Effective public

speaking
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Content

Communication and presentation

Use verbal communication skills to make an effective
presentation
Use non-verbal communication effectively to reach the
audience
Introduction

Confidence on the
outside begins with
integrity on the
inside!
 Module 1
Communication and presentations

Good public speaking is a vital element of effective

communication

Experts tell us that public speaking ranks highest

on the list of situations people fear most.

Overcoming this fear requires education and

practice, practice, practice
 Definition of a presentation
A presentation is a structured, prepared and
speech-based means of communicating
information, ideas, or arguments to a group of
interested people in order to inform or persuade
them.

Get your audience to:

HEAR what we have to say (or see what we have
to show them)
UNDERSTAND what we mean
AGREE with what they have heard
TAKE ACTION in accordance with our overall
objectives
 Points to remember
First and last impressions
Points are made of special interest to them
Giving an overview before moving onto the points
of detail
More than one sense is stimulated
You seek their feedback
Talking about their problems and requirements
 What is the purpose?

To interact
To inform
To find out
To influence
To regulate
To entertain
 A good presentation has….

Content

Structure

Packaging

Human element
 Communication Barriers

Time
Language
Choice of words
Tone of voice
Different cultures
Feelings and emotions
Assumptions
 Stages of Group Development

Forming

Storming

Norming

Performing
 Working with group dynamics
involve and relax people immediately
open the lines of communication
help foster a sense of trust
promote content flow
revive failing energy
stimulate creativity
encourage open mindedness
equalize differences
 Guidelines for ice breakers

Keep it simple
Explain clearly
Confirm understanding
Relate to the topic
Be non-judgmental with responses
 Similarities in oral
& written communication
Purpose

Collect, classify, interpret & organise material

Visual aids

Structure: Beginning, middle & end

 Differences in oral
& written communication

Expression/Body language

Spelling & punctuation

Adjustment of the message

 Create your presentation
Always plan your presentation carefully.

 Research your topic

 Write a draft for each section
 Write an introduction
 Structure the middle part in a logical order
 Write a conclusion
 Read your speech over a few times
 Plan and prepare your visual aids
 Structure the presentation

Beginning
Tell them what you going to tell them

Middle
Tell them

End
Tell them what you have told them
 Structure the presentation

 Get attention
 Use transitions
 Tell a story
 Include visual aids
 Use a “Wow” factor
 End with something to think about
 Visual aids

Type Advantage Disadvantage Notes

Slides Quality images Cost for stock photography/clip art Focus

Efficient Take time to prepare Make sure they are properly saturated
Reusable Projector not always available (deep colour)

Whiteboard Inexpensive Not impressive Write neatly

Flexible Smell of markers Have eraser handy and extra markers
Dirties hands

VCR/DVD Stimulating to audience Audiences drift May want to cue to several instances,
May be supplied free of charge by Tricky to run rather than whole film
public libraries
Can insert DVD clips directly into slides

Flip Charts Pre-writing makes them easy to use Too small for more than 20 people Use top 2/3 of page only
Available everywhere Wasting paper? 5X5 rule
Practice writing

Handouts Inexpensive Take time to prepare Must look professional

Flexible Wasting paper? Proofread
Easy to prepare

Models Effective if notes attached May get lost if passed around Must be visible
Difficult to find appropriate ones
Expensive to buy
 Use a “Wow” factor

It could be a story

A dramatic point
An unusual statistic
An effective visual that helps the audience
understand immediately
The “wow” factor will get you as well as your
audience pumped for the presentation
 Presentation planning checklist

Presentation

Delivery

Appearance

Visual aids
 Use feedback

If you want to increase your presentation skills you

must be willing to suspend your discomfort.
Separate objective from subjective comments
Evaluate yourself
Plant an evaluator in your audience

Class Activity 1: Communication and presentations

Please follow the instructions from the facilitator to complete the
formative activity in your Learner Workbook
 Module 2
Use verbal communication skills

In public speaking, how you say something can be

more important than what you say.
If you want to be an exciting speaker, learn to use
vocal variety to add vitality to your delivery.
Your vocal variety should combine with your words
and body language to enhance your entire delivery.
 Use voice intonation
Intonation is HOW we say things

Intonation is divided into phrases, also known as

'tone-units'.

The pitch moves up and down, within a 'pitch

range’

In each tone unit, the pitch movement (a rise or fall

in tone, or a combination of the two) takes place on
the most important syllable known as the 'tonic-
syllable’

Changing the intonation can completely change

 Voice quality includes the correct use of:

modulation
tone of voice
pitch
proper sense stress
power
volume
clarity (e.g. words clearly spoken)
avoiding vocal distractions (e.g. um, er)
pace (speed)
and pausing
Discuss pg 30 – 31
 Speak words clearly and
pronounce correctly

Vocal distractions
Our conversations are full of ahs, hums, hesitations
and pauses. These guide our conversations and
provide spaces for us to think and feel

Pace (speed)
A good pace is 125-160 words per minute, but until
you can "feel" a good speed you should try to
deliberately slow down.

Pausing
When a speaker deliberately pauses for more than a
few milliseconds, the audience cannot help but
Use vocal aids
 Use a natural delivery style

speaking clearly
not shouting or whispering
not rushing
being natural
pausing at key points
Learn to Smile Naturally

Do not read your presentation!

 Build a rapport with the audience

You need to build a rapport with the audience to establish trust

during the presentation.

Consider the words to use to build rapport with an audience

Use expressions and words that express the commonality of
viewpoints
 Prepare for the audience

 What are their professional roles, titles and

responsibilities?
What are their goals and priorities?
 What motivates these people to act? To buy?
What's your relationship to them? And their
relationship to you?
What are they expecting from you?
 Prepare for the audience

How many people will be present?

What's their motive for listening?
What do they need to be more successful?
What are pertinent facts, figures and trends of their
industry?
How much do they already know about your
subject?
 Use active listening

Good speakers not only inform their audience, they

also listen to them

By listening, you know if they are understanding

the information and if the information is important
to them.
 Handle questions and
overcome objections
Be ready for common questions
Don’t Ask for Questions if You Don’t Want Them
Never Say Something You Don’t Want Repeated
It’s Okay to “Plant” Questioners
It’s Okay to Say “I Don’t Know, But I’ll Find Out”
 Listen to the question or objection actively

Look at the person speaking to you

Ask questions
Don't interrupt
Don't change the subject
Empathise
Respond verbally and non-verbally
 Apply assertion skills
Broken record technique
All you do is keep repeating what you said with
only slight variations and no additions.

“I statements technique”
"Own" your message
Comes from your frame of reference
Be as specific and clear as possible about what you
want, think, and feel.
 Apply assertion skills
Negative assertion technique
If you have made a mistake, then acknowledging it
and being open to whatever the other person needs
to say is very assertive.

Discuss example on p 48

Class Activity 2: Use verbal communication skills to make an effective presentation

Please follow the instructions from the facilitator to complete the
formative activity in your Learner Workbook
 Module 3
Use non-verbal communication effectively

Our message is made up of:

55% through non-verbal language
38% through our voice (tone, pitch, and so on)
7% through the words we actually say
 Use body language

Common body language includes:

showing physical characteristics (size, shape,

direction, location)
displaying importance or urgency (running, arm-
waving, fist-pounding)
comparing or contrasting (move hands together or
in opposition).
Gestures
If you fail to gesture while speaking, you may be
perceived as boring and stiff

eye contact
smiling
empathetic gestures, e.g. extending a hand
towards a member of audience
positioning of head

Keep your gestures simple

Use personal space
Be sensitive to other people’s space and try not to
intrude into it.
 Use eye contact

Speakers who make eye contact open the flow of communication

and convey interest, concern, warmth, and credibility.
Look at the audience as you speak
When giving your presentation, look directly at the audience and
share your eye contact around
 Position your head to
reinforce
When held erect it indicates a normal attitude,
courage, joy, pride, or authority
When upward it indicates hope or prayer
When downward it indicates shame, modesty, or
reflection
When forward it indicates appeal, listening,
sympathy or anticipation
When backward it indicates surprise, terror or
independence
When shaking it indicates denial, discontent, or
emphasis
 Control nervousness
It is perfectly normal to be nervous before
delivering a speech
Learn how to control it and use it to your
advantage
It can enhance your movement and your voice and
bring your delivery to a new level.
A speaker who is never nervous will never be great.
Above all – be YOURSELF!!!

Discuss tips on p 59
 Use and maintain good poise
Express composure
Project a proper image
Express bold and deliberate movements
Project personal image
Practise delivery
 Tips to improve your
presentation skills

Learn to work with your fear, not against it

Always aim to make a good presentation better

Remind yourself that you’re in control

Get out from behind the podium!

 Tips to improve your
presentation skills

Rehearse your presentation

If it’s not working, ditch it

Use handouts as presentation supplements, not

presentation substitutes

Trust yourself
 Remember…….

Your audience want you

to succeed
Your success is giving your
audience success
You have prepared, you
know your
subject and you are in
control…