Public speaking courses focus on developing communication skills, including oral and written communication, presentation skills, and the ability to convey information to an audience effectively. In addition, public speaking courses often emphasize the importance of listening skills and accessibility. While a job as a nursing assistant may not require formal public speaking, the skills learned in a public speaking course can still be applied and transferred to other areas of the professional and personal life. For example, having strong communication skills can help for better understanding and responding to the needs of patients and other stuff to create the strong atmosphere inside the team (Bryson). Additionally, the ability to present information clearly and effectively can be helpful in a variety of situations, such as giving presentations to colleagues or patients or submitting information to supervisors.
In today’s competitive job market, strong communication skills are highly valued by employers. Additionally, the practice and feedback received in a public speaking course can help individuals identify and overcome any nervousness or anxiety they may feel when presenting the information. In a nursing assistant role, strong communication skills are essential. Moreover, effective communication with colleagues and supervisors can help improve teamwork and increase job satisfaction (Bryson). Public speaking courses can help individuals in this role to become more confident in their ability to communicate effectively, which can help them succeed in their careers and make a positive impact on the lives of others.
In conclusion, public speaking courses offer a wide range of benefits for individuals looking to develop their communication skills. From improving oral and written communication to enhancing presentation skills and accessibility, public speaking courses can provide individuals with the confidence and knowledge necessary to communicate effectively in a variety of settings. Additionally, the skills learned in a public speaking course can be applied and transferred to other areas of an individual’s professional and personal life, including their career. Whether you are a nursing assistant or working in another field, taking a public speaking course can be an investment in your future that can pay off in numerous ways.
Work Cited
Bryson, David. “Developing Your Leadership Skills.” Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine, vol. 41, no. 4, 2018, pp. 212–13, Web.
The main purpose of communication is to involve the listener in the discussion and make him/her perceive the message of the speech. Therefore, the art of public speaking is necessary to master in case a person wants to succeed in the process of communication. However, becoming an acknowledged speaker is one of the most daunting tasks, as it involves all the fears and frustrations, which are obligatory to overcome. Arising from the above, such components as the speaker, the audience, and the speaking situation are the pillars of effective public speaking and the inherent part of an effective communication.
Main body
The interrelation between the speaker and the audience constitutes the basis of the success. Therefore, these relations are rather complex but still both participants have the same goal – to perceive the message and its purpose. Before accomplishing this task, the speaker should prepare his main weapon, namely the speech itself aimed at meeting the audience’s motivations. To do that, it is vital to have a good image of the audience classification in terms of goals, intentions, cultural preferences, and gender. Hence, the demographical analysis of the audience allows the narrator to adjust to the environment by fitting the words, which are mostly euphemisms, to the speaking situation. To identify the approaches in the speech delivery, it is obligatory to consider the psychological profile of the audience, including beliefs, values, and behaviors. This subtle connection between the audience and the speaker is hardly perceived in case it is a TV program where the listeners are TV viewers. Hence, when viewing two different videos on scuba diving and snorkeling, it is possible to identify the main goal of speaking, its target audience, and the success of the message delivery.
In the first video called Scuba Diving for Beginners: How to Use Scuba BCD, the narrator instructs the audience about the work and the destination of buoyancy compensator devices or BCDs. The speaker manages to attract the attention of the viewers by introducing part of the speech, as he is aware of the main goal of the message. However, the speech has been delivered ineffectively, as the narrator’s intonation is even and boring despite his explanation being simple and easily accepted. The main advantage of this video speech lies in granting visual aids and examples for the viewers. Still, his speaking lacks spontaneous questions and catching phrases that could engage the audience into further instructing.
The second video called Scuba Diving and Snorkeling: How to Put on a Wet Suit effectively discloses the purpose of the narration supported by concrete examples. The narrator manages to engage the audience with a prepared speech, the structure of which fully covers the importance of the message. The speaker successfully chooses the approach of narration combined with action that greatly contributes to a better perception of the main message. Judging on the gestures and language, she also succeeds in visualizing her target viewers. From the process of speaking, it is easy to see that the narration has good presentation skills and an excellent command of the topic.
Conclusion
In both cases, it is very hard to reunite the Rhetoric Triangle of the speaker, the audience, and the speaking situation, as it is a video speech. However, it is still possible to foresee the intended audience and the speaking situation without discussions and questionnaires. It should be also stressed that the narrators have succeeded in presenting the situation on the part of their personal experience. They also have managed to use the main message of a means of connecting these basic components as a logically connected entity, which is especially difficult to do when the speaker does not have direct contact with the audience.
Reference
Scuba Diving for Beginners: How to Use Scuba BCD (2008). Web.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling: How to Put on a Wet Suit (2009). Web.
Public speaking is a highly important and useful skill that carries multiple advantages for personal life and professional career. Public speaking skills are required for specialists of various kinds. In this regard, mastering public speaking is going to serve as great enforcement for anyone. The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate different situations where public speaking skills play an important role to show the reasons why public speaking is considered an effective skill.
First of all, the knowledge of theoretical and practical sides of public speaking provides one with multiple benefits such as understanding the ways people think and process the information, communicating thoughtfully and with higher efficiency, using the critical thinking, knowing how to organise and prepare presentations, researching the unfamiliar audiences and using appropriate communication strategies (Coopman, Lull 2014, p. 12). It is a well-known fact that most people experience certain difficulties in adjusting to a new society. For example, in a situation when a person starts working at a new place, they would feel the need to fit into the group of new co-workers, find a common language and establish friendly atmosphere at the workplace.
Public speaking skills provide a person with an ability to evaluate the audience, analyse their needs, learn their potentials, and successfully build contact with them. Proper application of public speaking knowledge will allow the new member of a group to move through the stage of getting to know the colleagues and feel comfortable talking with new people in unfamiliar situations (Coopman & Lull 2014, p. 12). In this case, public speaking skills will allow avoiding the discomfort at the workplace, which may lead to disruption of the work process and create problems for the whole company.
The most obvious situation where public speaking skills are always very useful is an actual performance in front of a group of people such as a public address, presentation of a new project at work, or a motivational speech. In such situations, the speaker can represent a group of fellows or the ideas important for many people. Due to this, a successful performance and efficient delivery of information are highly valuable and important (Keith & Lundberg 2013, p. 4). When one person is chosen to speak on behalf of many, it creates a certain pressure and responsibility for the speaker. In the case of the successful performance of one, the whole group will benefit. The good public speaker has to be able to present the information, keep the audience interested in the delivered ideas, and defend the point of view in case of criticism or counter argumentation.
The skills of public speaking provide one with courage, confidence, and the ability to fluently express themselves. One more situation that demonstrates the importance of public speaking skills is a casual conversation with a stranger. People are social creatures, interpersonal relationships of different kinds are highly important for us. Starting and maintaining friendships, being close to family members, having romantic relationships makes our lives easier and fuller. A skillful speaker will be able to represent themselves in the best and most appropriate way. This can be quite a challenging occupation. Performing in front of just one person is another variation of public speaking (Goldwasser 2006, p. 42). Successful personal representation in any situation, will it be a first date or a job interview, is extremely meaningful for anyone. This is why the development of public speaking skills is considered highly beneficial.
To conclude, almost every day, people face situations where speaking in front of an audience is required. The size of the audience may vary from one to hundreds or thousands of people, but the importance of professional and efficient delivery of information is always high. Knowledge of theoretical and practical sides of public speaking will enable the speaker to feel confident and comfortable and to present themselves and the necessary information in the best ways.
References
Coopman, S. & Lull, J. 2014, Public Speaking: The Evolving Art. Cengage Learning United States, Boston.
Goldwasser, I. 2006, Interactive Communication: A Guide to Effective Communication. Pearson Education Australia, Sydney.
Keith, W. & Lundberg, C. 2013, Public Speaking: Choice and Responsibility. Cengage Learning United States, Boston.
According to Baccarani and Bonfanti, the purpose of public speaking often proceeds and determines how the orator will prepare and even make the presentation (375). Analysis of who is saying what (speaker himself or herself), to who (the audience), through what media (the channel), and with what effect (impact or intended result) guides how speakers prepare to meet the purpose. Various purposes precede the making of public speech.
To begin with, the speaker may be directly invited by an organization, which may be a business conglomerate, a school, community, a political party, or a religious institution to make a public speech on a given topic (Scott 50). In such instances, the organizers and the inviting parties determine the purpose of public speaking. For example, colleges that require a skilled speaker to make a public speech to students to motivate them to work hard in their studies have often invited me.
Such a speech is usually structured to begin with a powerful anecdote that pulls the attention of the audience into the topic and its impact on their lives. The body is also structured with facts, jokes, and relevant examples that the audience can easily identify with followed by a powerful conclusion that calls the audience into action (LeFebvre et al. 261). For instance, students can be encouraged to study extra hours, to purchase academic materials, to attend lectures, or to avoid distracters such as uncalled for entertainment, sexual perversion, laziness, and general indiscipline.
However, other purposes of public speeches exist. For example, a speaker may be contracted by speakers’ bureau to make business and commercial event speeches. In such cases, the speaker is paid a commission of between 25% -30% (Baccarani and Bonfanti 378). The purpose of public speaking is dictated by the organization that awards the contract. For example, an insurance institution may require a speaker to make a speech to influence the target audience to take insurance cover that ranges from life to property. Therefore, the public speaker prepares for such a speech through researching on the area and devising persuasive techniques that move the audience into action.
The other instance is where a public speaker personally purposes to make a public speech in a particular forum (Mowbray and Perry 207). I have also participated in this public speaking out of my interest to influence the society. This speech may be targeted at influencing a particular group to think and/or act in a particular manner.
The Use of audience analysis, including how to perform such analysis in various venues, and how the information affects the speakers’ preparation and methods
According to Brundage and Hancock, audience analysis involves a deliberate effort by the speaker to seek understanding of his or her audience before speech delivery (139). For effective public speaking, the speaker must have prior knowledge of the audiences who are the end users of his or her speech. In my public speaking endeavors, audience analysis has helped me to gain important insights about my addressees before making speeches.
Through audience analysis, a speaker can choose and develop a topic that is relevant and important to a specific spectator. It has also helped me to come up with a delivery approach that is tailored to the specific needs of my audience, for instance, choosing an appropriate tone, language, content, and style of delivery. Carrison asserts that poor or lack of audience analysis by a public speaker before appearing and making a speech most likely may result in double frustration from both the speaker and the audience (6). Although no one in the audience remains the same after one speech, various areas are important for the public speaker to consider when carrying out audience analysis.
The three most important areas can be classified as demographic, disposition, and knowledge of the audiences who are expected at a certain venue and time (Baccarani and Bonfanti 381). These three broad classifications of audience analysis capture most of the expected audience characteristics. Audience analysis can be carried out in the following ways:
Audience demographic analysis
Whenever I prepare for public speaking, I begin by seeking to understand the demographic characteristics of the audience I expect at a certain venue and time. In terms of demographic analysis, the first question that the speakers need to ask themselves is whether the expected audience will be homogeneous or heterogeneous. The composition of differences and similarities of the audience become an important factor in leveling the topic, the content, and delivery (Brundage and Hancock 140). Homogeneous audiences, for instance, university students studying law, have many common characteristics.
They may have similar levels of education, interests, focus on legal details, age, and aspirations. On the other hand, a heterogeneous audience such as a political rally may have varying characteristics. For instance, some people may be Muslims, Christians, or Hindus. Some may be men, women, or children. Some may be Caucasians, Africans, or Indians. In terms of education, some may be educated while others are illiterate or mentally challenged. In each case, topic selection, content preparation, and delivery style vary. The speaker must address the needs of each person in the group if he or she aims at motivating, educating, counseling, or entertaining the group (LeFebvre et al. 264).
Whenever I prepare a public speech for a homogeneous or heterogeneous audience, my underlying factor is to find out what the addressees may be having in common, as opposed to focusing on their differences. For instance, if I am to address a parents meeting to high school students, I sum up my demographic analysis by checking on the common interest of every parent in the school. For example, such parents may be of different ages, race, color, religion, political affiliations, sex, gender, and economic status.
However, all of them have certain common interest. For instance, they all want to bring up disciplined children, they want their children to perform well academically, they want their children to be morally upright, and that they desire to see their children’s school being the best in all ratings. Such common characteristics of the audience guide my deliverables to a heterogeneous audience.
The second factor in the analysis of demographic characteristics of the audience is their age variation. Understanding of audience age variation and the average age is important in public speaking. Age influences interest and preferences of the audience (Engelhard and Kearns 2). Appreciation of audience ages usually assists me in preparation and framing of the topic, choice of language, verbal and non-verbal cues, jokes, and content, all of which vary with a disparity in age.
For instance, while addressing church elders on importance of personal discipline, the speaker uses a language that they can identify with, for instance, proper English, the use of proverbs, the use of old jokes, word choice that appreciates their contribution to the nation so far, and language that gives them hope and security to press on. On the other hand, when addressing the same topic of personal discipline to a group of adolescent audience, the speaker uses language that appeals to them, for example, slang, clichés, and popular language.
The speaker can select current jokes that are popular on social media, relevant examples that the audience may have watched over the internet, videos, or television, for instance, celebrities. He or she can use wisdom words that encourage the listeners to explore the world but with caution. He or she can address the importance of self-determination. These strategies are meant to meet the particular needs of the audience at that age, failure to which the speech is labeled boring, irrelevant, and lacking in details.
The other demographic factor to consider is the socio-economic status of the audience. The social and economic status of the audiences affects their attitude to the speaker, the topic of discussion, and their interests. For instance, I have made public speeches in high-level high schools and low-economic level high schools. In the high-level high schools, the majority of the learners come from well-to-do families. Topics of interest to such audiences may widely vary from those who come from middle-income families and those in slums. For instance, learners in high-class schools feel that they belong to a superior social class due to the economic status of their parents.
Therefore, they may be interested in professions that give people a high status such as engineering, law, aviation, medicine, and politics. To them, their parents can finance them to take any career with minimum entry grades. While giving examples to such audience, I usually quote what they can identify with, for instance, the latest cars in town, first-class flights, the latest fashion clothes, expensive universities, and posh lifestyle. On the other hand, learners from low socio-economic background may not identify themselves with expensive and lavish lifestyles and hence the relevance of understanding the socio-economic status of the audiences.
The other demographic characteristic to consider is religious affiliations. Religion is like opium because it influences the way people think and act. Appreciation of the audience’s religious composition is important since the speaker can develop a relevant topic, content, and examples that seem to uphold all people. According to Prud’homme and Hensley, balance is important in a mixed religion audience (20). For instance, one can abstain from quoting any religious books because of the audience diversity.
The other demographic factor includes ethnicity, race, and culture of the audience. Liao upholds the fact that race, culture, and ethnicity of the audiences influence their perceptions, interest, and beliefs, which may obstruct their interpretation of a speech (47). Mowbray and Perry assert that a variation in race, culture, and ethnicity informs the speaker to balance and/or avoid stereotypes and popular beliefs that may hurt a particular group (208). In the same vein, the speaker’s role and relationship with the audience should also be considered. Understanding of the knowledge level of the audience is crucial for the speaker to plan the best speech-delivery strategies.
Audience Disposition Analysis
When carrying out audience analysis, I try to figure out the expectations of the audience from my speech. Different audiences have different expectations. The audience may expect that a speech will inform them, educate them, entertain, counsel, restore their confidence, or offer a solution to a problem in their lives. Understanding the expectations at the preparation stage eases speech delivery while grabbing the attention of the audience (Mowbray and Perry 208).
Secondly, I seek to understand the attitude of the audience towards me and the topic I will deliver. The audience may or may not have prior information. In such cases, the speaker has to organize his or her topic and content to suit, influence, or alter the attitude of the audience. Understanding the attitude of the audiences helps the speaker in preparing how to win them over or change them, for instance, when delivering a political speech in a region that is opposed to the speaker’s political affiliation. Thirdly, the concerns of the readers and their problems are important in audience analysis. All public speeches should have a planned objective.
The objective must be inclined in meeting the needs, interests, and solving audiences’ problems. People pay attention when a speech addresses their problem and/or offer hope for better lives (Prud’homme and Hensley 22). For instance, when a speaker makes revolutionary speeches that aim at moving people from an oppressive government regime, problems becomes the hot points. Fourth, understanding the motivation point of the audience is crucial. To move the audience, speakers use what they desire and/or what energizes them to move them into action, for example, promises of better lifestyles, finances, health, or freedom.
Audience Knowledge Analysis
Before making a public speech, I also seek to understand the knowledge level of my audience. For instance, I question my audience knowledge concerning the topic. If the audience is knowledgeable about it, I seek to bring up a content, which they may not know or clearly understand to make it remain relevant. The application of new and the already existing information by the audience is important (Prud’homme and Hensley 22).
The appreciation of knowledge levels also enables me to gauge my language and sophistication levels during speech delivery. For instance, when speaking to nurses about the importance of antenatal care, I can use medical jargon since they are exposed to it. On the other hand, while speaking to expectant mothers in a slum about the same topic, I use low-level language, including mother tongue, in explanations to make them understand. Finally, in my analysis, I seek to predict the questions the audience may have concerning the topic. Prediction of the questions aids content preparation and emphasis during delivery. It also helps me in readiness to answer perceived questions properly.
Methods of Collecting and Organizing Materials Effectively
It is important for public speakers to have adequate resources for both preparation and delivery of speeches (Carrison 6). Such materials may include information, public address system, props, teaching aids, laptops, projectors, lighting systems, and technicians. Public speaking materials can be collected from various places and ways. While collecting such materials, the speaker makes the appointment with lenders or directly purchases them.
If the materials are available in the venue, the speaker cross-examines them long before speech delivery to avoid last-minute frustration. An alternative such as lighting system or public address system is set on standby just in case of failure of the main resources. The speakers may also visit various websites and libraries to research on the presentation topic to arm themselves with enough content such that they can be confident when delivering the speech.
The materials should also be organized in a manner that all the audiences will be reached efficiently. For instance, the props should be clearly visible from far. The projectors should be well elevated. Screens should be well positioned. Besides, microphones and podiums should be positioned in a way that the speaker does not strain when speaking.
Effective Speech Structure, the use of an Attention-Getting Opener, a Well-Organized Easy-To-Follow Speech Body, and a well thought-out Conclusion
The structure of speech determines the flow of thoughts in the minds of the audience. The speech should have captivating opening markers, which capture the attention of the audience. For example, I use captivating jokes together with hilarious personal and topic introductions to call to attention the audiences’ mind. In other instances, I begin the speech with an interesting but relevant story that appeals to the audience. The relevance of the speech also comes early to prepare the audiences and to assure them that the speech will fulfill their needs, solve their problems, and/or raise their spirits, thereby opening up the audience expectations (Liao 47).
The body of the speech should be well organized. It should come immediately after the attention-getting opening (Durlik, Brown, and Tsakiris 530). At this point, the expectations of the audiences are high. Any word that sways from what they want to hear may drive them to be inattentive. In my speeches, I realized that the audience would make decisions on whether or not to pay attention to the whole speech using the first few words that the speaker makes. Points should be organized in a flowing manner, beginning with the introduction, definitions, and clarification of the direction the speech will take. This plan marks a strong beginning.
The body of the speech should be supported with relevant examples that the audience can easily identify with (Carrison 6). The use of stories and jokes should also be included in the body to break the monotony by making the audience laugh. Words that appeal to both mind and spirit while touching the five senses of the audience should increase with the progress of the speech to the main body. The speaker should move the feelings of the audience towards a certain action earlier planned.
Engelhard and Kearns recommend that the conclusion of a powerful speech should be as relevant as the opening line (3). The speaker should move with the audience through to the conclusion. At the conclusion, the height of the audience’s feelings should be evident. The conclusion is the highest peak in a speech. The speaker should easily move the audience to take a calculated action at will.
When I carry out public speeches, it is at this point that I ascertain the conviction of the audience, for example, by evaluating their nonverbal cues, verbal responses, or even a show of hands. At the conclusion, I give the audience an opportunity to ask questions while I address them. At the end of the speech, I make the audience publicly or individually make declarations on the actions they will undertake.
Importance of Clear Articulation, Good Projection, Variety, and Animation while presenting the Speech
One of the most crucial factors in public speaking is audibility of the speaker. Clarity of voice, words, and ideas affect the decoding process in the mind of the audience. If the audiences cannot make out what the speaker is saying or decipher the words that the speaker is projecting, they withdraw and lose interest. Therefore, it is important to guarantee proper articulation of words, pronunciation, stress, and vocalization during the speech.
Exposure and practice improve the articulation ability of the speaker. Carrison reveals how poise and confidence also affect the projection ability of the audience (6). Variation of tone during public speaking captures the attention of the audience. In my public speaking endeavor, I realized that it is important to know when to raise my voice to the peak, when to sound stern, irritated, appreciative, commanding, and when to speak in very low but audible tone. Tonal variation moves the audience. It informs them about the importance of the words being projected nonverbally. The animation is another technique that the speaker should employ when making speeches (Engelhard and Kearns 4).
While making speeches, I realized that the manifestation of energy, liveliness, and vibrancy determines the success of the speech a great deal. Scott affirms that lack of energy in a speech depicts the lack of confidence and passion in a speaker (52). Animation enables the speaker to command attention and/or move the audience to a particular action. Strategies such as the use of body movement, acting, and simulation also amuse the audiences, thus breaking the monotony and capturing their attention.
Importance of Nonverbal Variables such as Eye Contact and Body Language
In my public speaking encounters, I also realized that nonverbal cues play a more important role that verbal communication. Nonverbal variables involve all other communication cues, rather than words. Various nonverbal cues affect the success of speech delivery. To begin with, eye contact (oculesics) is crucial during public speaking. According to Scott, eye contact shows that the speaker is confident and sure of the topic being delivered (52).
However, it is important for the speaker to appreciate that eye contact messages vary from one culture to another. For instance, in America, direct eye contact is interpreted as confidence while it is interpreted to mean arrogance in some Asian countries. However, the speaker should keep on fixing his or her eyes on the audience. It is also through eye contact that the speaker can read the audiences’ response. Body language that involves body movement, facial expression, and the use of artifacts also plays a major role in public speaking. Dressing, the use of color, and the choice of makeup also send nonverbal messages to the audience.
Cleanliness and proper dressing affect poise and confidence of the speaker. In fact, influential speakers dress in a particular attire and manner to identify with the audience. Variation of facial expression in speech delivery and the movement of various parts of the body, for instance, nodding, swinging of shoulders, and moving from one point to another while stressing a point appeal to the audience.
The space that the speaker maintains between her and the audience is another nonverbal cue that affects the impact of a speech. Tonal variation is also a nonverbal cue that communicates more than words. It indicates the level of confidence and understanding of the topic. As a public speaker, I ensure that my nonverbal cues are well organized and that they communicate the intended messages that are consistent with the verbal communication.
The Use of various kinds of Visuals such as Graphs, Charts, and Demonstrations
The use of communication aids is another important asset that public speakers have. Visual aids such as graphs and charts enhance message delivery by the speaker. Graphs that are clear and large enough enable the speaker to illustrate and undoubtedly break down complex information concerning movement of variables that would be difficult for the audience to interpret. Durlik, Brown, and Tsakiris affirm that charts also assist the speaker in demonstrating pictures and examples of various aspects captured in the speech (532). People understand and relate better with visual information compared to audio.
According to Scott, visual aids compliment verbal messages. However, graphs and charts should be clear and large enough (52). Enough lighting should also be provided to illuminate the diagrams, which should in turn be positioned high enough for the audience to see. The speaker should also guide the audience through the visual aids.
PowerPoint and overhead projectors are also aids that I use when making public speeches. Baccarani and Bonfanti, affirm that PowerPoint aids the projection of images and data in large and visible fonts (383). The speaker makes slides on the computer. The slides are then projected to be accessed by the larger audience. The use of videotapes for presentations also enhances the ability of the speaker to deliver messages on detailed concepts.
Video tapes are both visual and audio-visual. Hence, they can appeal to the audiences. Video images and sounds recorded before the date of the speech can be slotted in between the speech to clarify on particular issues, especially when making business presentations. These aids are easy to use. The speakers can operate them in due time as they deliver their speeches.
Analysis and Evaluation of the Students’ Speaking Experiences
As a student, I have been involved in various public speaking events. From these events, I have had different experiences. For instance, I have been involved in making public speeches in schools addressing parents. One of such events that involved about 500 parents of a high school within a cosmopolitan setting was very successful. In this case, the topic was determined by the school administration.
The topic was ‘role of parents in ensuring high academic performance of high school students’. After the topic was determined, I carried out audience analysis and tailored the content to meet the needs of the audience. The effectiveness of this speech was attributed to the fact that most of the parents sent positive feedback during speech delivery. For instance, they would nod, shake their heads, make applauses, and even make sounds of disgust as I explained and made examples of how poor parenting results in irresponsible children. I could read the feelings and sentiments of the audience in the course of the speech.
The parents also asked many questions at the end of the speech. I was able to answer them effectively. Since the parents made a solemn declaration that they would ensure responsible parenting through the provision of the discipline of their children, the parents immediately purchased revision books, cleared school balances, and began to have meaningful conversations with their sons and daughters. The principal also made a positive report about school fees payment and happy families.
The second instance was a public speech I made in a corporate setting. Although the organizing group gave me the discretion of choosing the topic to speak about during the annual conference, the event was less successful. Although I came up with a relevant topic that I researched thoroughly, the delivery of the speech was less successful. For instance, the event started late. I attributed this case to poor preparation and lack of technicians to assist in the preparation and operation of presentation aids. Moreover, sound amplification system failed. There was no standby system. As a result, the delivery of the speech to over 3000 officers became problematic.
Voice projection became almost impossible. However, these problems could be solved through prior preparation and planning. For instance, I would plan for the event earlier and test the apparatus before the event. Proper planning and acquisition of enough human resources should be carried out long before the public speaking event. As a speaker, I could first witness the technician operate the machines to be sure of his or her skills. A standby set of sound system and source of energy should be hired and made available incase of any failure. This planning makes the event successful.
Conclusion
The art of public speaking can be regarded as the act of an individual making a speech presentation to a target audience. From my experience, public speaking involves one person addressing a small or large group of people. The speech may take a face-to-face approach or video conferencing. Public speaking is usually deliberate and structured in a particular manner to meet the speaker’s objectives, which may include motivating, influencing, informing, entertaining, or counseling the audience.
Works Cited
Baccarani, Claudio, and Angelo Bonfanti. “Effective public speaking: a conceptual framework in the corporate-communication field.” Corporate Communications: An International Journal 20.3 (2015): 375-390. Print.
Brundage, Shelley, and Adrienne Hancock. “Real Enough: Using Virtual Public Speaking Environments to Evoke Feelings and Behaviors Targeted in Stuttering Assessment and Treatment.” American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 24.2 (2015): 139-149. Print.
Carrison, Dan. “Effective public speaking is all about control.” Industrial Management 57.2 (2015): 6-6. Print.
Durlik, Caroline, Gary Brown, and Manos Tsakiris. “Enhanced interoceptive awareness during anticipation of public speaking is associated with fear of negative evaluation.” Cognition & Emotion 28.3 (2014): 530-540. Print.
Engelhard, Iris, and Michelle Kearns. “Psychophysiological responsivity to script-driven imagery: an exploratory study of the effects of eye movements on public speaking flash forwards.” Frontiers in Psychiatry 1.1 (2015): 1-9. Print.
LeFebvre, Luke, Leah LeFebvre, Kate Blackburn, and Ryan Boyd. “Student Estimates of Public Speaking Competency: The Meaning Extraction Helper and Video Self-evaluation.” Communication Education 6.43 (2015): 261-279. Print.
Liao, Hsiang-Ann. “Examining the Role of Collaborative Learning in a Public Speaking Course.” College Teaching 62.2 (2014): 47-54. Print.
Mowbray, Robert, and Laura Perry. “Improving lecture quality through training in public speaking.” Innovations in Education & Teaching International 52.2 (2015): 207-217. Print.
Prud’homme, Patrice-Andre, and Brandon Hensley. “It Takes More than Public Speaking: A Leadership Analysis of The King’s Speech.” Journal of Organizational Learning & Leadership 11.1 (2013): 19-28. Print.
Scott, Nick. “8 Ways To Be A Better Public Speaker In 2015.” Director 68.4 (2015): 50-52. Print.
The essay is a commentary on an article titled “Delivering Effective Oral Presentations: How to Succeed in Public Speaking” written by Geraldine Eliot and published in 2008.
This is accomplished by giving a summery of the author’s main points and a reflection on the article that includes good take-away, useful learning and interesting ideas. The author contends that in presentation one aim to pass or share information with an audience and for that matter there is need to think about the audience.
There are five sections discussed by the author. These include planning phase which entails collecting necessary information followed by organizing them in a logical sequence.
The second phase is designing of the presentation that focuses on how slides are to be developed. It is advised to use bullets and short sentences. Using a topic slide is also emphasized (Geraldine par. 2).
When images, graphs as well as other forms of graphic are to be used, then they opt to be clear. The stage of delivering the presentation is also vital and calls for the presenter to hook up the audience from the beginning. Emphasize the central points of the presentation and actively engage the audience.
Additionally maintaining eye contact is vital. One needs to be prepared to tackle questions and make it clear when the questions will be asked either before the close. The last phase is ending the presentation. The author contents that a strong ending of a presentation will be a plus as it will leave an impact to the audience (Geraldine par. 4).
This can be effectively done by giving a summery of main ideas and calling the audience to take actions. Lastly with regards to final tips, there are a number of them which include being smart, avoiding use of slangs as well as manners that distract one while in stage.
There are a number of things that I have learned and will try to put in practice. This includes designing an appropriate presentation which are audible and when graphics will be used there is need to adequately label them.
Additionally, being fully informed by carrying out an in-depth information searching is of paramount significance in coming up with an effective presentation. On the same note looking smart coupled with a smile while presenting is a plus to successful presentation to whatever kind of audience.
It is also sounds good when one stick to the time limit and this can be accomplished by practicing in advance on how to manage time and being familiar with the presentation. Of interest to me was avoiding use of slangs as well as manners that will distract the presenter.
According to Geraldine par. 5 majority of people have a fear or panic when presenting. To curb this, the ability to relax and taking a deep breath will work well in ensuring that one manages to effectively present.
Knowing the audience will help one prepared adequately in terms of the content as well as how to respond to questions. With regards to ending of a presentation, I was wondering how to end it strong.
The article has indeed given me insight on how to do it. For instance one can use the opportunity to summarize the main ideas or points, call the audience to take action or even use memorable quotes. The article is a good read to those who which to sharpen their presentation skills.
Work Cited
Geraldine, Eliot. Delivering Effective Oral Presentations: How to Succeed in Public Speaking, 2008. Web.
The purpose of this critique is to evaluate the speech I gave during the class, note the strong and weak points as I see them after the fact, and suggest improvements. This variety of self-evaluation is essential to the development of my public speaking abilities, as I can impartially assess the weaknesses of my delivery and associate them with my internal reasons. As a result of the critique, I will be able to evaluate the internal factors that cause external manifestations I want to eliminate and work on addressing them.
Speaking Characteristics
During my speech, which was a self-introduction, I did not need to reference any written material and was mostly able to reproduce the contents from memory. However, I stumbled and had to pause several times during the speech as I tried to recall what I wanted to mention next. This tendency gave the address a somewhat disconnected nature, as I usually began talking about a completely different topic after the pause. At several points, I used a verbal tic to fill the silence while I was thinking, which can also be considered an undesirable trait.
When watching the video, I got the impression that my speech was too quiet as, while it was not difficult to distinguish, I had to turn the volume up to bring it to an acceptable level. I also believe that several of my sentences were poorly worded, although that trait may be attributed to the informal manner of the speech and the tension I felt while delivering it. I believe that the primary characteristics I should work on to improve my public speaking skills in the vocal department are confidence and the habit of forming sentences before saying them aloud.
Gestures and Fidgeting
I believe that I displayed my nervousness during the speech prominently in the overall body language. I kept shifting my balance, moving around, and shaking my leg, which are indicators of anxiety. I also kept my hands together in front of me, which was not necessary for the gesticulation I used during the speech. I did it because I had not thought of a use for them during most of the presentation and did not know what I wanted to do with them. In the future, I will try to use hand and arm gestures more during my presentations to avoid such uncomfortable moments.
The gestures I used were mostly appropriate to the context and reasonably easy to understand, but there were some notable outliers. The most significant ones were located in the vicinity of the section where I explained my mother’s profession as well as my own. For the most part, the gestures were excessive and mostly meaningless, only serving to distract attention. The most noteworthy issue was the moment where I showed off the tattoo on my elbow. I have noticed that it is difficult to see the image depicted in the tattoo on the video, and I did not elaborate on the topic, leading to possible confusion. I will try to use more explicit and more relevant gestures in my future speeches.
Conclusion
I think there are various improvements that I need to consider for my speech patterns before I can decide that it is satisfactory. Planning out my sentences in advance would help me deliver a better-flowing narrative. I should also try and become more confident, speaking louder, pausing less, and removing my fidgeting habits. I also want to use more gestures in my speeches, but do not know how, which suggests another area for improvement.
A college education is very important as it prepares someone for a career life at the university level. Although one takes several subjects about the career that one might take in the future, all subjects learned are very important since they provide a person with basic skills.
Apart from the provision of general skills, some subjects are a prerequisite for certain careers hence the reason why someone cannot be allowed to pursue such careers without passing in those particular subjects.
In view of the fact that there are many careers that one can undertake after clearing college, this paper shall focus on business administration.
Since Mathematics, English and Public Speaking are important in Business administration, this paper discusses knowledge and skills gained from the same.
The career in business administration involves management of all the aspects of the business to make it stable and to enhance growth as well as to meet its goals and objectives (Black) Par.1. Public speaking is a subject that is very important in business administration as it is in other careers.
There are many important kills that are derived from leaning public speaking. To begin with, one is equipped with good communication skills that are important for both verbal and nonverbal communication.
Also, due to the knowledge gained, one can develop enough confidence that is required for someone to be in a position to communicate effectively not only to one person but also a multitude.
In most cases, a business administrator happens to be the chief executive officer. Therefore, a business administrator is usually a leader, and the responsibilities are dependent on the size of the organization.
Therefore, public speaking is very important in business administration as it not only equips someone with the necessary communication skills but also helps someone to gain confidence which is very important in every effective leadership (Loh Par. 2).
Learning public speaking as a subject equipped me with good communication skills and helped me to develop personal confidence.
Mathematics, though a wide subject is also equally important in business administration. Statistics which is an integral part of mathematics is very important in administration. Every business administrator requires proper planning to become successful.
A lot of business decisions are so much dependent on the statistics. For instance, every business must have the right statistics on different factors of production and how they correlate with each other.
Therefore, studying mathematics equipped me with statistical skills as well as other mathematical skills that are very important in the career of business administration. Most importantly, some courses in business administration require mathematics skills like probability.
In conclusion, it is important to discuss how studying English at the college level can help in the career of business administration. English is the language that is commonly used in the United States and therefore, it is of paramount importance in every career, save business administration.
Apart from the knowledge on how to communicate formally, learning English equips a person with knowledge and skills of preparing formal documents like memos and reports as well as other business letters which is inevitable for every business administrator.
Although English is my first language, learning it was very helpful as it helped me gain and develop writing skills on top of communication skills.
Therefore, mathematics, public speaking, and English are very helpful in business administration as they equip someone with necessary formal and informal skills.
The act of public speaking can be defined as the process of speaking to a group of people in a deliberate and well structured manner with the purpose to inform, entertain or influence listeners. The act of good public speaking can be a daunting task fraught with disappointments.
It is a process that requires a culmination of various factors including but not limited to the following: self confidence, good grasp and command of language, prose presentation and being eloquent. Toastmasters is one of the organizations that help individuals become good public speakers and leaders.
Toast Masters Mission and vision statements
Vision
The aim of Toastmasters is to assist people use their skills and knowledge to improve their lives. The company aims at achieving this through its membership clubs, throughout the world. The clubs aim at improving people’s leadership and communication skills.
Mission
Toastmasters is a renowned company that helps people globally to communicate effectively through spoken language. Through its platform of membership clubs, the organization helps women, and men to learn and acquire the art of listening, speaking and thinking. This eventually creates self actualization, enhances human understanding, enhances leadership and contributes to a better human environment.
Ways in which Toastmasters can help in good public speaking
There are various reasons as to why Toastmasters is the best organization towards achieving good public speaking. Firstly, the organization has well qualified staffs, who are dedicated to good customer service. They have extensive and vast experience in the field of public speaking and public presentation. For example, the various board director members are people who have extensive knowledge in the public speaking domain.
For instance, the organization president, Mr. Micheal Notaro, has a degree in law, and has served in various prominent positions. Mr. Micheal Notaro is an attorney, who is a member of the Italian American Bar Association. He has also served as the principal of the Notaro Law group.
Secondly, Toastmasters is an organization which helps people to be good public speakers because its services are based on sound core values and principles. Toastmasters is governed by certain core values.
The values include dedication to improvement of the company, respect towards one another, and treating people with integrity, among others. This core values ensure that the organizations services are of the highest standard and are geared towards achieving excellence.
Also, these core values help the organization to evaluate the viability of its services. This evaluation helps the company to continually improve and plan its services in-line with the organization mission, and vision. Also, the evaluation helps the organization to modify its services in order to accommodate the dynamics that are being experienced in the information technology field.
This makes the art of public speaking more sophisticated, easy and fun to learn. Also, the team of experts in the organization helps an individual to learn from the known to unknown, which simplifies the entire public speaking learning process. oral
Conclusion
In conclusion, the art of public speaking is a difficult process that requires well qualified individuals to handle it. Toastmasters deliver this in an effective manner that enables an individual to enjoy the entire process of learning good public speaking skills.
Also, the company’s core values, mission and vision have enabled it to provide the best public speaking services. The core values are based on delivering good customer experience, hence, an individual is guaranteed of good customer satisfaction.