Oral Communication and Non Verbal Communication Ref: Pinner, D Communication Skills chpt.15 pp. 185 - 190, chpt.16 pp. 194 - 204, chpt. 21 pp. 267 - 278

Different Occasions Report on training session attended Welcome and introduce new staff or guests Submit planning or budget proposals Brief colleagues before a meeting Explain a new procedure Demonstrate new technology Oral summary of a written report

Confident Speaker prepare thoroughly by establishing your purpose analyzing your audience structuring your material and visual reinforcement rehearsing your material The three main elements are therefore preparation, presentation and practice.

Preparation Audience Analysis Who is my audience? What is the audience’s knowledge of the subject? Why are these people attending this presentation? What is their occupational relationship to the speaker? What is their level of education and training? What information/techniques are likely to hold the audience’s attention?

Choose Your Topic If a topic hasn’t been assigned: Choose a topic that will interest your audience and you feel confident about. A topic that affects or concerns youths. Some new innovation or technology in your field of study. Keep the age, gender and ethnicity of your audience in mind when choosing your topic.

Establish Your Purpose To Inform To reassure To entertain To analyze To motivate To persuade

Research Talk to colleagues Visit libraries Collect cuttings from newspapers and journals Interview Consultation Surveys

Structure Attention getter Introduction Body Conclusion

Presentation Posture Position yourself in the middle of the room Avoid leaning on the table Avoid any distracting habits Stand at the side while referring to visuals/ charts

Eye Contact Look at your audience Move your eyes around the room and make your audience feel part of the presentation. Avoid staring at the ceiling or the wall at the back of the room. Don’t stare at one person as well!

Voice Talk loud enough Try to sound enthusiastic about your topic. Bring variation in your voice Pronounce your words clearly. You should be able to develop the appropriate mood.

Other Tips DO NOT read from a written script or your powerpoint slides. Refer to speaker notes to guide you. Use appropriate videos and other visual aids. Refer to your visual aids at the appropriate time during the presentation.

Practice Keep your material to a manageable length. Practice talking in front of a helpful crowd Talk in front of a mirror Keep within the time limit End with an impression!

Non Verbal Communication (NVC) Definition NVC is any message you give other than the literal, interpretation of your words, the way you move, speak, appear.

DEFINITION NVC is defined as all communication apart from words. This form of communication is both instinctive & acquired, & takes place consciously & unconsciously.

NON -VERBAL COMMUNICATION NVC consists of more than personal appearance & behaviour. It encompasses all sensory perceptions: sight, hearing, smell, touch as well as intuitive perception.

TYPES OF NVC NVC can be broadly divided into six categories: Body language (kinesics) Physical characteristics and appearance Voice (paralanguage) Space (proxemics) Environment Time

1. BODY Body language includes: Postures Gestures Facial expressions Eye gaze or eye contact

2. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS & SPACE Hair – the color of the hair and style say a lot to the observer Clothing – we usually dress to suit the occasion. Clothing is also linked to appearance and personality Accessories – consider tattoos, handbags, earrings, chains etc The way in which you appear to others influences how they react to you. Remember, first impressions last.

3. VOICE (Paralanguage) How words are said rather than how they’re used. Tells a great deal about speaker’s emotional taste - how words are said and used. The most important aspect of voice seems to be inflection – volume, rate, tone and pitch and how these impacts the audience’s comprehension.

4. SPACE AROUND YOU NVC communication also indicates the ways you communicate through distance, or the space around you.

4.1 STANDING There are four zones of space: public space (over 12 feet), e.g. stage social space (4-12 feet), e.g. talking to a stranger personal space (18 inches to 4 feet), e.g. talking to a friend intimate space (0 to 18 inches), e.g. comforting…. making love!

4.2 SEATING & TOUCHING Seating – status is also indicated by seating arrangements. Without being told, when we see someone sitting at the head of the table/meeting we assume it’s the leader. Think of meetings and where the chairperson/leader sits.

Cont. Touching – also an important kind of NVC. Where do we touch? Acceptable places are hands, shoulders and arms. It can communicate encouragement, support or warmth. For some cultures this may be unacceptable and dangerous. 12/19/2017

5. Environment – Objects around you The environment affects communication. Color, light, temperature, smell, and music all affect our behaviour and the behaviour of those who communicate with us. Think about your room, how you’ve decorated it, what does your room say about you/your personality, your values? In some cultures there are also social taboos concerning the environment. 12/19/2017

6. TIME In the Western society ‘Time is Money’. Westerners are used to deadlines. In Muslim countries deadlines are regarded as demanding and rude. Being late for an interview indicates a lot. In your country, how is time valued?

SILENCE Also indicates a lot. Silence is used to mark respect or total opposition to the situation. Which is true of your culture?

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness,” William Arthur Ward

Conclusion Oral communication and Non verbal communication are integral parts of the communication process and together get the message across to the receiver/audience. Both types of communication are important for effective communication to take place in our personal, academic and professional lv . The End  12/19/2017