RA360: Communication and Public Speaking
TL;DR
As a student staff member you communicate all the time. From more formal environments, like floor meetings or presentations, to more informal methods, like conversations with residents or your team. You also need to communicate with the written word. Becoming a better communicator will help you in your job and in your future career.
One of the most important skills you’ll use and develop as an RA or student staff member is communication. That’s communication in all of its forms, from public speaking at community meetings, to one-on-one conversations to residents, and through electronic means like messaging and email. Getting better at communicating is likely a skill you’ll work on your entire life. some of these resources will help get you started, or suggest ways to enhance your communication further.
In this RA360…
Communication and public speaking are also incredibly transferable skills that can help you in your career beyond college. Check out our page on Transferable Skills to learn more.
Public Speaking
5 Tips for Public Speaking
“Speech coach for TEDxPortland and Distinction Communication, Amy Wolff, gives five tips for being a better public speaker.”
Giving Presentations
Why Storytelling Matters
“For Garr Reynolds, this Zen sensibility of striving for simplicity and clarity is the foundation upon which he guides others towards better communication skills and better lives.”
The best way to beat your nerves is to be amply well-prepared. In this Harvard Business Review article, the author, Sabina Nawaz, is a critic, consultant, CEO, coach, and keynote speaker. It’s just true that even if you have your content in your head, it doesn’t always come out right, and feeling anxious is a natural response to all eyes being on you. It can certainly seem as though you didn’t know your topic well enough when you trip on your words and falter during the presentation or speech. Plan for that!
These skills are connected to running both events and meetings too. Being a strong speaker can help you manage the agenda as the facilitator at the helm as well as execute your event seamlessly as the master of ceremonies or “emcee.”
Electronic Communication
How good are you at writing email?
Email might feel old-school compared to texting or messaging apps, but it remains an important tool in professional communication. Whether you’re reaching out to supervisors, faculty partners, residents, or other campus departments, the way you write emails matters. It shapes impressions, clarifies responsibilities, and helps you get things done.
Roompact’s software has built in messaging features you can use to communicate with your community.
Questions To Ponder:
- Are you a good public speaker? Are there areas you do well in? That you want to improve on?
- What are “low stakes” ways you can get practice with public speaking?
- What other ways do you communicate? How do you know you’re a good communicator?
RA360 Outcomes:
RAs and student staff members will be able to:
- Describe strategies for successful communication and public speaking.
- Apply strategies to be a better communicator and public speaker.
More To Explore
RA360 is a set of resources organized around skills, topics and competencies relevant to Resident Advisors and similar related student staff positions in college and university residence halls.
