[pwillia7]

Lots of good advice in the thread -- I'll take a different angle on it. There is and should be a difference in the way you communicate with your family and friends and coworkers, however, I think basically all people draw that line too absolutely and try to create a 'professional' persona they use at work.

The most effective you are in conversation is how you speak to your friends and family. Consciously breaking down that line and trying to bring the genuineness, empathy and effectiveness of your normal communication style into work.

I've always done OK here but I found HUGE gains once I stopped trying to act like some movie version of a 'good professional communicator' and just started being myself. All the other people working are just people too.

https://www.amazon.com/Weekend-Language-Presenting-Stories-P...

[domano]

I totally agree with you. The people talking through a "professional facade" always seem to be very disconnected and not genuine. I stay professional if need be, but allowing for the same mannerisms and humor as in day-to-day speech makes you easier to talk to. Listeners can connect to your contents easier, since there is no emotional barrier (difficult to explain, but there is a social barrier with these overly professional people for sure)

[spicymaki]

This is good advice. I am a member of a Toastmasters group and I remember doing a table topics speech where we needed to pretend that we were an inanimate object and then convey our experience to the audience. I remember feeling really confident and comfortable, because I was not pretending to be a 'good professional communicator' but being more empathetic.

[mud_dauber]

This is the correct answer. Well stated.