Public Speaking:An Audience-Centered Approach – 7th edition

Steven A. Beebe & Susan J. Beebe

Why Study Public Speaking?

Empowerment Employment

• Achieves desired goals.• Is an “advantage” over your competition.

• Shows confidence.

• Shows conviction.

• Corporations want skilled speakers- - -

• to adapt information,

• to be organized, and

• to keep listeners interested.

• Communication is the top skill sought by employers.

Top Factors in Helping Graduating College Students

Obtain Employment

1. Grade point average (gpa)2. Specific degree held3. Written communication

skills4. Listening ability5. Leadership in

campus/community activity6. Technical competence7. Work experience8. Poise

9. Appearance10. Resume11. Part-time or summer

employment12. Enthusiasm13. Recommendations14. Accreditation of program15. Oral (spoken)

communication16. Participation in

campus/community activity

Not in Rank Order

Top Factors in Helping Graduating College Students

Obtain Employment

1. Oral (spoken) communication

2. Written communication skills

3. Listening ability4. Enthusiasm5. Technical competence6. Work experience7. Appearance8. Poise

9. Resume10. Part-time or summer

employment11. Specific degree held12. Leadership in

campus/community activity13. Recommendations14. Accreditation of program15. Participation in

campus/community activity16. Grade point average (gpa)

Source: Winsor, JB,Curtis “National Preferences in Business and Communication Educatoin: A Survey Update,” Journal of the Associaton for Communication Administration 3, September 1997; 174.

Public Speaking DiffersFrom Conversation

Public Speaking is Planned

• More practice.

• More preparation.

• More research.

Public Speaking is Formal

• Less slang & casual language.

• More physical distance between speaker and audience.

• More controlled gestures and movements.

Speaker & Audience Roles Clearly Defined

• Expectations well-established.• Behaviors stable.• Speaker and audience follow

rules more.

Speaking rules for this class

Class Activity- As a group, let us establish rules for speaking

and listening in this class.

The Communication ProcessCommunication as Action

• Linear, one-way messages.

• Source: encodes message.

• Message: what is said & how it is said.

• Channel: how message is transmitted.

• Receiver: decodes message.

• Noise: interferes with message .

Internal.

External.

The Action Model of Communication:

Experiences

Past events or activities that give knowledge.

Represents our likes and dislikes.

What you understand to be trueor untrue.

An enduring concept of right or wrong, good or bad.

Attitudes

Beliefs

Values

Experiences

Past events or activities that give knowledge.

Communication as Interaction

• As message is sent, feedback to sender is provided by receiver.

• Communication happens within a context (environment/situation in which speech occurs.)

Communication as Transaction

• Communication happens simultaneously.

• Sender also receives message.

• Receiver also sends message.

Public Speaking & Diversity

• Different audiences have different expectations.

• Speakers must adapt to audiences.

• Audience-centeredness is key.

Improving Your Confidence

• Nervousness is normal.

• Public speaking number

one in highest anxiety.

Nervousness –

• Audience cannot see nervousness.

• Use anxiety to your advantage.

Build Your Confidence

Before your speech:

• Don’t delay preparing.

• Learn as much as you can about your audience.

• Pick a comfortable and familiar topic.

• Rehearse your speech.

• Present a structured speech.

Other advice

Before your speech:

• Be familiar with introduction and conclusion. • Simulate actual speech conditions.• Breathe deeply.• Think & act calm.• Picture positive outcomes.• Reassure yourself mentally (with a pep talk).

Finally…

During the speech:

• Focus on content, not fears.• Look for supportive audience members.

After the speech:• Reflect on positives.• Seek other speaking opportunities.