Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Assignment
Skills of effective
speaking
Submitted to:
Prof. Manoj K.
Sharma
Submitted By:
Anubha Gupta
MBA-IB
Introduction:
Speaking:
Speaking is an act of making vocal sounds. We can say that speaking means to
converse, or expressing ones thoughts and feelings in spoken language. To
speak often implies conveying information. It may be from an informal remark
to a scholarly presentation to a formal address. Your voice can reveal as much
about your personal history as your appearance. The sound of a voice and the
content of speech can provide clues to an individual's emotional state and a
dialect can indicate their geographic roots. The voice is unique to the person
to whom it belongs. For instance, if self-esteem is low, it may be reflected by
hesitancy in the voice, a shy person may have a quiet voice, but someone who
is confident in themselves will be more likely to have command of their voice
and clarity of speech. [1]
[5]
Accordingly, we must
practice with our voice just as we would any musical instrument, and then
master the language we put through that instrument. While most of us
consider ourselves articulate and comfortable with our mother tongue, it is
readily apparent that in professional speaking the rules change somewhat and
we are judged as an authority based on our use of language. [2]
The Message:
What is being said is equally important as how its being said. Several authors
suggested reading as the best way to broaden ones vocabulary and to become
comfortable with a variety of words. Another suggestion was to read aloud not
only to synchronize the brain and the tongue, but also to become comfortable
saying the new words as well as understanding what they mean. A broader
vocabulary obviously does not mean attempting to astound the audience with
verbiage and verbosity, but an articulate and eloquent speaker commands
more respect than one who appears to be stuck in middle-school English class.
[6]
Fillers:
Most of us have phrases or words with which we are comfortable and use
without realizing how distracting they can be to our message. Most of us easily
recognize the you know and umm space fillers, but other words such as
always and never may evoke subconscious negative responses and
torpedo the idea we are trying to convey. Other phrases such as why dont
you, which implies someone isnt doing something correctly now and requires
Image:
A speakers physical appearance audiences first impression is of equal
importance. While some aspects of our appearance such as skin colour,
gender, and height cannot be changed, we can make the most of the first
impression overall image and projection of that image.6 Physical
appearance such as clothing selection, hair, and even the appearance of our
hands affects how we, and thereby the authority of our message, are
perceived. The type of clothing must be appropriate to the setting and the
audience, fit appropriately, and demonstrate awareness of basic grooming
requirements (neat, clean, and in good repair). These elements are obvious. To
address a congressional staff, ones dress should be conservative and
professional in keeping with the institution. Conversely, if addressing a student
research group on a field day to a museum, the attire should reflect the more
casual aspect of the environment. Often program managers will be required to
Description:
Speaking is the productive skill in the oral mode. It, like the other skills, is more
complicated than it seems at first and involves more than just pronouncing
words. There are three kinds of speaking situations in which we find ourselves:
1) Interactive- it includes face to face conversations and telephone calls, in
which we are alternately listening and speaking, and in which we have a
chance to ask for clarification, repetition, or slower speech from our
conversation partner.
2) Partially interactive- Some speaking situations are partially interactive,
such as when giving speech to a live audience, where the convention is
that the audience does not interrupt the speech. The speaker
Spoken Communication:
Telephone
Skills
Body
Language
Presenting
Spoken
Communication
Listening
Gathering
Information
Motivating &
Supporting
Persuading &
Negotiating
Giving &
Accepting
crticism
Be clear and concise. Vary your tone, pace and volume to enhance the
communication and encourage questions
Ask for help when you need it. Research suggests that asking for help
with something (within reason) makes you more liked by the person you
ask!
Good conversations:
Should be two way with both parties equally involved and interested. It
is a shared experience. It is a partnership like a dance: you respond to
each other's movements and are both winners.
10
Build them around respect: treat other people the way you want to be
treated yourself. The atmosphere should feel comfortable: like plants,
conversations need good ground to take root and flourish.
Talk about mainly positive things. People who talk about good news
tend to cheer people up whereas people who always talk in negatives
tend to depress the people they are talking to! Obviously there must be
a balance, as sometimes we must talk about unhappy events, but make
sure you don't do this too much. You wion't go far wrong if you use the
old adage: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at
all!"
Always address someone by their first name if you know this. It shows
that you are treating them as an individual.
11
Leave spaces: stay silent for a few seconds. Don't talk for too long: our
attention only lasts a few minutes before we need a break. Cut your
story into bite sized chunks to allow breathing space.
When starting conversations show that you value the other person's
attention: "I'd really like your opinion about ....."
Bad conversations:
Our opinions and feelings are denied: we feel under attack, ignored,
patronised, put down and threatened.
12
Accents
Vocal
production
Aspects of
Effective
Speaking
The effect
of breath
on voice
and speech
13
Finding
your voice
Accents:
Regional and ethnic accents are positive; they are part of individual
personality. Gradually, over the years, through the migration of people and
exposure to the media, accents are being broken down and neutralised. In
some ways this is a shame because accents can add a dimension and
distinctiveness to voice and emphasise individuality. It is important to get used
to the sound of your own voice. Most people are more relaxed in a private
situation, particularly at home, where there are no pressures to conform to
any other social rules and expectations. This is not the case in public situations
when there are all sorts of influences exerted upon the way people speak. Your
voice can reveal as much about your personal history as your appearance. The
sound of a voice and the content of speech can provide clues to an individual's
emotional state and a dialect can indicate their geographic roots. The voice is
unique to the person to whom it belongs. For instance, if self-esteem is low, it
may be reflected by hesitancy in the voice, a shy person may have a quiet
voice, but someone who is confident in themselves will be more likely to have
command
14
of
their
voice
and
clarity
of
speech.
When under stress an individual's breathing pattern will change. When your
muscles are tense you cannot use your lungs to their full capacity, when a
person is frightened or nervous, a common symptom is tension in the neck and
shoulders. This occurs because, when under pressure, over-breathing tends to
occur. Plenty of air is inhaled, but with fast breathing there is not enough time
to exhale and relax.
Good breathing is essential for two reasons:
1. By using full lung capacity the breath will support the voice and the voice
will become richer, fuller and stronger. This will benefit individuals who
have a small voice and who worry that they cannot be heard when speaking
to a group of people. Volume is controlled in the abdomen not in the
15
Vocal Production:
The following three core elements of vocal production need to be understood
for anyone wishing to become an effective speaker:
Volume - to be heard.
Clarity - to be understood.
16
17
Pace: This is the speed at which you talk. If speech is too fast then the
listeners will not have time to assimilate what is being said. Nevertheless, it is
a good idea to vary the pace - quickening up at times and then slowing down
this will help to maintain interest.
Pause: Pauses are powerful. They can be used for effect to highlight the
preceding statement or to gain attention before an important message.
Pauses mean silence for a few seconds. Listeners interpret meaning during
18
Barriers/Problems in Speaking:
There are three types of barriers:
1) Perceptual Barriers: The problem with speaking to others is that
we all see the world differently.
2) Emotional Barriers: One of the chief barriers to open and free
speaking is the emotional barrier. It is comprised mainly of fear,
mistrust and suspicion.
3) Gender Barriers: There is a difference of speech patterns in a man
and those in a woman. A woman speaks between 22000 and
25000 words a day where as a man speaks between 7000 and
10000.
19
20
21
References:
1) http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/effectivespeaking.html#ixzz3wwN4jwH5
2) Toogood, Granville N., The Articulate Executive: Learn to Look, Act, and
Sound Like a Leader, McGraw-Hill: New York, 1996, p. 16.
3) http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/effectivespeaking.html#ixzz3wxPM4cVf
4) Quote from Broadcaster Earl Nightingale in Earl Nightingales Greatest
Discovery, CD 3
5) Quote from Broadcaster Earl Nightingale in Earl Nightingales Greatest
Discovery, CD 2.
6) Lee Carolyn N.,Effective Speaking and Presentation, January-February,
2001.
7) Art of Public Speaking(First Edition); A.K. Batra.
8) The Art of Public Speaking; Joseph Berg Esenwein & Dale Carnegie
A Complete Guide to Public Speaking; Joseph A. Grippo
22