People Skills Beget Success
by Bascillia Toussaint
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: Student Life
Top CEOs rank "people skills" as the most important determinant of future success. Effective communication is a critical component of personal and organizational success, thus is it no wonder that organizational challenges stem from lack of communication. It is believed that people spend a significant portion of their time in interpersonal situations whether it is at the interpersonal, intergroup, organizational or external level.
In light of the above challenge, The Career Services Center sponsored Eric Barron, a nationally recognized college speaker who presented the perfect mix of education and entertainment to Lehman students/alumni, staff and faculty. Eric Barron is the president of a college focused training and coaching firm he has more than 18 years of training, management, and sales experience. Eric's dynamic personality coupled with animation and interactive activities exemplifies him as a truly inspirational and motivational speaker whose primary focus was to get each participant to maximize his/her potential by comparing "yourself to yourself". According to him, we are to let go of all the negative energy, people or things that drain us and focus on the positive.
In today's society communication is marred by the use of technology. We do not develop and maximize on the necessary communication skills because we are often times too busy using emails, text, short cuts for certain words, and interacting with games as opposed to people. This creates a disconnect, in that college graduates who achieve high GPAs and think they are prepared for the job market are unable to secure employment because they lack the people skills required. There are too many college students out there who are highly qualified for jobs but lose the offer to a competitor who connected with the employer through the 'Likeability Factor.'
Have you ever wondered what sets people apart from each other? Or why some people progress while others remain stagnant? Although skills and knowledge are essential in an individual's success it is how well you handle yourself, relationships and the manner in which people respond to you that determines your success. Ultimately, the art of communication is indeed required to accomplish this. Eric emphasized that "the energy given off will be returned," and presented the following steps on Becoming a Master Communicator:
1. Have a Positive Attitude and Great Energy
2. Use Positive Verbal and Non Verbal Communication
3. Establish a Pre-Game
4. Have a Clear, Concise and Interesting Message
5. Be Empathetic
6. Practice Active Listening
7. Find Common Ground
8. Embrace Diversity
Attendance and satisfaction of the workshop was well received by all.
Bascillia Toussaint
Career Advisor
In light of the above challenge, The Career Services Center sponsored Eric Barron, a nationally recognized college speaker who presented the perfect mix of education and entertainment to Lehman students/alumni, staff and faculty. Eric Barron is the president of a college focused training and coaching firm he has more than 18 years of training, management, and sales experience. Eric's dynamic personality coupled with animation and interactive activities exemplifies him as a truly inspirational and motivational speaker whose primary focus was to get each participant to maximize his/her potential by comparing "yourself to yourself". According to him, we are to let go of all the negative energy, people or things that drain us and focus on the positive.
In today's society communication is marred by the use of technology. We do not develop and maximize on the necessary communication skills because we are often times too busy using emails, text, short cuts for certain words, and interacting with games as opposed to people. This creates a disconnect, in that college graduates who achieve high GPAs and think they are prepared for the job market are unable to secure employment because they lack the people skills required. There are too many college students out there who are highly qualified for jobs but lose the offer to a competitor who connected with the employer through the 'Likeability Factor.'
Have you ever wondered what sets people apart from each other? Or why some people progress while others remain stagnant? Although skills and knowledge are essential in an individual's success it is how well you handle yourself, relationships and the manner in which people respond to you that determines your success. Ultimately, the art of communication is indeed required to accomplish this. Eric emphasized that "the energy given off will be returned," and presented the following steps on Becoming a Master Communicator:
1. Have a Positive Attitude and Great Energy
2. Use Positive Verbal and Non Verbal Communication
3. Establish a Pre-Game
4. Have a Clear, Concise and Interesting Message
5. Be Empathetic
6. Practice Active Listening
7. Find Common Ground
8. Embrace Diversity
Attendance and satisfaction of the workshop was well received by all.
Bascillia Toussaint
Career Advisor
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