Day 2 of the Leadership and Public Speaking course centered on the importance of nonverbal communication. The following is an overview of today’s session:
Leadership and Public Speaking:
- Students introduced each other based on what they recalled from yesterday’s introductions. We gave a round of applause for each student presented
- Students continued note taking based on the visual and written aspect of communication
- Students learned that nonverbal communication takes up 70-93 percent of communication received from an audience
- Students learned the importance of body language through Amy Cuddy’s talk
- Students shared an individual whom they believe is a great communicator/public speaker (and they will explain why, tomorrow)
- Students research the top questions asked by interviewers seeking job candidates and students answered the following:
- What are your greatest strengths?
- What are your greatest weaknesses?
- Tell me a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at school, and how you dealt with it?
- Students shared their responses with the group as their takeaway for the session
Takeaway from day 2:
Out of the four major categories of communication—verbal, nonverbal, written and visual—it can be argued that nonverbal communication is most significant. Professor Amy Cuddy is a leading researcher in the power of nonverbal communication. Cuddy’s TED Global talk (2012) is an excellent resource for understanding how body language can make a negative or positive impact.