Speaking Skills: Preparation
Sources: Guffey Ch. 15, Thill/Bovee Ch. 13, DiResta Ch. 6, Miller “Be Heard The First Time,” Gallo, “10
Simple Secrets of the World’s Greatest Communicators,” Halpern “Leadership Presence,” Fugere “Why
Business People Speak Like Idiots,” and Margaret Keys Communication
“I’ve seen a lot of guys who are
smarter than I am and a lot who know
more about cars. And yet I’ve lost
them in the smoke. Why? Because
I’m tough? No… You’ve got to know
how to talk to them, plain and simple.”
Lee Iacocca
Video - MLK
PREPARING AN ORAL
PRESENTATION
Identifying Your Purpose
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What you want audience to
believe, remember, or do
Aim all parts of talk toward
purpose Repeat, be
redundant, use variations
Audience analysis – why
should they listen?
Audience Analysis
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See Class Calendar Resources
Speak to all personality types:
N -->
S -->
T -->
F -->
long-term implications
scenarios/details
facts
emotions/relationships
Discussion:
Communication Matters
Presentations with Something
for Everyone
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What are some strategies
for reaching the various
types of learners?
• Visual
• Auditory
• Kinesthetic
Speech Outline
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INTRODUCTION
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BODY
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Attention grabber
Preview (transition)
Main point 1 (transition)
Main point 2 (transition)
Main point 3 (transition)
CONCLUSION
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summarize main points
Introduction: Components
Attention grabber
 Introduce topic
 Preview main points
 Goals:
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link audience to you
 plant your message
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Attention Grabber
Goal: get audience listening
and involved
 Capture attention
 Establish credibility
your position, expertise,
knowledge, qualifications,
self-confidence
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Eye contact
10 Attention Grabbers
1) A promise
By the end of this presentation,
you will be able to . . . .
2) Drama
Tell a moving story (personal/anecdotal)
Describe a serious problem
3) Startling statement/surprising action
Shock appeal
4) Questions
Involve the audience,
use rhetorical questions.
10 Attention Grabbers
5) Quote
Weave quote into your topic
6) Demonstrations
Include member of audience.
7) Samples/gimmicks
Award prizes,
pass out samples.
8)
Visuals
Variety; well designed
10 Attention Grabbers
9) Self-interest
Describe world as audience
sees it “What’s in it for me?”
10) Humor
Not jokes,
Self-depreciating best
Relaxes audience
Creates a connection
Body of Your Presentation
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Develop two to four main points.
Streamline your topic,
summarize its principal parts
Arrange the points logically:
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chronologically
most important
to least
by comparison
and contrast
Discussion:
Communication Matters
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No Trumpets or Bugles
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How can the ‘speaker’s transcript’
improve the content of your speech?
How do you introduce emotional
content?
Body of Presentation
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Make it memorable
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Simplicity
Repetition
Visual wording
paint a word picture
Verbal wording
onomatopoeia
Metaphors – create connections
Stories (make a point  tell a story)
Don’t be boring!
Discussion:
Communication Matters

Why Business People Speak Like
Idiots
How can “the bullfighters guide” help
you prepare a better speech?
 What made Winston Churchhill’s “We
Shall Fight on the Beaches” speech
as effective today as in 1940?
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Transitions
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Use “bridge” statements
between major points
I’ve just discussed X;
now I will explain Y
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Use verbal signposts:
however, for example, first, etc.
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If you think you’re overdoing signposts/
transitions; you’ve got it right!
Conclusion
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Review your main points
Provide a final focus (connect dots)
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how can audience use information
why you have spoken
what should audience do
End on a positive note
End on time
Question-and-answer period
Answering Questions
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Anticipate questions
prepare for most likely questions
Thank the questioner
and/or compliment the question
Understand the question
paraphrase/repeat if needed
Do not digress
Be honest, don’t BS if don’t know answer
 you’ll research answer
 “…outside the scope of this research”
Control interchanges
Use last question to summarize
END