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| Communication Basics OVERVIEW CONSIDER AND ADDRESS: 1. What 1 point do I want to make – what 1 thing do I want them to think/remember/understand do? 2. How can I get and keep the interest and attention of my audience – what benefit can I offer they value, and how can I involve them throughout? 3. How can I express my topic or idea in the form of a question that I will ask and answer? CONSTRUCT A PRESENTATION THAT IS A 2-WAY DIALOG, A CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR AUDIENCE THAT MATTERS TO, IS UNDERSTOOD BY, AND ENGAGES THEM. 1. Ask and answer a question (focus). 2. Have a headline (grab). 3. Use inverted pyramid (organize: express most important points first, and least important last). 4. Give audience a role to play (involve/attention). CHOOSE THE PROPER COMMUNICATION VEHICLES (CHANNELS), AVOIDING INFORMATION OVERLOAD IN ORAL PRESENTATION AND USING SUPPLEMENTARY WRITTEN HANDOUTS/GRAPHICS TO SUPPLY DENSE AND/OR COMPLEX SUPPORTING MATERIAL. 1. Oral (impress, motivate, interact, immediacy): use to establish 1 main point. Has nonverbal/verbal/ visual components, provides full direct feedback, delivers 1 audience and 1 chance to reach it. 2. Written (inform, detail): use to supply complete support/proof. Has visual component, provides partial indirect delayed feedback, supplies a record, delivers several audiences and several chances to reach it. 3. Graphic (illustrate): use to emphasize/reinforce specific points. Provides focus. CONTROL YOUR DELIVERY FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT. 1. KISS: keep it short and simple. 2. IIU(U): be irresistible (likable), irrefutable (credible), unforgettable (memorable), aUdience-oriented (involving/connecting). 3. PPPP: pow, prove, push, pull. 4. TTT: tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, tell them what you have told them. CREATE BELIEVABILITY – DEMONSTRATE CRITICAL THINKING: 1. Establish your credibility, expertise, and/or understanding of audience point of view. 2. Find and present balance: investigate more than 1 side. 3. Cite sources/significant backers: prove you are right. 4. Give 20% opinion/80% proof: follow “I think” with “this is true because.” CHOOSE/MANAGE YOUR TIME: 80% PREPARE/20% PRESENT. CONTINUALLY BUILD YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILL: WATCH, AND LEARN FROM, PROFESSIONALS; PRACTICE. CHECK LIST THINK AUDIENCE 1. Position your ideas in terms they understand, value, and respond to. FOCUS 1. Identify and state 1 big idea (what you want audience to think/retain/do). 2. Support/prove it with 3-5 points. 3. Be selective (use the “so what” test; eliminate anything that fails the test). 4. Demonstrate critical thinking – look for and present alternate points of view; ask and answer a question. 5. Use supporting written materials for detail rather than overload orally. PREPARE 1. Organize and know your material. 2. Do not over rely on notes. 3. Stick to allotted time. 4. Avoid/cut jargon, “difficult” language, and/or words with multiple meanings. 5. Test for proof (use “I think … this is true because…” test). 6. Rehearse, keeping verbal/visuals/vocal components consistent. INVOLVE 1. Get and keep audience interest, attention, and support. 2. Connect: have a 2-way dialog throughout, start and end strong. 3. State directly how topic/issues concerns them, and suggestions benefit them. Find common ground. 4. Respond to nonverbals. 5. Consider Decker’s involvement techniques: · Style: drama, eye communication, movement. · Interaction: demonstrations, samples, gimmicks, questions (ask questions that request all respond and easily – have a yes/no or true/false or multiple choice answer, inquire “how many of you” – and/or request an answer of a particular audience member. Listen to the answer, and respond). · Content: interest, humor. IMPRESS 1. Create favorable, positive, lasting image. 2. Your presentation should portray you as reliable/credible/important to them and/or those that matter to them – express qualities they admire. 3. Reflect this in dress/demeanor. 4. Show: energy, confidence, likability, believability, interest/enthusiasm, humanness, empathy; smile. IMPACT 1. Grab, push/urge, move. 2. Use the following techniques: KISS (keep it short and simple, IIUU (be irresistible, be irrefutable, be unforgettable, and think audience), PPPP (pow, prove, push, pull), and TTT (tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, tell them what you have told them). IDENTIFY AND OVERCOME PERCEPTION GAPS 1. See yourself through their eyes. 2. Know how you want to be seen. 3. Take steps to overcome any distance. CONFIDENT PRESENTATIONS: OVERCOMING FEAR BUILD CONFIDENCE 1. Know that nervousness is natural – prepare and practice presentations to turn yours from fright to constructive energy. 2. Consciously find friends in any crowd you address. 3. Anticipate the worst that can happen, and be prepared to master it. 4. Have strong facts to bolster your opinions. 5. Seek out and mention significant backers and success examples supporting the merit of your idea. CONCENTRATE ON WHAT YOU WILL DO, NOT HOW YOU WILL DO 1. Determine how you can best tell your audience what you know, and use techniques to do that. 2. Focus on what you can do for them – what you can offer that they will value – not what they will do to you. CONSTRUCT AN ORAL PRESENTATION FOR 2-WAY SPOKEN COMMUNICATION. FOLLOW THE ”IIUU” MODEL: BE IRRESISTIBLE, IRREFUTABLE, AND UNFORGETTABLE, AND THINK/TALK YOU (AUDIENCE). 1. Organize thoughts in key topic sentences with bullet points underneath. Use a timed outline (or note cards) with brief phrases, not a written paper/script. 2. Start strong: grab. Tell them why it matters to them, make it unignorable, entice them to want more. 3. Preview upcoming material: provide information and key topics to help audience focus/listen. 4. Recap each section before moving on. Use transitions as a way to focus/involve/re-grab audience. 5. Build/sell in the body: use 3-5 supporting points with facts/examples audience can relate to/believe. 6. Close strong: conclude/move/incite/challenge. Summarize what you have said, and tell them any action you urge, in a memorable way. |
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