KEY TRAIN: CAREER SKILLS – COMMUNICATION SKILLS

(EFFECTIVE ORAL COMMUNICATION)Mr. Toth

11/16/09

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE ORAL COMMUNICATION Pronounce Clearly Be Succinct Use a Pleasant Voice Engage the Listener Adjust your Volume Adjust your Tone Vary your Pitch Use Proper Grammar Expand Your Vocabulary Match Body Language to Comments

PRONOUNCE CLEARLY When you speak make sure each word

can be understood by the listener.

BE SUCCINCT When speaking make your point quickly

and clearly.

People absorb, sort, and think about information in small chunks.

If your message is too fast, too long, too complicated, or lacks focus, then you will lose your audience.

USE A PLEASANT VOICE You inherit the sound of your voice.

If you aren’t satisfied with the voice you have, you can change it a little but not completely.

Listen to yourself over and over on tape. Make notes about what you’d like to change.

ENGAGE THE LISTENER Get the listener involved in what you are

saying, and they will enjoy your presentation more. Ask questions that will get the listeners to

talk or discuss. Give examples and ask listeners to suggest

examples. Learn a few names of people in your

audience and use them occasionally. Select participants to demonstrate or

experiment. Walk among the audience or lean toward the

listener in conversation.

ADJUST YOUR VOLUME A common mistake that presenters

make is that they fail to adjust their speech volume to the size of the area.

Be aware of the body language of your audience to tell if they can hear you or not.

Are they turning their heads to the side to catch the sound of your voice?

ADJUST YOUR TONE Be mindful of how you say things.

Does your “Good morning,” suggest fatigue, bad mood and stress or cheerfulness, alertness and eagerness?

Does your tone make the listener feel better or worse after leaving your company?

VARY YOUR PITCH Raise or lower your voice pitch for

emphasis.

Suit your pitch to the purpose.

Keep listeners attentive by varying pitch.

Check your pitch.

USE PROPER GRAMMAR Poor grammar labels you.

It says you are uneducated or don’t care about being a professional.

EXPAND YOUR VOCABULARY Learning more words and using them in

your everyday speech will make you appear smarter. Read newspapers Read magazines Read bulletins Read Signs Read words on the Internet Look up works you don’t know. Listen for words on T.V. and radio

Taking command of your language is a smart career move.

MATCH BODY LANGUAGE TO COMMENTS Non-verbal and verbal communication must

deliver the same message, or your listeners will be confused.

To make a strong point: Maintain serious facial expression. Use a louder and higher voice tone and pitch.

To amuse a listener: Use exaggerated facial expressions. Use bold arm and body movements.

To calm listeners. Use very little facial expression. Lower your voice Speak slowly and move slowly.