Session 9 Public Speaking

Total Session Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe why anxiety is induced in people when presenting• Recognize how presentation-related stress and anxiety manifests in themselves• Describe 10 tips that can contribute to a dynamic presentation and reduce anxiety

Session Overview

Step Time Activity/Method Content Resources

Needed

2 30 minutes Presentation Presentation Anxiety (Slides 1-7)LCD or Overhead Projector

2 45 minutes

Presentation, Discussion, Partner Activity

10 Tips to a Dynamic Presentation (Slides 8-22)

LCD or Overhead Projector,Handout 9.1,Handout 9.2

Resources Needed

LCD or Overhead Projector Slides Handout 9.1: Ten Tips to a Dynamic Presentation Handout 9.2: Effective Presentation skills

Advance Preparation Review the entire session prior to facilitating, to familiarize yourself

with the slides, speaker’s notes, learning activities, and supporting materials.

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Beginning the Session

Trainer Instructions: Step 1 (30 minutes)

Present Slides 1-7 using trainer notes to guide the presentation.

Slid

e 1 ASK participants: “How many of you have to public

speak in your jobs?”

EXPLAIN that it is a myth that public speakers are born only. Some people have personalities that allow them to entertain and thrive in front of crowds but anyone can learn to public speak. Evidence supports that thoughtfulness and crafting goes into a polished speech.

Think back to the presentation on Policy. It’s going to take a high level of persuasion to make a case to a stakeholder. Many times making your case involves public speaking, although occasionally you will use interpersonal communication to form strategic alliances. Either way, these tools will help you make your case to any audience.

Slid

e 2 EXPLAIN that all nervousness or anxiety before a

presentation is not bad. It can be used in a positive way to enhance your performance. Some musicians and athletes say that a little nervousness helps them perform better. Still, many people do feel an overwhelming amount of anxiety before speaking in public and there are many reasons why.

ASK participants: “What are some examples of public speaking you do?”

Some answers may include: Ceremonial openings, TV interviews, addressing a congregation in church, press conferences, defending your thesis, job interviews, budget hearings.

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Slid

e 3 ASK participants: “Why do people experience

anxiety before a presentation?”

Some possible responses: lack of experience and exposure, feel you can’t speak with authority (perhaps someone in the audience knows more than you.)

EXPLAIN that anxiety before a presentation is natural. It’s like exercising a muscle; the more you work at it, the better you will get and the less anxiety you will feel as time goes on.

Slid

e 4 PRESENT slide.

ASK participants: “What are some symptoms of Presentation Anxiety?”

Slid

e 5 PRESENT slide.

ASK participants: “What do these symptoms look like?”

EXPLAIN that fortunately, there are various treatments and coping strategies to address each of these types of symptoms.

ASK participants: “What are some strategies you can use to address these symptoms?”

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Slid

e 6 REVIEW symptoms above.

Slid

e 7 PRESENT slide.

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Trainer Instructions: Step 2 (45 minutes)

Present Slides 8-22 using trainer notes to guide the presentation and activities.

Slid

e 8 REFER participants to Handout 9.1 Ten Tips to a

Dynamic Presentation.

EXPLAIN that whether you are giving a speech, leading a workshop, or talking one-to-one with a patient or family, your goal is to be a clear and effective communicator. The secret of good communication is to remember that the audience is more important than the topic. People want you

to care about them, and most of them hunger for honest information from someone who tells the truth in plain language. All communication is really one-to-one. Even speaking to an audience means speaking to a collection of individuals. Show people that you care by helping them to see the meaning and value of the information you are sharing and how it affects their daily lives.

MENTION that the 10 tips were created by Stephen D. Boyd, Ph.D., CSP, Professor of Speech Communication in the College of Informatics, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky. He works with companies and associations whose people want to speak and listen more effectively to improve personal and professional success. He can be reached at through his website at http://www.sboyd.com.

Slid

e 9 READ quote out loud.

ASK participants: “What do you think John Ford meant by this?”

EXPLAIN that if you speak authentically, if the message is genuinely yours, it will come forth clearly.

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Slid

e 10 PRESENT slide with the following information:

Be prepared. There are many different ways you can do this. Start with a very dramatic quote or statistic, something very attention grabbing. Your entrance is important, as it can pull the audience closer or push them farther away. You can also start with a story or startling statement.

Slid

e 11 PRESENT slide with the following information:

The audience you are speaking to determines the nature of you words. Are they youth? Is it causal or formal? Literally and figuratively, do they speak the same language?

It helps to talk to the people you are going to present to a bit before your presentation so you get used to hearing your voice speaking to this crowd. This can also put you more at ease because you will feel more comfortable speaking with them, almost as if you are speaking to friends.

If you are speaking to a negative audience, remind yourself that you have valuable insight even though your audience may not share your opinions. We often learn the most from those who think differently. Find the courage in yourself to see it to the end without being thrown off by the attitude or opinions of your audience.

Slid

e 12 PRESENT slide with the following information:

Like playing an instrument or being a football player, public speaking takes hours and hours of practice. You can practice in front of a mirror or video tape yourself.

Every time you practice you get new ideas. New things come up. Practicing helps you refine your speech or presentation. Sometimes you notice the way that your written language is different than what you speak.

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Slid

e 13 PRESENT slide with the following information:

The more you can align the topic to your passions, values etc the better of a public speaker you will be. Choose material that you get excited about. It is hard to have enthusiasm for material that is uninteresting to you. If you have several examples or case studies to choose from and they are all equal in value to your topic, pick the ones that engage you the most. Audience members can see and feel your excitement—or your indifference. If the audience can tell you do not buy into the material, then they won’t either.

Slid

e 14 PRESENT slide with the following information:

Focus on someone in the crowd. Try to focus on the friendly one. Don’t concentrate on the negative people. Look at the friendly faces who are smiling at you. Of course, you have to smile as you begin in order to stimulate the return smiles. If you try to win over an indifferent or negative person, your energy will be depleted and you can lose your concentration. Friendly faces will also help you overcome any nervousness you may feel at the beginning of your presentation.

Slid

e 15 PRESENT slide with the following information:

Always include a story no matter what your topic. It doesn’t have to be an entertaining or funny story. The fact that it is a story is what’s important. Stories make your speech or presentation more memorable and motivational. It doesn’t have to be a story that illustrates your main point, you can tell a light-hearted story to start the day (maybe even how you got there this morning).

If the story doesn’t work when you practice it, adapt it.

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Slid

e 16 PRESENT slide with the following information:

Use your arms and hands to help communicate your ideas. Just a note, this is true for leadership also, be true to yourself. If it’s not you, don’t use it. If it doesn’t feel like it is something you normally do, don’t do it. But if you feel natural using gestures, make sure to include them. Gestures, such as moving your hands to underline points, can serve as a nice form of emphasis. But be modest, too many gestures can be distracting.

Slid

e 17 PRESENT slide with the following information:

This has to do with the architecture of your talk. Your speech needs a beginning, middle and end. You should have 3 points. You should not have so many points that people get lost but enough to keep people engaged with you. This gives you a structure to come back to during your speech if you lose your place. Some people use a few more or a few less, creating this structure is what’s most important.

Slid

e 18 PRESENT slide with the following information:

Be comfortable with your notes. Know where your key words or phrases are on the card or page. The degree to which you speak from or read your notes depends on your environment. In an academic setting, for example, you are expected to read your notes. How you use your notes also depends on individual preference. Some people will write a speech, memorize it, and just have bullet points to trigger their memory. Some people feel that this approach allows them to speak from their natural voice.

EMPHASIZE that for the storytelling assignment in June we want you to know what you are going to say (have no notes or very few) so you can speak in a conversational way. This means you will need to practice!

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Slid

e 19 ASK participants: “Has anyone been to a talk and

you don’t know when it’s ended?” People clap in a hesitating way?

EXPLAIN that is not ending strong, you want your audience to know you have ended. People remember best what you say last. Don’t say “That’s all,” or simply trail off at the end, or say a weak, “Thank you.” Have a powerful ending. For some presentations, you may want to move the audience to action. If this is case, let the audience know what you want them to do as a result of your presentation.

Slid

e 20 REFER participants to Handout 9.1 Effective

Presentation Skills.

EXPLAIN that these handouts contain additional tips and strategies on Public Speaking and presentation creation and delivery that they may find useful.

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Slid

e 21 EXPLAIN that this activity is just to get them

comfortable speaking in front of one another. Obviously, they will not have time to practice and go through all the “Ten Tips” but it will be fun to experiment.

INSTRUCT participants to think of a teacher who has inspired them and spend a few minutes writing a story about this teacher.

ALLOW participants to write for 5-10 minutes.

DIVIDE participants into pairs so participants that are more shy can have the benefit of one-on-one.

INSTRUCT participants to share their stories in pairs with the Ten Tips in mind. Participants are to also provide each other feedback after they have presented.

ALLOW participants 20 minutes for this activity.

ASK for a few volunteers to present their stories in front of the large group, depending on time.

This step provides good modeling. The feedback process is also excellent for participants.

Slid

e 22 WRAP-UP session.

THANK participants for their participation.

ASK participants if they have any questions.

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Handout 9.1: Ten Tips to a Dynamic Presentation

Ten Tips To A Dynamic Presentation

by Stephen Boyd | June 10, 2008

Uneasy about that next presentation? Taking your speech to the next level—possibly even from dull to dynamic—is as simple as incorporating these top ten speaking tips.

First, get off to a good start by using an attention device such as a quotation, story, or startling statement. I might start a presentation on overcoming stage fright with a quotation from Maggie Kuhn, “Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind—even if your voice shakes.” A startling statement might be, “The divorce rate for couples with a special needs child is over 80%.”

Second, know as much about your audience as you can. The more you know about the audience, the more effective your presentation will be. Talk to people who will be in your audience. Ask questions of the person who requested you to speak. Go online and find out as much as you can about the group from a relevant website. Obtaining as much information as possible about the audience will also encourage you to think more about specific audience needs as you prepare your speech.

Third, practice your speech at least three times. To get better at golf, you have to practice. To get better at tennis, you have to practice. To present a great speech, you must practice! Practice once when you have a rough draft, practice another time when you have the content pretty well completed, and then do a dress rehearsal. Go through the speech as though you are in front of the live audience. If you don’t practice, then your actual speech is a practice session; too much is at stake for you to practice in front of your real audience.

Fourth, choose material that you get excited about. It is hard to have enthusiasm for material that is uninteresting to you. If you have several examples or case studies to choose from and they are all equal in value to your topic, pick the ones that engage you the most. Audience members can see and feel your excitement—or your indifference. If the audience can tell you do not buy into the material, then they won’t either.

Fifth, pick out friendly faces to speak to. Don’t concentrate on the people with frowns or those who fold their arms when you begin your speech. Look at the friendly faces who are smiling at you. Of course, you have to smile as you begin in order to stimulate the return smiles. If you try to win over an indifferent or negative person, your energy will be depleted and you can lose your concentration. Friendly faces will also help you overcome any nervousness you may feel at the beginning of your presentation.

Sixth, always include a story no matter what your topic. Great speakers from the past have been storytellers—from Abraham Lincoln to Bill Cosby. We can’t resist stories. Translate key ideas with stories. Watch what happens in a conversation or a speech when you begin with, “On my way home from work, the car in front of me…” You have hooked the other person because you have begun a story. You can use a story to get the attention in the opening, to illustrate a point, or to sell an idea. The story should relate to something in your speech. A story cannot stand alone.

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Seventh, use gestures to describe and reinforce. You must use your arms and hands to help communicate your ideas. We must show what we are talking about as well as say it. In telling your story, use gestures to describe what happened. To drive home the point from the story, you must reinforce it with purposeful movement of the arms and hands.

Eighth, include few main points: three is a good number. Six or eight points are too many for the audience to remember, so people may get discouraged and quit listening to you. We respond well to the number three; we can remember three. Three is familiar: three strikes and you are out; ready, aim, fire; morning, noon, or night; Tom, Dick, or Harry; introduction, body, and conclusion of a speech. If you limit to three, you will have the self-discipline to be more concise and focused.

Ninth, be comfortable with your notes. Practice with the notes you will use in the presentation. Know where your key words or phrases are on the card or page. Look at your note just before you need it so that you will not appear to be attached to your notes. Don’t write out your speech word for word. For example, to tell a story, all you need is the trigger phrase that will remind you that a particular story is next.

Finally, have a strong ending. People remember best what you say last. Don’t say “That’s all,” or simply trail off at the end, or say a weak, “Thank you.” Have a powerful ending. In a persuasive presentation, you might present a move to action statement. A fine persuasive ending is “What I want you to do as a result of my presentation is…,” filling in the blank.

In an informative speech, share an appropriate pearl of wisdom. If I were ending a speech on communication skills, I might say, “When a Purdue student asked Majorie Randolph, Vice President of Human Resources for Disney, ‘What is the main reason for your success in the business world?’ her response was, ‘I speak up.’ In whatever career you choose, may you always be willing to speak up.”

Certainly taking classes, reading books, and listening to excellent speakers will help you improve your speaking skills. Putting these ten tips into practice, however, will help you take your presentations from dull to dynamic.

About the Author

Stephen D. Boyd, Ph.D., CSP, is Professor of Speech Communication in the College of Informatics, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky. He works with companies and associations whose people want to speak and listen more effectively to improve personal and professional success. He can be reached at 800.727.6520 or through his website at http://www.sboyd.com.

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Handout 9.2: Effective Presentation Skills

Professionalism Positive attitude; energetic Tactful Language level appropriate for group/circumstance Identifies personal values, biases as such

Verbal and non-verbal behaviors Audible and clear voice Varies rate, pitch, emphasis Makes eye contact Varies facial expression Gestures appropriately, not distractingly Uses silence

Knowledge of subject Well-informed and interested in subject Understands, explains complicated aspects Selects and uses helpful material and resources Articulates basic points simply and clearly Responds to questions appropriately

Organization Explains agenda to audience Uses time effectively Handouts, equipment, visual aids ready Keeps program on track Gives clear, concise instructions Brings closure to presentation at conclusion Creates bridges and links from topic to topic

Presentation Uses visual aids effectively Patient and encouraging of audience feedback or participation Uses practical and relevant examples, anecdotes Works to keep audience engaged and involved Displays confidence with minimal or no distracting mannerisms

Relationship with audience Uses open-ended questions Reflects feelings Checks out understanding Uses validation Seeks opinions Encourages group to learn from one another Controls disruptions Draws out participants

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