Engineering Your Speaking

•Analyze your audience.•Decide on your primary purpose.•Determine your time frame and your key points.•Choose an organizational plan.•Prepare an outline and notes.•Create supporting graphics.•Be careful with presentational software (Powerpoint).•Make your information accessible.•Prepare handouts and outline.•Prepare your conclusion and for questions.

Questions to Ask About Your Listeners• Who will the key individuals in my audience be?• What needs or concerns do they have regarding my topic?• What are my objectives for this talk?• How knowledgeable are my listeners about my subject?• How can I get their attention and interest right away?• What are their attitudes likely to be?• Do I need to work on changing their attitudes, and if so,

what is the best way to go about it?• What benefits are they going to get from listening to me?• What kinds of questions are they likely to ask?• What kind of feedback do I want?

Prepare an Outline and Notes

•Outline

•Note cards

•Script

•Visual aids

•Backup plan

Prepare Your Introduction

Not necessarily in this order:

•Introduce yourself.•Explain the context.•State your purpose.•Provide an overview of what you’ll cover.•Generate some interest and/or motivation.

Prepare Your Conclusion

• Summarize what you have discussed.

• Stress your central idea once more.

• Review your key points.

• Restate your recommendations or decisions

Noise in Engineering Presentations

•Speaking too softly•Speaking too slowly or rapidly•Speaking monotonously•Using distracting verbal fillers•Becoming a statue, pendulum, or traveler•Blocking the screen•Reading from the screen or from notes

Strengthening Your Presentations

•Start with a good, well-planned introduction.•Use an informal style.•Make clear transitions.•Repeat key points.•Use a pointer.•Maintain eye contact.•Be Ready for unexpected questions.•Accept Your nervousness.•End with good, well-planned conclusion.

Listening to Presentations

• Maintain natural eye contact with the speaker.• Show that you are alert, interested, and well-disposed toward the speaker.• Ignore distractions such as people talking or other

external noise.• Take notes on the speaker’s most important points.• Develop at least one question in your mind, and

ask it at the appropriate time.• Be sure to turn off all cell phones and beepers.

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