ORAL COMMUNICATION

“HAVING A CONVERSATION”

Writing that Works (2010). Oliu, Brusaw, & Alred

Chapter 14 – Giving Presentations

“ It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech”

~Mark Twain

NERVOUS ABOUT PRESENTATIONS?

Prepare and deliver presentations

- Identify steps in the process of speech planning

- Review Listening (pg. 516)

OBSTACLES TO SUCCESS!

FEAR & Not Prepared Successes

1. FEAR

2. Not Prepared

•Breathe and relax.•Prepare more material than you need.•Believe in your success.•Calm your fight-or-flight base, located in the emotional center of the brain.•Be comfortable in your shoes.•Rehearse & rehearse again!

(DG)

WHAT YOU SAY – VERBALObstacles Successes

“Why we are talking about this?”

“Is there a point? Where are we going?”

Lacking stories Wrong balance of self-

disclosure Believing Powerpoint

is the talk instead of you

Audience-centered language

Strong clear engaging introduction

Body points with interesting evidence/support/stories

I have a dream. I have a dream. I have a dream.

A positive wrap up(DG)

TRANSITIONS ARE SPEAKING LIKE PUNCTUATION IS TO WRITING.

To show comparisons

To illustrate cause & effect

To contrast ideas

To summarize

To illustrate sequence

Similarly as a result on the other hand

in conclusion first, second, third

in the same way

therefore and yet In summary following this

likewise hence at the same time

finally later

in comparison

because in sprite of let me conclude by saying

earlier

just as thus however altogether at present

  consequently   as we have seen

in the past

        until now

HOW YOU SAY IT (BODY)

Obstacles Successes

Poor posture Fidgeting Standing in one place or

pacing Talking to the floor or the

ceiling (wrong eye contact) Wrong clothes for the event

& audience Not smiling Incongruence facial

movements to content Back to audience Negative energy

Regulate your energy.

Dress appropriately. Smile Move, be

comfortable

(DG)

HOW YOU SAY IT (VOICE)

Obstacles

Successes

Poor articulation Too fast, too slow Too soft, too loud Too high, too low Raising your voice

at the end of a sentence.

Disfluences Causing attention

on your mistakes

Good rate, volume, pitch, depth

Enthusiasm

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR AUDIENCE.

Obstacle Success

Ignoring the audience, and just delivering your message.

Feel the energy back.

Notice the individuals.

Notice the collective energy.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL

PRESENTATION!

PREPARE => PRACTICE => PRESENT

SUCCESS OF A PRESENTATION!

1. Determine our purpose2. Analyze our audience3. Gather supporting information to

strengthen our claims, proposal, point of view, etc.

4. Logically organize our message (flow of information)

DETERMINE PURPOSE!“If you do not know where you are going,

you are likely to wind up somewhere else”

To inform? To persuade? To entertain? To demonstrate? Ceremonial speech?

PURPOSE What is your purpose or goal? What is the result you want?

Have a goal.One sentence – what do I exactly want to

do?What do I want my audience to know? Do?

Context and culture affect our purpose and how our react to it.

Patti Wood, an international speaker, author, and trainer based in Atlanta, is known for her expertise in body language and presentation skills. She makes over 100 presentations each year.

In the article on Presentation Pitfall by Tonya Layman (June 2011), Patti states, “you have to have a clear purpose that outlines what the audience is going to take away from your presentation. When you start you want to say, ‘Today I am going to talk about’ and then explain what the subject matter will be so that audience can expect to learn something. Then they will say to themselves ‘I am going to have to be active to receive this information.’ Use the word “you” often. Get rid of “I” and “me.” Use phrases like ‘Here is something else for you.”

Patti believes “connecting with your audience” is key to an excellent presentation. “That is what distinguishes an OK presentation from a phenomenal one. Afterward, people will talk about it as an experience rather than as a speech.”

Source: Presntation Pitfall by Tonya Layman (June 3, 2011)Retrieved from:

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2011/06/03/presentation-pitfall.html?page=all

ANALYZE YOUR AUDIENCE TO TAILOR CONTENT!Who are the key members? Employers? Management?Knowledge? Beliefs? Attitudes? What are their personal preferences?Which demographic characteristics are significant?

Age, sexual breakdown, occupations, racial and ethnic groups?

What is the size of the group?Knowledge base of your topic?What questions might you be asked?

*Remember – keeping your message audience – centered?

CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT / CONTEXT

Location & room layout (lectern) How will your voice carry in the room? Technology & visuals aids & lighting Time limits Notes

(DG

GATHER / DETERMINE SUPPORTING MATERIALS Narrow your topic – form your key (3-5

main ideas) Decide on the supporting materials Then Gather them

books, magazines, quotations, analogies (direct and implied comparisons), stories / illustrations, explanations, expert opinions, comparisons to show similarities or differences between two items.

(DG

GIVE A STRUCTURE TO YOUR SPEECH

Construct an INTRODUCTION Organize your BODY – key ideas with

transitions Offer CONCLUSION

Stephen Covey once said, “Begin with the end in mind.”

Review your three/five main ideas, and offer final summary/remarks.

(DG

INTRODUCTION – TELL THEM WHAT TO EXPECT (HOOK)

• 10-15% of the total speaking time

• A personal experience or a Story• Humor (Be careful!)• Question• Sample (Be careful!)• Startling statistic (cite your source)• Quote• Refer to audience : “We’re here today to…”• Refer to the occasion: “I know your all worried

about the rumors of cutbacks in staff. I called this meeting to…”

• A Rhetorical question

(DG

BODY – TELL THEM WHAT YOU PLANNED TO SAY – “CONTENT”

• Relate to audience needs• Tell a story• Anticipate their questions• Use clear, vivid language• Ask questions/ Ask for opinions• Ask for opinions• Pause – use silence • Give them something to do• No more than 5 points.• Each point is one idea.• Stay on topic – each to support the thesis.

(DG

CONCLUSION – BE MEMORABLE

• 5-10% of the speaking time• Restate your main points

• Describe the next steps• Ending on a strong and positive note• Connect back to your introduction• End with a challenge, end with a quote,

question, startling statement, refer of audience, refer to occasion, or humor.

• End with a ‘call to action’

VISUALS? HOW TO BOOST THE MESSAGE.

Use multiple mediums:Charts, pictures, tables, Powerpoint, handouts, etc.

Powerpoint(s) BBB – Big, Bold, Brief (unlike most academic

deliveries) Pay attention to your color choices

BENEFITS OF VISUAL AIDS Improves listener memory Speeds comprehension Adds to speaker credibility

Copyright Cengage © 2011 23

Percentage of Audience Recall

VIDEOS Be careful of the background Be careful of your eye location Make it brief and simple and short Be careful of your personal brand Relax and enjoy it. Prepare notes but don’t simply read them

HANDOUTS? HAVE A CHAOS PLAN

Too early and attention goes to the document and not you.

In the middle creates distraction and chaos.

Too late and the point is missed.

HOW DO I HANDLE QUESTIONS?• Use body language to show you’re listening.• Repeat the question for all to hear.• Keep answers short and to the point.• State ground rules to maintain control.• Respond unemotionally.• Clarify any confusion.

HOW MUCH DO I PRACTICE?• Rehearse 3 to 6 times• On your feet (maybe in front of friends)• Expect your talk to run longer/shorter• Spend extra time on the introduction. Your

anxiety is highest at the start.• In the real setting• Practice in small bits, then put the whole

speech together.• Pay the most attention to the introduction &

conclusion • Start as a natural with less reference to notes!