Communication Audit:

Briefings
(Including Visuals)
Audit #2014-C313g Revised February 15, 2014

Name: ______________________________________ Topic: _______________________ Rater: _____________

A. Content & Argument Influence

1. State your purpose up front so global learners can see the big picture & know what action you want from them 1 2 3 4
2. Focus on and address the relevant questions your audience will expect you to anticipate & address 1 2 3 4
3. Incorporate a relevant story, analogy, or example to drive home a critical point to aid retention & recall 1 2 3 4
4. Provide concise (brief but comprehensive) content and arguments, avoiding wordy, rambling narrative 1 2 3 4
5. Stress the benefits (goodness) the organization, group, or individuals will receive (WIIFM?) to persuade 1 2 3 4
6. Support every assertion (i.e., claim/conclusion) w/compelling evidence to validate your position & persuade 1 2 3 4
7. Provide a closing argument that includes evidence & offers audience reasons/benefits to take action you want 1 2 3 4
8. Answer questions by taking your time and responding thoughtfully, decisively, and thoroughly 1 2 3 4

B. Structural & Organizational Influence

9. Open w/attention grabber news, story, facts--earning interest w/anticipation, specificity, inquiry, incongruity 1 2 3
10. Provide an easy-to-remember 3-4 point oral agenda or advance organizer to preview and guide people 1 2 3
11. Order your talk in a logical sequence (e.g., problem solution, cause-effect, chronological, by topic) 1 2 3
12. Cluster related material/points & link to outcomes, support, etc. so audience sees connections/relationships 1 2 3
13. Prepare & deliver only a handful of most significant points to fit time allotted to avoid overtaxing audience 1 2 3
14. Enumerate ideas & sections so people can track your points (Let's move to my 3rd point on) 1 2 3

C. Vocal Influence
15. Maintain an appropriate volume so that everyone in room can hear you (not too soft or too loud) 1 2 3
16. Speak at normal conversational rate of speed--approx.120-140 wpm (Calculate 7-8 sentences per minute) 1 2 3
17. Use natural, conversational tone as if you were talking to good friends, avoiding memorized/reading tone 1 2 3
18. Vary your vocal tones, pitch and rhythm frequently to emphasize meaning and keep audiences engaged 1 2 3
19. Inject vocal enthusiasm, especially when expressing interesting/important ideas--vocal energy is contagious 1 2 3
20. Articulate all your words clearly to project ethos, intelligence & education (Ex: par-tic-u-lar-ly /5 syllables) 1 2 3
21. Maintain fluent flow to your talk to strengthen credibility & aid listening---avoid halting & choppy delivery 1 2 3
22. Omit double starts and empty filler words that distract the audience (e.g., Ah... Um... Okay... So...) 1 2 3

D. Non-Verbal Influence
23 Acknowledge individuals w/direct eye communication (for entire sentence) to build trust & show confidence 1 2 3
24. Stand tall with both feet flat on floor and hold straight posture to communicate poise & confidence 1 2 3
25. Use varied, natural gestures to emphasize a point, animate your presentation and engage groups of people 1 2 3
26. Move around the stage occasionally with a clear purpose or intention to keep audience engaged/attentive 1 2 3
27. Match facial expressions (e.g. smile) to message because audience will believe expressions over message 1 2 3
28. Project the image of a relaxed, confident professional to build trust and increase audience comfort levels 1 2 3

E. Visual Image Influence

29. Write concise message caption above each visual so audience learns one important point on that visual 1 2 3 4
30. Design simple, clean, accurate & relevant visuals people can grasp & process while listening to you speak 1 2 3 4

Communication Audits provide researched benchmarks designed to strengthen business communication abilities Total = 100
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