each other is another key to progress. Another good thing to do when responding is to question the information they give. Not all criticism and feedback is necessarily correct. To conclude, all forms of demonstrative communication are important in regard to helping an audience retain and understand information. Whether criticized positively or negatively, always take it in as an instrument to become better at communicating. Communication is key in the world of business.