Expert discusses presentations with pizzazz and 'body talk'
Jan. 29, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Presenting with pizzazz and understanding the power of nonverbal communication will be the topics when a communications expert gives two Western Michigan University presentations in February.
Dr. Regina E. Spellers, assistant professor of communication at WMU, will present "Presentation with Pizzazz" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in the Federal Room of the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce building, 346 W. Michigan Ave. Part of a monthly series of workshops offered by WMU's Women's Business Development Center, the program is free and open to the public. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Patricia Guenther at (269) 387-2714 or <patricia.guenther@wmich.edu>.
Two weeks later, on Thursday, Feb. 20, Spellers will present "Body Talk: Understanding the Power of Nonverbal Communication." from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. in the Federal Room of the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce building, 346 W. Michigan Ave. The program, which also is sponsored by WMU's Women's Business Development Center, is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Attendees are welcome to bring lunch to the presentation. For more information or to reserve a seat, contact WBDC Director Patricia Guenther at (269) 387-2714 or <patricia.guenther@wmich.edu>.
In "Presentation with Pizzazz," Spellers will discuss controlling nervousness and using it to your advantage; sounding and looking confident, powerful and credible; preparing and organizing for clarity and impact; using your voice, word choice and body language to your best advantage; and handling visuals and conducting question-and-answer sessions. She will also touch on how to refine these skills using videotapes and expert feedback.
In her "Body Talk" presentation, Spellers will teach participants to use nonverbal behaviors to effectively express a message and to project confidence in a variety of situations. She will discuss cross-cultural examples of nonverbal communication.
"Each one of us gives and responds to literally thousands of nonverbal messages daily in our personal and professional lives," Spellers says. "From morning's kiss to business suits and tense-mouth displays at the conference table, we react to wordless messages emotionally, often without knowing why, or even what signals we ourselves are sending."
Spellers is an assistant professor of communication at WMU and she owns and operates Eagles Communication Group, which provides management consulting and personal development services. Her research focuses in intercultural and organizational communication issues, including workplace diversity, nonverbal communication, business communication and leadership. Spellers has published her work in numerous academic journals and magazines such as Arizona's Black Executive and the Boardroom Monitor.
WMU's Haworth College of Business established the Women's Business Development Center in 1999 to offer support to female professionals and entrepreneurs by providing training, problem-solving consultation, current business information and networking opportunities.
Media contact: Jessica English, 269 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu