FOR HENRY: Read attachments. Write 200 words reflection

Write a reflection on something in the week’s readings that has affected you. The readings are attached below. Please read all the attachments. The assignment is detailed below.

How to Write a Reflection

Writing a reflection is multifaceted. The writer needs to do so much before writing, and in the moment of the writing (and editing), the author must stay on track to his/her focus while giving plenty of detail for the reader to FEEL the message. It’s as much about thinking and thinking about thinking as it is to feeling.

Reflection is a combination of cognition, emotion, and body sensations. Here is an approach to help you reflect well. Not only will you learn the information, but the process of reflection actually boosts the brain’s ability to make decisions.

1. Using a quiet mind and a quiet environment, be quiet and listen to your houghts. Reflection is quiet.

2. Step One is Critical Thinking: Ask questions like…

What did I learn that I expected? What did I learn that I didn’t expect?
How am I changed?
What will I do with this information?
How will I influence others with this information?

3. Step Two: Examine your own thinking. How was I thinking that? What was I thinking? Why? What were my biases, assumptions, etc?

4. Step Four (We skip gathering information.): After confidence to your learning based on the content covered, decide a writing core – a focus.

5. Write in first person. Write with depth – no surface only comments. Write with specificity. What exactly did you learn and what will you do with that new you?

Activity: Reflection Writing

The purpose of this assignment is for you to report on your learning. Task: You are to write a 200 word email to your instructor in email format. Must use an email format and not just the body of your content. (200 words includes your body content and subject line (excludes to, from, date, signature information). Task Definitive: Detail on an aspect(s) of the unit that personally affected you. It is a reflection. The question you are answering is ‘How does thinking show up in expression? (in your speaking) What has changed your thinking and how will you use it in your career and in your life?” At it’s very minimum, it is to be three paragraphs – an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Be sure you use business writing style!

Oral Communication
“Having a conversation”

Writing that Works (2010). Oliu, Brusaw, & Alred
Chapter 14 – Giving Presentations

This presentation series is on oral communication, more specifically, public speaking in presentation formats. The purpose is to build your comfort and your skills in speaking in front of others by learning to create a logical, organize, clear and succinct messages.
Oral communication is everywhere everyday, and it’s not just about what you say, it’s about HOW you say it too. The skills discussed in the chapter and from additional resources can apply as much to a 60 seconds to a 50 minute presentation.
In business, there are multiple opportunities for speaking up in public – meetings – both formal and informal, training events, sales presentations, company presentations, marketing or education videos, and more. These communications can be scripted (as done in these PowerPoints, can also be in videos), they can be memorized, extemporaneous (which means planned and no notes) and impromptu (in the moment speaking).
So, let’s get started.
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“ It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech”

~Mark Twain

Every business expects its employees to be well versed of what they are good at and who they are as individuals representing their business. Self-awareness is key and foundational to presenting ourselves and what/who we represent well.
Mark Twain makes a valid point that presentations require preparation. Writing and presentations do have a lot in common. In both cases (assuming that we have read a little bit more from last week on writing) content must be logically organized, clear, and succinct. More so because we will always be judged on how well we present ourselves.
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Nervous about presentations?
Prepare and deliver presentations
– Identify steps in the process of speech planning
– Review Listening (pg. 516)

This chapter emphasizes the need for identifying and learning the components of oral communication as applicable to a business environment. It is also important to understand that the techniques we use to organize our presentations can also be applied to presentations of any duration.
Preparation and organization are two main areas that, when well developed prior to an oral presentation, can significantly contribute to reducing levels of speaking anxiety and boost confidence in our organizational abilities.
Effective listening is central to success of both writing and speaking. Let’s spend some time developing skills to help us prepare clear and concise presentations.
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Obstacles to Success!
FEAR & Not Prepared
Successes
FEAR
Not Prepared

Breathe and relax.
Prepare more material than you need.
Believe in your success.
Calm your fight-or-flight base, located in the emotional center of the brain.
Be comfortable in your shoes.
Rehearse & rehearse again!
(DG)

The two top public speaking obstacles – fear and unpreparedness.
Fear is most prevalent. Fear in the brain causes fear in the body. And fear in the body causes and mind to prepare for action instead of a focus on thinking. You’ve all heard of adrenaline – it’s the body fuel for immediate power – the fuel that puts energy in your arms and legs. It’s power of fight or flight. So, now you know that a little about our biological fear system. The question is now how do you manage this nature?
Listed on the slide are strategies that help you.
As simple as it is, breathe. Slower deep breathes connect you to you.
Prepare more than you need.
In the moment you feel ‘freaked out,’ say to yourself STOP.
Believe in yourself. Careful with that negative self-talk, it’s a killer. Tell yourself good encouraging affirmations instead of ‘I can’t do this. ‘ Remember you believe you more than anyone else – be very careful how you talk to yourself.
Be comfortable in your clothes.
Practice. Practice lessens the fear of the unknown as after practice it is known.
Second is not being prepared. We don’t want to be publicly embarrassed. We dislike feeling vulnerable. That’s why sometimes, we can to depend on note cards and the like – to create more safety. As you can guess, the answer to this problem, is to prepare your talk and practice it. What you want is to feel more in control.
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What you Say – Verbal
Obstacles
Successes
“Why we are talking about this?”
“Is there a point? Where are we going?”
Lacking stories
Wrong balance of self-disclosure
Believing Powerpoint is the talk instead of you
Audience-centered language
Strong clear engaging introduction
Body points with interesting evidence/support/stories
I have a dream. I have a dream. I have a dream.
A positive wrap up
(DG)

“Why are we talking about this?” Ever had that question in your mind during a talk. That means the speaker did not give a good introduction – since your don’t understand purpose.
“Is there a point? Where are we going?” Same thing – an introduction needs to be clear on what will be covered.
Good speeches include stories that illustrate the point. Tell stories.
Remember the speech is you, PowerPoints are the visual AID.
In public speaking, it’s good to replicate as people’s attention waxes and wanes. Help them ‘get’ the information by repetition.

Transitions are speaking like punctuation is to writing.

To show comparisons To illustrate cause & effect To contrast ideas To summarize To illustrate sequence
Similarly as a result on the other hand in conclusion first, second, third
in the same way therefore and yet In summary following this
likewise hence at the same time finally later
in comparison because in sprite of let me conclude by saying earlier
just as thus however altogether at present
consequently as we have seen in the past
until now

Success in a message is flow, and the key to flow is order and transitioning. Identifiers to move from topic is critical in delivering an effective message. You need to help the audience follow you like punctuation on the page. One way to think of transitions is ‘stating the obvious.’ You need to tell the audience what you often think does not need to be said. Some examples are
“Now that we’ve …let’s…”
“I will focus on three…”v
“Not only was…”it was also…”
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How you say it (body)
Obstacles
Successes
Poor posture
Fidgeting
Standing in one place or pacing
Talking to the floor or the ceiling (wrong eye contact)
Wrong clothes for the event & audience
Not smiling
Incongruence facial movements to content
Back to audience
Negative energy

Regulate your energy.
Dress appropriately.
Smile
Move, be comfortable
(DG)

Poor body control gets in the way of a good speech and excellence in body control boosts your performance. Watch TV professionals and notice how smart they with their body movements. Most movements are slow and deliberate.
Be careful of your posture. You are telling the audience your confidence level.
Be careful of moving your fidgeting with your fingers or hands or feet or legs, etc.
Make decisions about where you stand and when and how you move. For me, I find that moving is more comfortable than standing in one place, but remember, when you move, you need to stop and stay there to let your audience catch up to you. Too much moving and you’ll annoy them. Importantly, when you start a talk, be sure to command the room by standing in the center (with confident posture.)
Smile. The audience likes a friendly face. However, be sure your facial expressions fit your content.
As a rule, don’t turn you back to the audience. If you must, re-engage by walking to the center of the room standing as close to them as possible.
Check your mood at the door. What I mean by this is, maybe you just got some bad news, right before your talk and you are feeling extra stressed. Don’t take this in the event. It’s not fair to your audience and will interfere with your performance. Leave it outside of the experience. You can, I promise, control your energy to that degree. Just give it a try.
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How you say it (voice)
Obstacles
Successes
Poor articulation
Too fast, too slow
Too soft, too loud
Too high, too low
Raising your voice at the end of a sentence.
Disfluences
Causing attention on your mistakes

Good rate, volume, pitch, depth
Enthusiasm

The sound quality of your voice is also impactful to an event. Here are some tips.
Practice your speech to hear yourself say the words. And, importantly, you can hear what words you don’t say well. Practice them till you do say them well or drop them from the talk.
Also, talk slower upfront. People talk faster when they are nervous as they are working to complete the experience as fast as possible. Slow down. Your audience needs more time to process the information – there is more physical space between you.
Talk loud enough for your audience to hear you but not too loud or they will feel like you are shouting at them. Balance the sound with passion and enthusiasm.
Careful of your disfluences. Work to eliminate them, but don’t stress about them – that adds to them. Disfluences are saying um, etc. You do think when you are buying time in choosing your words.
If you make a mistake, don’t bring attention to it in your mind or for the audience. If you speak it your just caused the audience to look directly at it. If you can, depending on the infraction, simply don’t mention it, just keep going.
And, finally, ladies, Don’t raise you voice at the end of your sentences, like ‘valley girls.’ That voice behavior does not buy you respect in business.
Next slide.
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Pay Attention to your audience.
Obstacle
Success
Ignoring the audience, and just delivering your message.
Feel the energy back.
Notice the individuals.
Notice the collective energy.

In your talk, you need to pay attention to your audience, so you can modify the moment. If the majority are not paying attention, then it’s time to add a story. If they are talking, maybe you need to use your body or perhaps silence to quiet them down.
Notice the energy they are giving you. Remember, this talking experience is simply a conversation. The audience is talking to you – verally and nonverbally.
Notice, too the individual energy, you may need to take action to control the room.
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Strategies for successful presentation!
Prepare => practice => present

The next set of slides is to review the decisions that you need to make to create an effective public speaking event.
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Success of a presentation!
Determine our purpose
Analyze our audience
Gather supporting information to strengthen our claims, proposal, point of view, etc.
Logically organize our message (flow of information)

Important to have a clear understanding of your purpose – the steps we take to develop a speech parallels with the steps we follow to write a document!
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Determine purpose!
“If you do not know where you are going, you are likely to wind up somewhere else”
To inform?
To persuade?
To entertain?
To demonstrate?
Ceremonial speech?

Your purpose many times may include more than one category – must get a better understanding of your assignment or project or proposal.
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purpose
What is your purpose or goal?
What is the result you want?
Have a goal.
One sentence – what do I exactly want to do?
What do I want my audience to know? Do?
Context and culture affect our purpose and how our react to it.

Why are you doing what you are doing? To help us focus, research, organize, prepare, and deliver!
Have a goal! A clear goal makes it easier to develop an effective speech.
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Patti Wood, an international speaker, author, and trainer based in Atlanta, is known for her expertise in body language and presentation skills. She makes over 100 presentations each year.
In the article on Presentation Pitfall by Tonya Layman (June 2011), Patti states, “you have to have a clear purpose that outlines what the audience is going to take away from your presentation. When you start you want to say, ‘Today I am going to talk about’ and then explain what the subject matter will be so that audience can expect to learn something. Then they will say to themselves ‘I am going to have to be active to receive this information.’ Use the word “you” often. Get rid of “I” and “me.” Use phrases like ‘Here is something else for you.”
Patti believes “connecting with your audience” is key to an excellent presentation. “That is what distinguishes an OK presentation from a phenomenal one. Afterward, people will talk about it as an experience rather than as a speech.”

Source: Presntation Pitfall by Tonya Layman (June 3, 2011)
Retrieved from: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2011/06/03/presentation-pitfall.html?page=all

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2011/06/03/presentation-pitfall.html?page=all – Presentation Pitfall (Click on the link above in Slide View mode)
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Analyze your Audience to tailor Content!
Who are the key members? Employers? Management?
Knowledge? Beliefs? Attitudes?
What are their personal preferences?
Which demographic characteristics are significant?
Age, sexual breakdown, occupations, racial and ethnic groups?
What is the size of the group?
Knowledge base of your topic?
What questions might you be asked?
*Remember – keeping your message audience – centered?

Be audience-centered. By now, you are familiar with this concept. Take time to learn to apply the communication principle.
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Consider the Environment / context
Location & room layout (lectern)
How will your voice carry in the room?
Technology & visuals aids & lighting
Time limits
Notes
(DG

The physical environment impacts the speaking event. The size of the room, the available technology, lighting, etc. Do your best to have advance knowledge of the event in order to create a positive easy experience.
One particular example comes to my mind. I once had to do a presentation for an undergraduate class. I had planned for some in class activities which required students to move around and take some notes from a PowerPoint work. However, when we showed up to class, the aircon was not working, the room was warm, and the projector was not working. I decided to take the class outside and do an alternative in class activity outside in the lawn, that took the same amount of time had I had the activity in class.
You cannot control everything the way you want but you can learn to manage your environment the best you can. You can improvise your ability to present your content and message with practice.
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Gather / determine supporting materials
Narrow your topic – form your key (3-5 main ideas)
Decide on the supporting materials
Then Gather them
books, magazines, quotations, analogies (direct and implied comparisons), stories / illustrations, explanations, expert opinions, comparisons to show similarities or differences between two items.
(DG

Narrowing your topic is very important to focus your writing and speaking.
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Give a structure to your speech
Construct an INTRODUCTION
Organize your BODY – key ideas with transitions
Offer CONCLUSION
Stephen Covey once said, “Begin with the end in mind.”
Review your three/five main ideas, and offer final summary/remarks.
(DG

Introduction – tell them what to expect (hook)
10-15% of the total speaking time
A personal experience or a Story
Humor (Be careful!)
Question
Sample (Be careful!)
Startling statistic (cite your source)
Quote
Refer to audience : “We’re here today to…”
Refer to the occasion: “I know your all worried about the rumors of cutbacks in staff. I called this meeting to…”
A Rhetorical question
(DG

The introduction is the most important. You loose them up front – they are lost the entire talk. I spend about 45% of my practice on an introduction.
Use Speech Planning Document to help construct your speech. It’s a template where you can fill in the blank. It’s helps you with organization and transitioning.
Your opening is to get their attention. You task is to choose a introduction that brings them present – brings them to the moment.
You can use a story, a question, a statistic, and quote perhaps. It doesn’t need to be dramatic, it just is to bring the audience to you.
Be careful if you choose humor, as not everyone thinks the same thing is funny, and be careful with sample as the audience’s attention will be drawn to the sample and away from you – the speaker.
Above all, be relevant. Make sure your opening is 100% to your point. Off point is confusing to the audience.

Body – tell them what you planned to say – “Content”
Relate to audience needs
Tell a story
Anticipate their questions
Use clear, vivid language
Ask questions/ Ask for opinions
Ask for opinions
Pause – use silence
Give them something to do
No more than 5 points.
Each point is one idea.
Stay on topic – each to support the thesis.
(DG

You are used to in your academic career focusing on content, but guess what, it’s the least remembered. Work to make your topics interesting. Add stories. Give them something to do, if you can. Be sure to limit the number of main points – the recommended number is up to 5 points. And, remember to transition between points. Transitioning is speaking is like punctuation in writing.
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Conclusion – Be memorable
5-10% of the speaking time
Restate your main points
Describe the next steps
Ending on a strong and positive note
Connect back to your introduction
End with a challenge, end with a quote, question, startling statement, refer of audience, refer to occasion, or humor.
End with a ‘call to action’

The conclusion is to be short – maybe a recap or a call to action, etc. Leave the audience remembering you on a positive note.
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Visuals? How to Boost the Message.
Use multiple mediums:
Charts, pictures, tables, Powerpoint, handouts, etc.

Powerpoint(s)
BBB – Big, Bold, Brief (unlike most academic deliveries)
Pay attention to your color choices

Thirty percent of our brain is dedicated to vision. Use this information on our biology to impact how you deliver information. Use lots of visual strategies. Use charts, graphs, demonstrations, etc. Liven up your talk. Make it real.
Powerpoints are still a popular avenue of visual aids to a presentation. Be sure to take a look at the master of powerpoints and presenting, Steve Jobs. Notice how simple and visual his works are. (The powerpoints in academic convey considerably more content.) business powerpoints have more persuasion than academic powerpoints.
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Benefits of visual aids
Improves listener memory
Speeds comprehension
Adds to speaker credibility
Copyright Cengage © 2011
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Percentage of
Audience Recall

The old saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” is often true.
A single graphic visual could sometime help an audience understand complex, technical information more quickly than either a long verbal explanation or a table loaded with statistics and numbers.
A study conducted by the University of Minnesota and the 3M Corporation also found that an “average” presenter who uses visuals can be as effective as an “expert” presenter who uses no visuals. Use of visual aids can help a low-credibility speaker overcome an audience’s initial doubts about them and elicit same level of audience retention as high-credibility speakers (Seiler, 1971) [Seiler, W.J. (1971, Winter). The conjunctive influence of source credibility and the use of visual materials on communication effectiveness. Southern Speech Communication Journal, 37, 174-185.
A right-brain/left-brain theory indicates why visuals speed listener comprehension. While left hemisphere seems to specialize in step-by-step, analytic processing of information, and pays close attention to details, the right hemisphere seems to specialize in simultaneous processing of information as a whole and pays little attention to details [Bryden, M.P., & Ley, R.G. (1983). Right hemisphere involvement in imagery and affect. In E.Perecman (Ed.,), Cognitive processing in the right hemisphere (pp.116-117). New York: Academic Press.
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Videos
Be careful of the background
Be careful of your eye location
Make it brief and simple and short
Be careful of your personal brand
Relax and enjoy it.
Prepare notes but don’t simply read them

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219524
Video are everywhere now. It’s time to get good at using this medium. This course itself is an example of how our deliver educational materials through video.
Here are a few tips.
Control the background. Make sure it fits your content and is not distracting
Script your message in order to make it brief and on point.
Relax.

Handouts? Have a Chaos Plan
Too early and attention goes to the document and not you.
In the middle creates distraction and chaos.
Too late and the point is missed.

Handout cause chaos. Create a strategy for handling the chaos. In the beginning, they read it instead of listening to you. In the middle of your talk, the distraction destroys attention on the content and can cause people to miss information. Handouts handed out after the talk is over are discounted – as they information has already been conveyed.
So, make your handout decision and make your chaos strategy to control the experience.
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How do I handle questions?
Use body language to show you’re listening.
Repeat the question for all to hear.
Keep answers short and to the point.
State ground rules to maintain control.
Respond unemotionally.
Clarify any confusion.

Handling questions is impactful as well. State the ground rules like ‘we have time for 3 questions.’ This helps you control the room. Use your body to show your listening. Lean forward when someone is talking and walk towards them, if you can.
Repeat the question for all to hear.
Be shorter rather than longer in your responses, as people are tired and most often ready to leave.
And, if you get publicly challenged, you’ll need to maintain control of the room and control of your emotions. If you choose, you can say to that person that you’ll be happy to have a longer conversation with them after the close of the talk. Then ask for another question.

How much do I Practice?
Rehearse 3 to 6 times
On your feet (maybe in front of friends)
Expect your talk to run longer/shorter
Spend extra time on the introduction. Your anxiety is highest at the start.
In the real setting
Practice in small bits, then put the whole speech together.
Pay the most attention to the introduction & conclusion
Start as a natural with less reference to notes!

Business Communication texts tell you to practice 3 to 6 times. I say, practice, till you are comfortable – how ever many times it takes. We don’t get good at a task by reading about it, we get good at a task by doing it.
If you can practice in the setting so you can hear your voice in the room. It also helps you feel comfortable as now you have experienced it – the experience is not new. That eases your nerves.
So…practice lots.
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Chart1

Verbal and Visual Verbal and Visual
Visual Visual
Verbal Only Verbal Only

After 3 Hours
After 3 Days
0.65
0.85
0.72
0.2
0.7
0.1

Sheet1

After 3 Hours After 3 Days
Verbal and Visual 65% 85%
Visual 72% 20%
Verbal Only 70% 10%

SPEAK
Speak.(2011) Verderber, Sellnow, & Verderber Cengage Learning
Practicing Delivery

In this PowerPoint, you will learn the characteristics and elements of effective delivery: use of voice and use of body. You will also learn about the three types of speech delivery and the settings in which each is most appropriate. Finally, you will learn a process for rehearsing your speech that will prepare you to deliver it in a dynamic, conversational style.
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© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation.
MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.
*

© 2011 Cengage Learning
There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.
~ Dale Carnegie

Learning Outcomes:
1. What are the characteristics of effective delivery?
2. What can you do to use your voice effectively as you deliver your speech?
3. What can you do to use your body effectively as you deliver your speech?
4. Why and how should you rehearse your speech?
Action Step 6 – Practice Oral Language and Delivery Style
Practice until delivery is conversational, intelligible, and expressive.
Practice integrating presentational aids until you can do so smoothly and confidently.
Continue practicing until you can deliver your speech extemporaneously within the time limit.

*
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation.
MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.
*

Delivery is how a message is communicated orally and visually through your use of voice and body.
Your delivery style is communicated through your nonverbal behaviors (all speech elements other than the words themselves).
Effective delivery is both conversational and animated. A conversational style allows each member of your audience to feel as if you are talking with him or her rather than speaking at the group. When your delivery is animated or lively, you create excitement about what you are saying so it is easier for your audience to pay attention. Your speech content is conveyed through language. Your delivery style, however, is conveyed through your nonverbal behaviors.
Nonverbal elements of communication include your use of voice (e.g., pitch, volume, rate, quality, articulation, pronunciation, and pauses) and use of body (e.g., facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, body language, and even appearance).
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Use a conversational style; also referred to as extemporaneous style of delivery
Be animated
© 2011 Cengage Learning

Characteristics of an Effective Delivery Style:
Use a conversational style, meaning that you sound spontaneous (natural) and relaxed.
Extemporaneous speaking (one of the most preferred style of speaking in US business settings) is speaking with enough practice using an outline and presenting with confidence and competence and spontaneity. It is practicing enough times to present as a natural speaker (reading verbatim is not considered a presentation; its just reading) with organization but giving the impression of speaking with spontaneity. This style of speaking allows for flexibility in interacting with audience and readjusting your speech accordingly. Ex. Steve Jobs is a great example of an extemporaneous speaker. My experience has shown that with enough practice one can be conversational and extemporaneous when presenting, including students.

Be animated—lively, energetic and enthusiastic.

Spontaneity is the ability to sound natural as you speak—as though you are really thinking about the ideas and getting them across to the audience as you speak. The secret to developing a conversational style is to learn the ideas of your speech rather than trying to memorize every word.
You can be conversational and animated at the same time by focusing on conveying the passion you feel about your topic through your voice and body. I
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Vary vocal characteristics
pitch, volume, rate, quality
Speak intelligibly
articulation, pronunciation, accent
Use vocal expressiveness
Avoid monotone
Use stresses & pauses effectively
© 2011 Cengage Learning

Effective Use of Voice:
Vary vocal characteristics:
Pitch is the highness or lowness of the sounds produced in your larynx by the size and vibration of your vocal cords.
Volume is how loudly or softly you speak.
Rate is the speed at which you talk.
Quality is the tone or timbre of your voice and what distinguishes it from the voices of others.

Speak intelligibly which means to be understandable. Appropriate volume is the key to intelligibility. The rate at which you speak can also impact how intelligible your message is.

Articulation (using the tongue, palate, teeth, jaw movement, and lips to shape vocalized sounds)
Pronunciation, and problems with accent (the inflection, tone, and speech habits typical of native speakers of a language) can affect how intelligible your message is.

Vocal expressiveness by changing your pitch, volume, and rate, stressing certain words; and using pauses strategically. A total lack of vocal expressiveness produces a monotone—a voice in which the pitch, volume, and rate remain constant, with no word, idea, or sentence differing significantly in sound from any other.
Important ideas can also be marked by stresses (emphasis placed on certain words by speaking them more loudly than the rest of the sentence) and pauses (strategically placed moments of silence).

Effective Use of Body:
Maintaining eye contact helps audiences concentrate on the speech, bolsters ethos, and helps you gauge audience reaction to your speech.
Facial expressions are the eye and mouth movements that convey your personableness and good character (bolstering ethos) and can help you animate your speech (bolstering pathos).
Gestures, the movements of your hands, arms, and fingers, can also help intelligibility and expressiveness.
Motivated movement, movement with a specific purpose such as emphasizing an important idea, referencing a presentational aid, or clarifying macrostructure.
Posture refers to the position or bearing with which you hold your body. In speeches, an upright stance and squared shoulders communicate a sense of competence and confidence, which enhances your ethos.
Poise is a graceful and controlled use of the body that gives the impression that you are self-assured, calm, and dignified.
Professional appearance sends important messages about a speaker’s commitment to the topic and occasion, as well as the speaker’s credibility (ethos). Dress a bit more formally than you expect your listeners to dress, consider your topic and purpose, and avoid “extreme” fashion statements.
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You can use gestures as you speak to describe or emphasize what you are saying, refer to presentational aids, or clarify structures. This exhibit shows some of the most common gestures used by speakers.
#1 – the supine hand with palm upward to express good humor, frankness & generalization
#2 – The prone hand with palm downward to show superposition or the resting of one thing upon another.
#3 – The vertical hand with palm outward to indicate warding off, putting from, or a disagreeable thought.
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You can use gestures as you speak to describe or emphasize what you are saying, refer to presentational aids, or clarify structures. This exhibit shows some of the most common gestures used by speakers.
#4 – The clenched hand to reinforce anger or defiance or to emphasize an important point.
#5 – The index finger to specialize or reinforce the first in a sequence of events.
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Impromptu
Scripted speeches
Extemporaneous speeches – you will use this style for your speeches
© 2011 Cengage Learning

Speeches vary in the amount of content preparation and the amount of practice you do ahead of time. The three most common delivery methods are impromptu, scripted, and extemporaneous.
Delivery Methods:
Impromptu Speeches: delivered with little or no advance notice for preparation (employment interviews & performance reviews, remarks at business meetings, statements to the media).In each situation, having practiced organizing ideas quickly and conveying them both intelligibly and expressively will bolster your ethos and help you succeed.
Scripted Speeches – delivered by reading or memorizing a written copy. Because of the time and skill required to effectively prepare and deliver a scripted speech, they are usually reserved for important occasions that have important consequences. Political speeches, keynote addresses at conventions, commencement addresses, and CEO remarks at annual stockholder meetings are examples of occasions when a scripted speech might be appropriate.
Extemporaneous speeches are the easiest to give effectively. When speaking extemporaneously, you are able to prepare your thoughts ahead of time and to have notes to prompt you. Yet unlike scripted speeches, extemporaneous speeches do not require as lengthy a preparation and practice process to be effective.

Rehearsing is the process of practicing your speech aloud. You can rehearse effectively by:
Preparing speaking notes
Handling presentational aids
Rehearsing & refining delivery
© 2011 Cengage Learning

All speakers should practice their speeches out loud. Rehearsal gives you time to revise, evaluate, and mull over all aspects of the speech. Inexperienced speakers often believe they are ready to present the speech once they have finished their outline.
In general, try to complete the outline at least three days before you are scheduled to present it to give yourself sufficient time to practice, revise, evaluate, and practice your speech again.
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This exhibit provides a useful timetable for preparing and practicing your speech.
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Speaking notes are a key-word outline of your speech, including data such as quotations and statistics as well as delivery cues.

Preparing speaking notes:
provides you with prompts as you speak
helps cement the flow of the speech in your mind
makes you think about key ideas and phrasing
© 2011 Cengage Learning

To develop your notes, begin by reducing your speech outline to an abbreviated outline of key phrases and words. Then, if there are details you must cite exactly—such as a specific example, quotation, or set of statistics—add these in the appropriate places.
Making speaking notes not only provides you with prompts when you are speaking, but it also helps in two other ways. First, the act of compiling the speaking notes helps to cement the flow of the speech’s ideas in your mind. Second, as you prepare your notes, think about key ideas and phrasings. Notes don’t include all the developmental material.
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The exhibit above shows a speaker’s notes for her complete outline.
As an example, for a three- to five-minute speech, you will need no more than three 3- by 5-inch note cards to record your speaking notes. For longer speeches, you might need one card for the introduction, one for each main point.
Your speaking notes should indicate exactly where you will reveal and conceal each presentational aid. Practice sharing each aid only when you are talking about it; conceal it when it is no longer needed.
If possible, practice your speech in the space where you will give your speech, so that you can ensure that everyone can see your aids. If this isn’t possible, arrive early enough on speech day so you can practice quickly.
Remember to keep your focus on the audience, not on your presentational aid. Also, avoid passing around objects in the audience, as this will take their focus off of you and your message.
Handling Presentational Aids:
Guidelines for Using Presentational Aids
Carefully plan when to use the presentational aids.
Consider audience needs carefully.
Share a presentational aid only when talking about it.
Display presentational aids so that everyone in the audience can see and hear them.
Talk to your audience, not to the presentational aid.
Resist the temptation to pass objects through the audience.

Record the practice session
Read through the sentence outline once or twice to refresh your memory
Make the practice as similar to the actual speaking situation as possible
Write down the time you begin
Begin speaking
Write down the time you finish
© 2011 Cengage Learning

During practice sessions, you have three goals: (1) Practice language choices so they are appropriate, accurate, clear, and vivid. (2) Practice your speech aloud until your voice and body convey your ideas conversationally, intelligibly, and expressively. (3) Practice using presentational aids.
As part of each practice, you will want to analyze how well it went and set goals for the next practice session.
First Practice
Record the practice session.
Read through the sentence outline once or twice to refresh your memory.
Make the practice as similar to the public speaking situation as possible.
Write down the time you begin.
Begin speaking.
Write down the time you finish.

Analysis & Additional Practice
Watch & listen to your recorded performance while reviewing your complete outline.
Then immediately repeat the six steps listed for the first practice.
Additional practice sessions will also likely be helpful.

Ask yourself the following questions after your first practice:
Did you leave out any key ideas?
Did you talk too long on any one point and not long enough on another?
Did you clarify each of your points?
Did you adapt to your anticipated audience? (If you had a friend or relative listen to your practices, have him or her help with your analysis.)
Were your note cards effective?
How well did you do with your presentational aids?

How to Have Leadership Presence

When you walk into the room, are you recognized as the leader? Leadership presence has two major ingredients: nonverbal professional polish mixed with positive energy. To boost your leadership presence, here are the 8 tips.

1. Stand up straight.
What does your posture say? Did you know that taller people make more money? What is that true? Height is interpreted as authority and authority transmutes into leadership. I can still hear my mom and dad telling me to “Stand up straight, you’ll look better.”

2. Walk with confidence.
What does your walk say? I love the way athletes walk – you can see them comfortable in their own skin. Their confidence is attractive.

Here are some walking tips:

> Look forward – not down, not up, not around.
> Moderate the size of your stride – not too large, not too small.
> Walk slightly slow – a fast rate indicates you are in a hurry. Hurriedness indicates stress and de-powers you.
Instead you need to project calm energy.

3. Care for your image.
Clothes tell your story and make an impact. On the first day of class, as a professor, I wear a dark business suit with a white shirt. I send a purposeful message by wearing the socially acceptable business uniform.

A brain tidbit: One of the jobs of the human brain is to seek patterns and to categorize. This behavior can go into judging and stereotyping. Therefore, be intentional about your image as others are putting you into a category.

4. Do Extreme Self-care.
You are telling others how well you will take care of them by the level that you take care of yourself. It’s your responsibility to rest well, eat well and exercise your body.

5. What do you sound like?
Listen to the sound of your voice to build your credibility as well. You don’t want a nasal sound or a high pitched squeak, etc. Don’t talk too fast or too slow.

6. Choose positive energy.
Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer, is a wonderful example of a person who controls his energy. He teaches us that it’s the leader’s responsibility to feel calm assertive energy so that our followers will feel the calm assertive energy. It’s a leaders responsibility to build to confidence in his/her mission, in his/her organization, and in his/her leadership.

Expansion: We are always in a feeling state: happy, sad, angry, frustrated, stressed, silly; the list goes on and on. To understand the power of your emotions, here’s a great exercise. Record on paper what you are feeling at the top of every hour for one full day. This exercise will show how fundamental emotions are to decision-making.

7. Emotions are contagious.
We are social beings at our core. In Daniel Goldman’s book Social Intelligence, he explains that the power of our emotions’ ability to influence others’ behavior. Can you remember getting caught up in an emotion at work not even intellectually supporting the notion.

8. Leaders create the organizational culture.
Your energy (positive or negative0 permeates and sets the tone of the office. Be sure you intentionally demonstrate the emotion that you want others living. Followers follow.

Both ingredients, nonverbal professional polish and positive energy combine into your authenticity. Be confident and allow your realness to be felt and followed – all the while, stay polished and professional.

Walk confidently; and remember, you are always communicating.

How to Reduce Your Public Speaking Anxiety

Anxiety will interfere with your ability to be comfortable, confidence and charismatic, and often times it comes from our threat of perceive social rejection. We are fearful that if someone knows us that they will reject us. Furthermore, we don’t want another to think of us as stupid. This self-defeating thinking get is our way and shows up in the body. The following is a list to help you think and reduce your anxiety so you can enjoy presenting.

1. Re-frame the experience. Do NOT dwell in the uncertainty, but instead focus your mind on the phrase “It’s just a conversation.” Whether it’s a conversation of one-on-one or one-to-many, it’s still simply a conversation. Think that way.

2. You believe you more than anyone else in the world; therefore you must control the brain messages (thoughts) that are self-defeating. You are not an idiot, You are in fact a beautiful wonderful person. Be sure to tell yourself that you are worthy and competent.

3. Be careful of the ‘imposter syndrome.’ The thoughts say tell you that you don’t have anything of value to offer – that you do not belong in this situation. By being in the situation, you have something to offer.

4. Manage your body. When our threat response is activated, our biology is to funnel energy to prepare us to fight or flight. Therefore energy goes out of our brains and into our arms and legs. This is biology. To quiet the threat response, breathe deep and tell yourself that you are safe, that you are prepared, that you are worthy, and that the audience is for you. Additionally, know that the threat response is often at its height at the beginning of the talk; therefore, plan an audience activity in the beginning to give yourself a moments break, or perhaps take a sip of water. Just a little moment will help.

5. Prepare more information that you need. In the moment of execution, you will forget to say some information and other information. No worries. Nobody but you knows of your change. Enjoy it. Don’t be thrown-off by the change. Go with the flow.

6. Practice. Practice. Practice. Your brain has difficulty distinguishing imagination and reality. Use this strategy to make the uncertain certain. It will reduce your anxiety.

7. When you practice, spend more time on the introduction. Polish it to perfection and you’ll feel confident.

8. Practice with the technology. Go early to your facility, if possible.

9. Practice on your feet. Practice saying the words out-loud – not just in your head. Hearing your voice needs not to be a surprise to you.

10. Practice to know how long the talk takes. You need to know how your are progressing to you intention.

11. Before the talk, bond with the audience. Smile, say hello, shake hands – if possible, and perhaps do a little small talk. The bonding produces a brain chemical call Oxytocin which is our bonding human energy. When you feel more connection, you’ll feel less anxiety.

12. Move around. Give the jitters somewhere to go.

13. Be sure you have dressed comfortably – which includes your clothing and in the cultural conventions of the event. Wear shoes that feel good.

14. During the presentation find the audience member who is smiling at you or one who is nodding in agreement. Talk more towards that person to reduce your anxiety. Believe that your audience is for you.

15. Change your emotions. Change your energy. You can do this in the moment you decide to. Just think back to a moment, when an uncomfortable moment was happening in your home and a knock came upon the door. You immediately don’t want the visitor to see your uncomfortable conversation energy, so your immediately put on a happy face. Again, I tell you that you can change your energy in a moment.

16. If you make a mistake during the presentation, do not draw attention to your mistake as they only causes the audience to remember it.

17. If you use a handout or a sample during the talk, be sure you have a chaos strategy, as this will cause chaos in the room regardless of whether you had it out in the beginning, the middle or the end.

As Jeffrey Schwartz, a research psychiatrist at UCLA School of Medicine says, “You are not your brain.”

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