Oral and Written Communication Session 3 Steve Seepersaud
For discussion: Who do you think is a good speaker? Why? What makes him/her good?
Personality Have some! Stay true to yourself. If you’re not funny, don’t be a comedian. If you’re miserable, we will be too!
Body language Give off level of comfort and confidence. Project your voice – as needed. Stand up straight. Don’t be afraid to move around.
Engaging the audience members Make eye contact with everyone. Pay attention to subtle cues. Are people getting shifty, talking amongst themselves?
Verbal pauses Blast out the “ums”, “ahs”, “you knows”. Take the pause silently, don’t fill in gap. Record and listen to yourself.
What to bring to podium: Less is more. Avoid index cards. One sheet with keyword outline is good.
On using PowerPoint It won’t turn a bad speech into a great one. Don’t use it as a decoration. Less is more.