Rumessa Naqvi

EFFECTIVE SPEAKING

AIM• To discuss the art of Communication

with special emphasis on Public Speaking

Speaking Opportunities• At work

– Selling your ideas– Technical presentations– Customer Presentations and Reviews

• Daily Life– School Board Meetings– Town Zoning Board Meetings– PTA Meetings– Dramatic/Debating/… Society Meetings

Differences between Public Speaking (PS) and Conversation

• PS is more structured– Usually time limited– Questions not allowed to interrupt the speech,

• usually left for at end (time permitting)• PS requires more formal language

– No slang, jargon or bad grammar– Speeches should be something special so that they

qualify as life events and are remembered • PS requires a different method for delivery

– More formal delivery• No vocalized pauses – “uh”, “ah”, “um”• Don’t use stock phrases repeatedly – “you know”,

“basically”, “I mean”

FOCUS• Unifying your talk around a central

theme or idea.Concentrate on:• What is most important?

– What is the exact problem?– What is the “bottom-line”?

Content

Choosing the content1. Choose a topic you can handle2. Strictly define the topic3. Gauge the audience4. Determine the kind of occasion5. Check out the setting

Organization

Brainstormingis

essential!

ListingFreewriting

Clustering

Organization

For every ten bad ideas,there is one good one;

and for every ten good ones,there is one that is practical.

--Michael EisnerFormer CEO, Walt Disney Company

ORGANIZE• Structure your talk

1.State the main issue2.Develop your viewpoint with

specifics3.Handle any questions4.End with a clear summary5.Make a last statement or request

Organization

Organize into 3 partsIntroduction

Body

Conclusion

Preparation• Always plan the closing first.• Sequence of preparation:

ClosingBody

Opening

Organization

The Introduction

• Introduce the message—focus the audience

• Anecdote, fact, quote—grab their attention

• State your intention

Beginnings• Some ways of beginning that should

be avoided:

1. Apology2. Complaint3. Webster’s dictionary4. Reference to the title

Organization

The Body• Deliver the message—convince the audience• 3-5 main points, coveredequally• Clearly identify thepoints as you make them

Organization

The Body• I will present three approaches to

protecting endangered species.• The first approach is captive

breeding…• Now, the second approach,

reintroduction...• The third is my favorite—habitat

protection…

Organizing a Speech:Supporting Materials

• Supporting Materials– The “flesh” that fills out the skeleton of your

speech– By themselves main points are only assertions.– Listeners need supporting materials to accept

what the speaker says– Three major types of supporting materials:

• Examples• Statistics• Testimony

– Always provide sources to give credibility to the supporting materials

Organization

The Conclusion• Synthesize the main points• Motivate the audience• Give the audience a specific challenge• Strong finish, so audience knows when

you’re done!

Practicing

Practice is a process, not an event

• Practice is not rehearsing the night before

• Practice is not memorizing the talk• Practice IS gradually getting to know

and love the talk

Performing

Like it or not, you area performer!• Listeners judge you by performance, more than content

• Listeners decide to like/dislike you in the

first few minutes.

DRAMATIZE

Don’t just tell it, show it• What is your main idea?

– Find a vivid memorable way to make your point

– Can you tell the story visually?• Chart, graph, photo, demonstration

Use your creative imagination

HUMANIZE

People are more important than things• Don’t get lost in numbers• Cut the jargon• Think: how does my main idea relate

to real people in their own day to day lives?

Strategies For Getting Started With Confidence

• Prepare and Practice • Visualize Success• Use Relaxation Techniques

Strategies for Getting Started With Confidence: Freedom to Walk• Walk around as you

make some of your points

Movement relieves tension, and it helps to hold the audiences attention

Strategies for Getting Started With Confidence: Natural Gestures • Practice some

controlled, natural gestures that might be useful in enhancing your speech, such as holding up your index finger when starting your first main point

Strategies for Getting Started With Confidence

Gestures

• Don’t…put hands in pockets• Don’t…wave the pointer like a conductor• Don’t…lean on the podium• Don’t…stare at the floor, window, screen• Don’t…hide behind the podium

Avoid

11 deadly dangers while speaking publically

1.No clear objective2.Forgetting the audience.3.Anticlimactic ending.4.Mysterious opening.5.Loss of focus.6.No script.7.Poor delivery.8.Bad visuals.9.Weak evidence.10.Negative attitude.11.No follow-up.