Unit 2

Rachel Vine

Unit 2 - Communicating and Presenting Ideas in the Creative Media Sector

2.1 - Understand how to communicate in the workplace 

1.1 Describe several communication techniques and explain their appropriate application. 

Whilst working at DCAS I have discovered many ways of communication. The ways I use on a regular basis are e-mail, messenger, phone calls, meetings and face to face discussions. Which method I use depends on what Im working on, it is important to use the correct communication to get the best result. For example if I was having a formal conversation with a client about a current project it would be appropriate to use e-mail of a way to communicate. This gives us both the opportunity to share information securely. Whereas if I needed to have a serious conversation regarding bullying in the work place for example I would directly ask my Line Manager for a private one to one meeting/discussion. This is a more suitable form of communication to which I would feel more comfortable in using to discuss my issues. Understanding the importance of which communication techniques to use during particular situations can contribute well when working with others in an environment that is constantly changing. 

1.2 Compare a range of techniques used for influencing and persuading others and their applications. 

Working at DCAS amongst a mixture of skilled people it can be quite useful to include them in some of your own work. As this environment can get very busy and result in members of staff having heavy work loads it can be useful to off load this work onto others that may be able to take on the job and produce the best outcome. A way of persuading others to help take on some of your own workload can be difficult if not communicated in the correct way. Approaching this person in a friendly way, explaining why you need them to do the job given and to focus on the good work you think they could produce then this can help them to agree. 

1.3 Describe how to give and receive constructive feedback. 

When giving constructive feedback it is important to explain clearly what you think could be improved or changed and why, giving them further advice and ideas to work to can also make them feel more relaxed when hearing constructive criticism. Getting straight to the point can decrease the chance of confusion and upset. Focusing on what they have done well will also contribute to them feeling better about their work. When receiving criticism it is important to note that the person delivering it is trying to help and to not take anything they say personally. Taking on board suggestions and advice from others can help develop your work in a positive way and listening can contribute to the progression of your work. 

1.4 Describe methods used to communicate technical and specialist issues within and across teams.

As DCAS is under local authority for Derbyshire County Council we have an internal system that allows us to communicate within a secure setting through email and telephone networking. This form of communication is often used in specific situations for example if I wanted to contact the IT department for help with a computer issues I would contact them via the internal telephone system. If I was to contact a youth worker within Derbyshire County Council then I would approach them through the internal emailing system where I would be able to search for the appropriate contact details. Another important way of communicating within the team are group meetings that can surround work related issues that are best discussed in the work environment. 

2.2 Be able to present own ideas in different environments

2.1 Describe examples of effective presentation techniques

An effective way of presenting your work is to be confident within your presentation. Using positive body language and continuous eye contact can make a big difference to your connection with the audience. You don't want to be looking down at the floor or twiddling your thumbs whilst presenting as it can make you look nervous and this wont portray yourself to the best of your ability. Consider making your presentation visually interesting by including pictures and links to evidence your findings this can include videos, articles, summaries of questionnaires etc. Showing your audience that you have a clear understanding of the subject you are talking about will increase the chances of maintaining your audiences attention. 

2.2 Select and justify appropriate presentation techniques for a specific creative idea

All companies have different approaches when it comes to presenting a specific creative idea and this can all depend on the type of project they are looking to create. 

A few examples of the unique techniques used throughout various production teams are

Film Creators - Techniques used during the presentation on a short film project may include a trailer or script to give the audience a preview of its quality and potential. Visual examples of what the end product could be can influence your audience to get onboard with the idea.

Artist Development - When promoting new artists the techniques that can be often found are EP demos, these are useful as they show the audience the creativity of the sound the artist can create. Band/artist photography can also be a good contribution when presenting them as it gives the audience an image to associate with the sound. Online blog reviews are also a useful tool when presenting as it provides consumers opinions from all listeners that surround subjects like personality, performance and quality of sound. Press kits are a final example of what could be included in the presentation to make it more successful and this is to give background information about the artist and show their professionalism in their work. 

Marketing Strategy- The creators of a marketing plan could include particular techniques that appeal to their audience for example evidence of the primary and secondary research that has been gathered prior to the presentation. Questionnaires, budget figures, statistics, estimated public reach. All these are elements of a presentation that the target audience want to see as this will help them understand the projects goals and whether they will be able to reach them. 

2.3 Present own creative ideas one a one to one basis and in a small/large group

Its easy to criticise yourself or think you could have done better so I personally find it quite difficult to analyse my own work in a positive way. However after watching the clips back I began to find positive points in my presentation. 

During the one to one I felt relaxed and comfortable talking to Martyn in an informal environment. I chose Martyn as the listener for the one to one as he currently has the knowledge and involvement in the DCASLive sessions. I knew he would be able to give good feedback on my idea which I could use when presenting to a larger group.

Throughout the one to one I used presenting techniques such as, giving a relaxed and confident presentation, keeping continuous eye contact and presenting my idea to a structure which I felt helped Martyn understand it thoroughly. 

When presenting the same idea to a larger group which included four members of staff I was much more nervous which is not usually like me. As I knew this presentation would be a more formal version I decided to create a short script to which I could follow. I gave the listeners some background knowledge on DCASLive before I presented the idea to give them a better understanding of why I thought my development idea would be beneficial and I think this was a success. The techniques I used when presenting to the larger group was breathing between sentences, maintaining eye contact, speaking clearly and giving examples of research to back up my evidence. All of these tools allowed me to stay calm whilst presenting and express my idea to the group clearly and confidently. 

2.4 Evaluate with others, areas of strength and weakness, in relation to own presentation performance. 

As I have mentioned in 2.3 I have shown good presenting techniques in some areas of my performances. In other areas I found that I was sometimes struggling to speak clearly as I was talking to fast and not breathing in between sentences. I also found that when presenting to the larger group I moved around a lot more and said "erm" between points, this was due to the nerves. However overall I think I gave a confident presentation and kept the audience engaged. 

Here is a short audio clip which includes feedback from some viewers.