ORAL SKILLS

ORAL COMMUNICATION
 According to the University of Virginia,
"oral communication is the effective
interpretation, composition, and
presentation of information, ideas, and
values to a specific audience."
 Oral communication describes any type
of inter-action that makes use of spoken
words, and it is a vital, integral part of the
modern business world.
 "Knowing the content of the functional
areas of business is important, but to give
life to those ideas—in meetings or in solo
presentations—demands an effective oral
presentation.“
 "The ability to communicate effectively

through speaking as well as in writing is

highly valued, and demanded, in
business, " According to Herta A. Murphy
and Herbert W. Hildebrandt
ORAL COMMUNICATION:
SIGNIFICANCE
Communication is used daily to talk to
friends, make business proposals and pass
legislation. It is the exchange of messages
between a sender and a receiver. Effective
communication is the ability to send a
message and have it be understood in its
entirety. Oral communication is used in
business to make deals, sell products and
train employees.
TYPES OF ORAL COMMUNICATION
 The types of oral communication
commonly used within an organization
include staff meetings, personal
discussions, presentations, telephone
discourse, and informal conversation.
 Oral communication with those outside

of the organization might take the form of

face-to-face meetings, telephone calls,
speeches, teleconferences, or
videoconferences.
EFFECTIVENESS OF ORAL
COMMUNICATION
For oral communication to be effective, it
should be:
 Clear

 Relevant

 Tactful in phraseology and tone

 Concise, and informative.

 Presentations or conversations that bear

these hallmarks can be an valuable tool

in ensuring business health and growth.
 Unclear, inaccurate, or inconsiderate
business communication, on the other
hand, can waste valuable time, alienate
employees or customers, and destroy
goodwill toward management or the
overall business.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
 The public presentation is generally
recognized as the most important of the
various genres of oral business
communication.
 The first step in preparing a public speech

or remarks is to determine the essential

purpose/goal of the communication.
 Business presentations tend to have one

of three general purposes: to persuade,

to inform or instruct, or to entertain.
BASIC STEPS FOR ORAL
PRESENTATION :
 Planning

 Structuring

 Preparing

 Presenting
ORAL SKILLS
The following factors must kept in
mind in order to be an effective orator:

A. Body language
B. Posture
C. Eye contact
D. Voice modulation
E. Audience awareness
F. Presentation plan
G. Visual aids
H. Use of connectives
 BODY LANGUAGE

 In a face to face interaction a person does

not communicate only through words, his
whole personality-his general bearing, facial
expressions, postures and gestures come
into play. A well turned out man with a
pleasant expression will find it easier to
establish a rapport with others.
 Half the battle is won if you have the

attention of audience.
 POSTURE
 When you are called upon to address, walk
sprightly and stand at ease. Keep your hands
on the sides and the note cards on the
podium.
 Do not be fidget and try to increase your

comfort level.
 While speaking, your gestures should be

appropriate.
 EYE CONTACT
Eye contact is one of the most
immediate and effective means of
establishing rapport with an audience.
 Look at the audience, pause for a while
before you say anything.
Infact, throughout your oral presentation
make use of frequent and slight pauses.
VOICE MODULATION
On occasions when you have to speak, the
following things have to be kept in mind:
• Variation in the pitch and tempo of the
voice is essential to convey a message.
• A monotonous tone will put the audience
to sleep.
• Speed at which you deliver your speech is
also important. Fast delivery shows lack
of confidence.
• Speak at a rate your audience can
understand you.
VOICE MODULATION (CONTD…)
 Pronounce words properly, stressing at
the right places.
 Speak loud enough so that everyone can

hear you clearly.

If you want to be an effective
speaker,
You must know how to use your voice
properly.
A good voice is God’s gift to you, but one
can improve quality by undergoing proper
training.
 AUDIENCE AWARENESS
 The best way to catch the attention of the audience
is to talk to them directly. Before you begin talking,
size up your audience –their age, background,
gender, and interest.
 A glance at them will tell you whether they will be

eager to listen to what you have to say or for which

they have been assembled in the room.
 Sincerity and conviction about their immediate

interest and something with which they are familiar,

will in all probability lure them into listening.
 PRESENTATION PLANS
 Adequate planning and preparation are
essential for a successful presentation.
 In fact, thorough preparation is the best

antidote for nervousness.

 Face to face interaction demands thinking

and speaking and not a mere repetition of

what you have learnt.
 One should avoid written speeches, word

for word Or memorize it either. This would

lead to the presentation loosing flexibility
and communication will also suffer.
 VISUAL AIDS
 It is believed that 11% of what we learn is through
hearing, 83% through sight and rest through other
three senses.
 Visual aids can make your presentation more
effective because it stimulates the listener being
more vivid and easily understandable.
 It includes maps, charts, pictures, motion pictures,
slides, overhead projectors and
backboard/whiteboard.
 Your choice of visual aid will depend upon your
topic, audience and availability of the aid.
 USE OF CONNECTIVES

 Good public speaking skills involve more than presenting

informative or persuasive material to an audience in an
engaging, uplifting manner. It requires the use of connectives to
keep your presentation or speech organized as well as unified.
Better than a verbal tic, such as 'um' or 'ah,' by employing good
connectives in your speech, you will also make it easier for your
listeners to both follow what you are saying and remember more
of what you are saying.

 The 4 types of connectives include:

 Signposts
 Transitions
 Internal Previews
 Internal Summaries
 (1) SIGNPOSTS:
 Without a doubt, one of the most popular forms of
connectives are signposts. The signpost refers to very brief
statements that tell your audience where you are in your
speech. They can be numbers - the 1st idea, the 2nd idea,
etc.; they can be questions which offer good audience
interaction; and, they can be phrases that underscore
important points in your message.
 Example: The most important thing I want you to gain
from my presentation is that breathing with the
support of your diaphragm will not only end vocal
abuse but it will also mean a more confident, more
mature-sounding speaking voice.
 In the above statement, I have reiterated what I want my
audience to remember but I have also let them know that I
have come to the end of my development. While those words
are not my concluding statement, they have paved the way
for my conclusion.
 (2) TRANSITIONS
 Transitions are words or phrases that mark the end of one
thought or idea and move the speaker into another thought
or idea by including material from the previous statement
into the new one.
 Example: Now that we have seen that the habitual
voice can be affected by vocal abuse, allow me to explain
how the situation can be reversed.
 In the above sentence, the words in bold mark the transition,
reinforcing my previous statements and paving the way for
the new statement.
 (3) INTERNAL PREVIEW:
 Similar to the transition and often including a transition, the
internal preview is found in the development of the speech or
presentation and includes what is coming up in greater detail
than the transition. The preview is in bold.
 Example: Now that we have seen that the habitual voice can
be affected by vocal abuse, the remedy is quite simple. Learn
to breathe with the support of your diaphragm and
allow your chests to power your voice.
 Including the original transition, the internal preview consists
of the statement which follows in bold.
 (4) INTERNAL SUMMARIES:
 Found also in the development of the speech or presentation,
the internal summary is the opposite of the internal preview
because it lists ever so briefly what has already been stated.
These summaries are important because they reinforce what
has already been said, making it easier for your audience to
follow your message.
 Example: In essence, by learning to breathe properly,
finding the optimum pitch of your speaking voice, and
allowing your chest to do the work, you will eliminate
vocal abuse forever.
 The above sentence summarizes succinctly what may have
been discussed for the last 10, 20 or even 40 minutes of your
delivery.

 Using any and all of the above connectives in your

delivery are very effective means of keeping your
audience's attention as well as keeping your talk
organized. Use them and your listeners will
remember more of what you have said.