On the morning of December 15, 2024, the Luong Van Can Foundation successfully organized the workshop “Applied Communication: How to Present an Idea Coherently?” under the guidance of Mr. Tran Vinh Trong. With many years of experience in communication, journalism, and education, Mr. Trong delivered profound and inspiring insights into the importance of communication in both academic and everyday life.

Mr. Trong began the program by emphasizing the essential role of communication skills in students’ academic and daily lives – from casual conversations to formal discussions. He pointed out that communication is not limited to online interactions or social media posts; it is about exchanging ideas through meaningful conversations at school, at work, and in everyday life.

Understanding Ourselves

At the beginning of the session, Mr. Trong and the students discussed and clarified their expectations for the program. He emphasized that communication skills are human skills and highly personalized, meaning each individual has one or more communication styles that suit their personality, strengths, experiences, and environment. Therefore, understanding oneself and focusing on personal development are both essential and ongoing processes.

The Secret to Building the Right Mindset

To help students gain deeper self-awareness and identify their communication styles, Mr. Trong introduced some basic concepts of applied psychology. For example, a confident and calm communication style can be cultivated by reducing stress hormones (such as cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine) and increasing “happy” hormones (dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin). Simple ways to stimulate these hormones include chatting with friends, enjoying favorite foods and drinks, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. He also reminded students to maintain these habits consistently.

As a starting point for developing their communication style, students were encouraged to practice asking “why” questions about events around them. This approach leads to the application of the “Start with Why” method, which presents ideas through three steps:

• Why: Why is this happening? Why are we doing this?

• How: What are our goals? What steps will we take to achieve them?

• What: What results or rewards can we expect?

According to Mr. Trong, this method is not only useful for finding motivation or making important life decisions—it is also a practical tool for communication and public speaking. It helps students stay focused, clarify their purpose and audience, and deliver more persuasive and credible presentations.

Mr. Trong also introduced the “3V” principle to enhance students’ communication and presentation skills:

• Verbal: The choice of words and how they are used

• Vocal: Control of voice speed, pitch, and tone

• Visual: Use of gestures, facial expressions, and body language

These elements go beyond speech delivery and apply to supporting media like slides, videos, and background music. When used together with the “Start with Why” method, the 3V principle enables students to communicate more clearly, confidently, and effectively.

Tips to Transform Anxiety into Confidence

Through an activity involving pairs of opposite adjectives, Mr. Trong helped students understand how to shift from anxiety to confidence. For example, if you feel “cold” and nervous before a presentation, drinking a cup of “warm” water may help calm you. If you’re worried your presentation might be dull, consider starting with a short activity or game to engage your audience.

Mr. Trong explained that most fears stem from a lack of preparation. Therefore, anticipating potential challenges and planning solutions in advance can significantly boost confidence and reduce anxiety—even after just one attempt.