Effective Oral Communication Tips & Strategies

ORAL COMMUNICATION & OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT June 18, 2017 NEPHI JUNE S. QUILARIO SST-1 Tanjay National High School FOR MISS TANJAY CITY 2017

Activity 1 PICTURE TALK

Questions: 1. How did you feel about the activity? 2. What issues with regards to speaking did you notice? 3. Why do you think you have those issues? 4. What pictures do you feel most knowledgeable? 5. What pictures do you feel less knowledgeable? What could be the reason for that?

OBJECTIVE OF ORAL COMMUNICATION To Inform To Educate To Convince To Persuade To Lead to Action

HOW TO EFFECTIVELY TRANSLATE IDEAS INTO WORDS Know the language or medium of communication: oGrammar oSentence structures Have a huge selection of vocabulary: oRead oConsult the dictionary oEnhance your thesaurus

EXERCISING YOUR PRESENTATION MUSCLE (HOW AND WHY) Do you exercise your presentation muscle? Practice good speaking skills by delivering oral presentations on a regular basis Why? Person with a strong presentation muscle can think a problem through and communicate his/her analysis She can express her thoughts well enough to persuade others to see her point of view She can efficiently instruct others She can speak effectively before an audience of any sizes

OPENINGS Purpose Grab audience s attention so that they will want to hear what you have to say Should be a grabber or attention seeker Not only arouse interest, but also suggest theme of speech Openings can be dramatic, emotional, humorous or rhetorical Opening does not have to have words, you can use gestures, demonstration, silence related to the topic

GOOD OPENINGS Startling question Challenging statement Appropriate short quotation or illustration Surprising generalization Personal story

CLOSINGS Purpose Accent your speech objectives Leave the audience with something to remember Closing is the whip-cracker , the clincher , ultimately the result getter . Closing can be dramatic, emotional, humorous or rhetorical Closing must tie with your opening and your theme

GOOD CLOSINGS Call or an appeal for definite action Appropriate short quotation or illustration Personal challenge

7 STEPS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION PAUSE Replace fillers with silence CHUNKING Block your speech into sections TRANSITIONING Create transitions from one thought to another. It smooths your thought process EYE CONTACT Make direct eye contact to the audience and talk in a conversational tone SLOW DOWN Slowing down when speaking allows your mind to process thoughts easily RELAX The audience is there to listen and wants you to succeed VOICE INFLECTION Builds in automatic pauses

7 CS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION 1. CLARITY Be clear with your message 2. CONCISE Least possible words saves time 3. CORRECT Accurate facts and figure, grammar, language 4. COMPLETE Must convey all the facts required by the receiver 5. CONSIDERATION Consider the audience 6. CONCRETE Be specific, not vague 7. COURTESY Be respectful

1. Prepare We all know the importance of practice prior to a big performance. Instead of practicing by yourself at home, ask close friends and family that you feel comfortable playing in front of to serve as your audience. Also, it s ideal to practice at the venue you ll be performing at, but if that s not possible find a similar location, or try playing at a variety of locations, which can help eliminate setting distractions altogether.

2. Skip the Latte You may think it ll help you be more alert, but caffeine and sugar actually can agitate the negative symptoms of stage fright. It s best to avoid sugary foods or caffeinated beverages the day of your performance. Believe us, the natural pre-performance adrenaline boost will be more than enough to keep you alert and energized! (Feeling too pumped up still? Try eating a banana. Its natural beta-blockers may help regulate your energy levels.)

3. Accept the Fear Accepting that what you re feeling is a natural biological response can be incredibly freeing and allow you to work past your stage fright. Have faith in your preparedness and 4. Don t Focus on Yourself Think about how cool it is that you have the opportunity to speak in front of those in the audience.

5. Be Confident Don t fixate on what could go wrong, but rather imagine all your preparation. Remember the audience is there to support and encourage you. Avoid any and all feelings of self-doubt.

6. Listen to Music Sport psychologists have long encouraged athletes to listen to music prior to big competitions, and some of the same benefits can cross over to musicians as well. For one, we can choose songs to put us into the right mood. Need an added boost? Pick a song that fires you up. Too worked up and need to relax a bit? Listen to your favorite chill-out song.

7. Breathe/Meditate We all have our own way of entering the zone. Practice your relaxation technique ahead of time, so that it s ready to go when you need it. One suggestion is to find a quiet spot to sit. Slowly take 10 full breaths, in and out, through your nose. Count each breath as you go.

8. Stretch Stretching will help loosen tense muscles and allow you to focus on something other than your jitters right before the show. Take it easy, concentrate on your movements and shake it out when you re done. Imagine all the negative energy leaving your body.

9. Use the Facilities It may sound silly, but DON T FORGET TO USE THE BATHROOM. Believe us, we speak from experience when we say there s nothing worse for stage fright than having to go when you step onto the stage.

10. Enjoy Every Moment Smile as you walk onto the stage and look at the audience. Imagine all the people who supported you during practice out there cheering you on. Speak as you know you can and graciously accept their applause at the end. Not only did you kill your performance, but you overcame your stage fright to do so!

USEFUL TIPS PREPARE Be fit physically, emotionally and mentally PRACTICE Record your voice, deliver a talk in front of the mirror and look at yourself. BE AWARE Turn on the radio, watch the news, read the papers. Nothing beats a person who knows a little bit about everything. LISTEN You cannot have a beautiful mind if you do not know how to listen READ ALOUD Increases vocabulary and exercises the tongue. SMILE It brightens even the darkest of days BELIEVE You can!