Public Speaking Chapter 1 Speaking in Public
FATE OR OPPORTUNITY? Will you faint, shake, sweat, sway, look down, feel your mouth go dry, or perhaps worse even die? Will you blush, flush, stammer and trip over your tongue? Will you forget what you were saying? Will you survive the course?
Why Do Others Say You Should Take This Course? Many alumni say that courses in writing and speaking are the most valuable. Why? Employers say your ability to express yourself is one of the most important job skills. Why?
Why is speaking so important? Speaking is your connection to those around you. Conversations (friends, family, co-workers) Interviews Presentations, debates Speaking is very big business. Businesses invite consultants, motivational speakers, and successful CEOs, CFOs and salespeople to speak. Academic and business conferences pay speakers to attract people to their conventions.
Similarities Between Public Speaking and Conversation Organizing thoughts logically Tailoring the message to the audience Telling a story for maximum impact Adapting to listener feedback
Public Speaking is a Unique Form of Communication Speaking is different from writing and other forms of communication. Time is short. Simplification is necessary. Points are few. Focus (narrow) topics are important.
Differences Between Public Speaking and Conversation Public speaking is more highly structured Public speaking requires more formal language Public speaking requires a different method of delivery
Public Speaking: A Unique Form of Communication What is speech communication? Communication: A transaction occurs in which speaker and listener simultaneously send, receive and interpret messages.
Seven Components of the Speech Communication Process Speaker Message Channel Listener Feedback (Response) Interference (Noise) Situation
SPEAKER The person / source presenting a message to listener(s). MESSAGE Whatever a speaker communicates to someone else includes both verbals and non-verbals.
CHANNEL The means by which a message is communicated. LISTENER The person who receives the speaker s message. FEEDBACK The messages, usually nonverbal, sent from a listener to a speaker.
INTERFERENCE Anything that impedes the communication of a message. SITUATION The time and place in which speech communication occurs.
LISTENER FRAME OF REFERENCE The sum of a person s knowledge, experience, goals, values, and attitudes. Everything a speaker says is filtered through a listener s frame of reference. No two people can have exactly the same frame of reference.
THE SPEECH COMMUNICATION PROCESS
STAGE FRIGHT Anxiety over the prospect of giving a speech in front of an audience. Communication apprehension can be either real or anticipated.
BEING NERVOUS IS NORMAL Your body is responding by producing extra adrenaline, a hormone released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress.
REDUCING SPEECH ANXIETY Acquire speaking experience Prepare, prepare, prepare Think positively Use the power of visualization Know that most nervousness is not visible Don t expect perfection
WAYS TO REDUCE ANXIETY Ask yourself, What am I afraid of? What is real? What is anticipated? Act confident (even if not feeling it) Know your subject. Prepare. Care about your subject. See classmates as friendly. If not friendly, stay focused Visualize yourself as successful Practice Practice Practice
POSITIVE NERVOUSNESS Controlled nervousness that helps energize a speaker for her or his presentation.
VISUALIZATION Mental imaging in which a speaker vividly pictures himself or herself giving a successful presentation.
FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE This is a great opportunity to share my experience, ideas, and insights. Everyone s in this together and I need their help to improve. I look forward to growing and learning through positive criticism. I have prepared and practiced; I ve done the best I can and the rest is out of my hands.
TIPS FOR GAINING RESPECT Talk about something important (to you and to the audience). Establish your credibility and qualifications. Translate ideas for understanding. Organize ideas for clarity. Have an enhanced conversation.
EXHIBIT CRITICAL THINKING Focused, organized thinking about such things as the logical relationships among ideas, the soundness of evidence, and the differences between fact and opinion.
If She Can Do It After watching the video, click the Next Slide button to continue.
General Things to Avoid in a Presentation Exhausted topics unless you have a new approach. Illegal subjects lest you end up suspended or in jail. Insulting your audience. Inappropriate humor. Getting your speech from the Internet. Plagiarism: punishable by no points, a low grade, suspension or dismissal from college.
CAREFUL OF ETHNOCENTRISM The belief that one s own group or culture is superior to all other groups or cultures. Avoid Assumptions Clarify if Confusion
BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE SPEAKER Find common ground. Point out features you share with your audience. Can you think of any now? Establish trustworthiness. Does the audience perceive you as honest and honorable? Credible?
BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE SPEAKER Display confidence. Be totally familiar with your topic. Prepare and practice!!! Audiences are drawn to dynamism. They are attracted by movement, gestures, facial expression and voice variety.
What makes something memorable?
Memorable Speech Moments