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PUBLIC SPEAKING

AND LISTENING SKILLS

PUBLIC SPEAKING

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC?

Public Speaking Produces Anxiety in Most People

3. Death 2. Snakes 1. Public Speaking

People’s Biggest Fears

The ability to speak in front of audience is considered as a sign of Self-confidence.

Why Speak in Public ?

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO SPEAK

CONFIDENTLY IN PUBLIC

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Start with a proper GREETING to the judges and audience

Organize your speech into three basic parts

1. Attractive- INTRODUCTION2. Meaningful-MAIN SPEECH3. Clear & Crisp- CONCLUSION

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MAKE the introduction BRIEF but ATTENTION GATHERING

EMPHASIZE your arguments but don’t show bias.

END with a word of thanks.

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OPEN your speech with any one of the four techniques :

Quotation Example Definition Humour ( HUMOUR is little

difficult to deliver ; unless you are good at telling jokes, DON’T try this technique )

LANGUAGE

USE correct pronounciation.PREFER simple sentences.AVOID Use of big words to show off jargon & slang.

Overcoming Speech Anxiety

Acknowledge Your FearAct ConfidentChannel Nervous Energy

Things You Should Do

Eye contact Can glance at notes Appropriate

gestures Rhetorical

questions to involve audience

Things You Shouldn’t Do

Read directly from notes Read directly from screen Turn back on audience Slouch, hands in pockets No um, ah, you know’s No nervous gestures Talk too fast, Talk too quietly

Practice takes you from this..

To this….

Listening Skills

Good Listeners•Show keenness•Expressions•Alertness•Questions•Not neglecting physical aspects•Valid reason for criticism•Responds non-verbally

Implications•Good listening helps you to take better decisions and make better policies in organization.

•On the contrary lack of proper listening can lead to embarrassing situations because of a gap in coordination and understanding.

Why listening skills are important

•Improves relationships•Improves our knowledge•Improves our understanding•Prevents problems escalating•Saves time and energy•Can save money•Leads to better results

Tips for Effective Listening DO’s

Be mentally prepared to listen Evaluate the speech not the

speaker Be unbiased to the speaker by

depersonalizing your feelings Fight distractions by closing off

sound sources Be open minded Ask questions to clarify and not

to overshadow intelligence Paraphrase from time to time Send appropriate non-verbal

signals time to time

Don’ts

Not to pay undue emphasis on vocabulary as you can use the context to understand the meaning

Not to pay too much attention to the accessories and clothing of the speaker

Not to prepare your responses while the speaker is speaking

Avoid preconceptions and prejudices

Not to get distracted by outside influences

Not to interrupt too often Not to show boredom

Difference between

HEARING and LISTENING

HearingTo perceive sound via the ear

ListeningTo concentrate on hearing something; heed or pay attention to

Collins English Dictionary

Simple listening technique

1. Listen- Don’t interruptLet the speaker finishConcentrate on what is being said and how it is

being saidMake notes if this helpsShow the speaker that you are listening

2. Question- Check understanding3. Summarise- Paraphrase what the speaker has

just told you

Barriers to effective listening

•Interrupting – knowing the answer•Trying to be helpful•Seeing discussion as competition•Distraction - red flag words – emotional triggers•Gap searching

The following saying summarizes the importance of listening: "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.“

Characteristics of Listening

L = Look interestedI = Involve yourself by respondingS = Stay on targetT = Test your understandingE = Evaluate the messageN = Neutralize your feelings

10 Steps to Effective ListeningStep 1: Face the speaker and maintain eye contact.Step 2: Be attentive, but relaxed.Step 3: Keep an open mind.Step 4: Listen to the words and try to picture what the speaker is saying.Step 5: Don’t interrupt and don’t impose your “solutions.”

Step 6: Wait for the speaker to pause to ask clarifying questions.Step 7: Ask questions only to ensure understanding.Step 8: Try to feel what the speaker is feeling.Step 9: Give the speaker regular feedback.Step 10: Pay attention to what isn’t said—to nonverbal cues.

The Process of Listening can be categorized into 4 main areas

•Hear•Clarify•Interpret•Respond