Impactful Communication: Julia Voloshchenko Of Usetech On 5 Essential Techniques for Becoming an Effective Communicator
An Interview With Athalia Monae
Talk to other people you think are great communicators. I’m sure they’d be happy to share their experiences with you. An experienced mentor is a great opportunity for an aspiring communicator.
In an age dominated by digital communication, the power of articulate and effective verbal communication cannot be understated. Whether it’s delivering a keynote address, leading a team meeting, or engaging in a one-on-one conversation, impactful speaking can open doors, inspire change, and create lasting impressions. But what truly sets apart an effective communicator? What techniques and nuances elevate a speech from mundane to memorable? As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Julia Voloshchenko.
Julia has over 5 years of experience in the IT PR industry. At the moment she is a leading PR manager at Usetech, an international company providing services in software development, as well as AI, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Twins, Data Lake, etc.
Julia is one of the experts in the international community for entrepreneurs PR ON THE GO. She is a writer for Quora for Business Blog. Became a Top Public Relations Voice in 2023–2024 according to LinkedIn.
Professional interests: content marketing, PR in IT, effective communications, PR professionals’ personal brand.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about communication, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
Thank you for this opportunity! I try to read every interview with people from different fields to learn about their professional journey and also to get new insights for myself.
As for me, I have been working in PR and communications for more than 5 years. At the moment — I am PR manager at Usetech. Our company develops effective solutions for business and provides services in several areas: Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning, Big Data, IT consulting and others. The list of services and cases can be found on our website: https://usetech.com/
I am also engaged in full PR support of the company and work with international media and social networks. And, I can say that it gives a huge boost to my communication skill as well as public speaking skill!
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
In fact, I can’t think of any exciting or unusual story. Probably the only thing I can do is to express my gratitude to all the people who were at the beginning of my career and gave me experience, no matter what kind: positive or negative.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Firstly, it is responsibility. Perhaps this quality is inherent in everyone who works in communications and PR. Responsibility is needed everywhere: from the launch of a PR campaign to the organization of a major event.
The second skill is persistence. But don’t confuse that with being pushy! There is a fine line between the two. Persistence helps you achieve certain goals. For example, if you really want to get into a major media outlet, and you are looking for a topic that is suitable for a journalist. Obsession is when you have already been told “no,” but you keep repeating the same action. That’s not a good thing.
And the third skill is the ability to learn, and especially the desire to learn, the desire to learn something new in your field and to push the boundaries of what you can do. Every year we see how trends change, how something leaves the market and something replaces it. And it is important not to stand still, but to learn something new. And there are plenty of opportunities to do that right now.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition so that we are all on the same page. How would you define an “Effective Communicator?” What are the characteristics of an effective communicator?
An effective communicator is a person who is able to communicate, negotiate and agree with all types of people, from all backgrounds and cultures. He or she knows the limits of the other person and respects his or her cultural background. He or she is communicative (of course!), enjoys talking to people, can facilitate a conversation on professional topics and beyond, and knows how to make people feel comfortable.
How can one tailor their communication style to different audiences or situations?
You need to know the specifics of each audience and culture. What do they like, how do they like to perceive information, what kind of information should it be? If you want to know more about how each culture behaves in negotiations and business, I recommend the book The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business by Erin Meyer.
In addition, you need to know your industry and also be familiar with related industries to be able to keep the conversation going.
Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt your communication style to reach a particular audience successfully?
Sure. I have to work with different audiences and cultures, and each has its own characteristics. First of all, I respect every profession, and if I don’t know something, I’d rather ask the person I’m talking to. It is important to be polite at all times, not to be aggressive because it can affect your reputation. Also, if you are talking to an audience or culture for the first time, ask them to talk about their field/profession/country/culture/customs. Such questions will help put the other person at ease.
How do you handle difficult or sensitive conversations while maintaining open and effective communication?
Remain courteous and open to dialogue and cooperation. Ask for clarification or additional time to familiarize yourself with terms or consultations.
In your experience, how does storytelling play a role in impactful speaking? Why do you think stories are effective in communication?
Absolutely! Honestly, storytelling plays a HUGE role in communications, PR and content marketing. People love to hear and read stories because they make you feel like the protagonist of the story. Plus, stories are more memorable than plain text.
What are your “5 Essential Techniques for Becoming an Effective Communicator”?
1 . Read more professional (and nonprofessional) literature to be versatile and able to carry a conversation on any topic. For example, I try to read more than 30 books a year. First, it makes you more literate, and second, it opens you up to new thoughts and ideas.
2 . Attend events and don’t be afraid to network. Networking is your everything! The more you network, the better your communication skills will become. Network online and offline, speak publicly, and don’t be afraid of new opportunities.
3 . Start developing your personal brand. This will also help you develop your communication skills and expand your network.
4 . Talk to other people you think are great communicators. I’m sure they’d be happy to share their experiences with you. An experienced mentor is a great opportunity for an aspiring communicator.
5 . Interact more often and more with people and learn the art of small talk on any topic.
How do you integrate non-verbal cues into your communication? Can you provide an example of its importance?
I would advise against getting carried away with nonverbal expressions, especially gestures. In some cultures, the gestures you are used to may mean something completely different. To avoid problems, minimize the use of gestures in your communication.
A smile on your face and a friendly tone of voice will suffice.
How has digital communication changed the way you convey your messages? Are there any specific challenges or advantages you’ve encountered?
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of digital communication is the inability to understand the other person’s tone and mood. This can lead to misunderstandings and even conflicts.
Even when communicating digitally, you should follow certain etiquette rules: don’t forget to greet people and use proper, correct wording, and don’t bother them outside of their working hours.
Public speaking is a common fear. What techniques or strategies do you recommend to manage and overcome stage fright?
Read the literature on public speaking, watch TED Talks, observe your peers, and, of course, start speaking more often. You can start with small speaking engagements within your team and then move on to larger events.
It’s important to remember that everyone has been afraid to take that first step. Everyone knows that public speaking is exciting and scary, but it is important to overcome that fear and take that step forward. No one knows the topic of the speech better than you. Remember that you are the expert in your field and everything will be great.
What additional resources do you recommend for individuals looking to improve communication skills?
Books about communication, negotiation and public speaking, and different cultures.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Perhaps it would be an environmental improvement or landscaping event.
How can our readers further follow you online?
On LinkedIn, of course: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-voloshchenko-a0a110222/
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Thank you for this opportunity! I wish the readers of this article to become excellent communicators. And if anyone has any questions, I’m happy to answer them via LinkedIn.
About the Interviewer: Athalia Monae is a product creator, published author, entrepreneur, advocate for Feed Our Starving Children, contributing writer for Entrepreneur Media, and founder of Pouches By Alahta.
Impactful Communication: Julia Voloshchenko Of Usetech On 5 Essential Techniques for Becoming an… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.