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Communication and Presentation skills notes have been edited and compiled in
light of the prescribed syllabus of the University of Malakand. These notes are
intended for the students who wish to look at the specific material on
Communication and Presentation skills rather than at the wide-ranging material
offered in the original texts.

Compiled & Edited by

Kamran Zaib

Department of English

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 CONTENTS
➢ Communication

➢ Analyze the audience

➢ Communicating with words as well as with body language

➢ Writing with a purpose

➢ Process of communication

➢ Barriers in communication

➢ Types of Communication

➢ Job interviews and Communication skills

➢ Communication in a Team

(Part 2)

➢ Delivering your presentation

➢ Speaking with Confidence

➢ Fazes of speech preparation

➢ Effective presentation structure-Introduction and Conclusion

➢ Expert presentation

➢ Verbal aspect of a presentation

➢ The auditory aspect of a presentation

➢ Non-verbal aspect of a presentation- body language

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 ➢ Speech Visualization

➢ Expert presentation specification

➢ Q&A preparation for an expert discussion

➢ Stress management during a presentation

“The direction in which education starts a man will determine his

future life.”

Plato

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 COMMUNICATION
Communication: is derived from the Latin word “communis” which means
“common”. This stands for the sharing of ideas in common. According to
McFarland communication is “a process meaning full interaction among human

beings”. The exchange of information or passing of information, ideas, or thoughts from one
person to another.
According to Aristotle, “Communication is search for all available means of persuasion”

“Newman and Summer”

Define communication as “An exchange of facts, ideas opinions, or emotion by two or more
persons”.
It serves five major purposes.
➢ To inform.

➢ To express.

➢ To imagine.

➢ To influence.

➢ To meet social expectations.

To inform:
The relevant information must flow continuously from top to bottom and vice versa. The
information should reach the incumbent in the language he or she can understand better the right
information should reach the right line through the right person.
Example: The tornado siren goes off informing us that we need to take shelter immediately.
To express:
To convey a message through communication by gesturing, speaking, writing, or singing. To
express mean to give a meaningful full thought to someone.
⦁ Being aggressive.
⦁ To protest or to reject.
⦁ To request continuation.

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⦁ To make a choice.
⦁ To greet.
⦁ To get information.
To imagine:
AS the process through which invented situations are created and, in most cases, shared.
Whenever people invent jokes or stories speculate daydream or make-believe they are engaged
in imaginative communication.
To influence:
Communication moves information influence moves ideas into action and produces an effect
without the use of force or command. You can communicate without influencing, but you cannot
influence without communicating.
Social communication:
Is order to be able to build social relationships with other people. It is also important
academically as many curriculum-based activities rely on working in groups and communication
between peers.
➢ What people should do?
➢ The connection between the general public and life.

Functions of Communication:

➢ Control
➢ Motivation
➢ Information
➢ Emotional Expression

Characteristics of communications are given below:

(1) Two or More Persons:

The first important characteristic of communication is that there must be a minimum number of
two persons because no single individual can have an exchange of ideas with himself. A listener
is necessary to receive one’s ideas. Therefore, there must be at least two persons-the sender of
information and the receiver.

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(2) Exchange of Ideas:

Communication cannot be thought of in the absence of an exchange of ideas. To complete the

process of communication, there must be an exchange of ideas, orders, feelings, etc., among two
or more two persons.

(3) Mutual Understanding:

Mutual understanding means that the receiver should receive the information in the same spirit
with which it is being given. In the process of communication, it is more important to understand
the information rather than carry it out.

(4) Direct and Indirect Communication:

It is not necessary for communication that the receiver and giver of information should be face-
to-face with each other. Communication can be both direct and indirect. Direct communication
means face-to-face conversation, while indirect communication is through other means.

(5) Continuous Process:

Communication is an endless process, as is the case with business where the manager
continuously assigns work to his subordinates, tries to know the progress of the work, and gives
directions.

(6) Use of Words as well as Symbols:

There can be many means of communication, like writing, oral, and symbolic. Examples of
symbolic communication are the ringing of a bell for closing a school or a college, saying
something by the movement of the neck, showing anger or disapproval through eyes, giving
some decision by the raising of a finger in cricket, etc.

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 ANALYZING THE AUDIENCE

Analyzing the audience means having the needs of the audience in mind while communicating
with them. It involves identifying the audience and adapting a speech to their interest’s level of
understanding, attitude, and presentation. The following things are necessary while analyzing
the audience.

➢ Age
➢ Gender
➢ Income
➢ Education
➢ Location
➢ Needs
➢ Wants
➢ Personality
➢ Values
➢ Culture
➢ Interests

Adaptation guides the stylistic and content choices a speaker makes for a presentation.

AUDIENCE ANALYSIS FACTORS

⦁ Audience expectation: -

Violating audience expectations can harm the effectiveness of the speech.

For example: Imagine that a politician is asked to speak at the memorial service for a
martyred(‫)شہید‬. The audience will expect the politician’s speech to praise the life and career of
the martyred(‫)شہید‬. but the politician used the opportunity to campaign for himself the audience
would probably be offended and the speaker would lose credibility.

⦁ Knowledge of topic: -

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Knowledge of a topic can vary widely on any given occasion. Therefore, communication should
find out what their audience already knows about the topic. You have to do research to find out
what the audience already knows about the topic.

For example: If a teacher is supposed to engage a class in absence of another teacher. He gives
lectures on literature but the audience is the students of science so they will lose interest due to a
lack of knowledge.

Attitude towards the topic:

Knowing audience members' attitudes about a topic will help a speaker determine the best way to
reach their goals.
Imagine that a presenter is trying to convince the non-Muslims the ones who do not believe in
God so he must know the attitude of the person(atheist) toward the topic. Then he will try to give
examples and facts to convince the atheist (‫)بے دین‬. So, by knowing the attitude of his audience
and with the help of persuasive and logical communication, he can convince the atheist to
convert to Islam.
Audience size:

As the formality of the presentation changes, several aspects of making speeches also alter.
A person can use a common language when he speaks to a group of 10 people is often quite
appropriate. However, that style of presentation would probably be inappropriate or ineffective if
he speaks to 500 people. Large audiences often require that you use a microphone and speak
from an elevated platform.
Demographics:
The demographics factors of the audience include age, gender, religion, ethnic background,
class, orientation, occupation education, and countless other categories.
Age
There are certain things you can learn about an audience based on age. For instance, if your
audience members are first-year college students, you can assume that they have grown up in the
21st century so they must know a little about the 8 October earthquake If your audience includes
people in their fifties, it is likely they remember the 1971 war and the relationship of Pakistan
and India. People in their seventies and eighties are might be part of the partition of the sub-

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continent. So, people of all ages might have different approaches to the same topic, and they
might have different psyches.
Gender
The approach of a presenter sometimes goes some time different during a presentation or speech
due to the influence of gender. You might be able to give a specific example to men in the case
of a female setting in the same environment. So, gender also affects the presentation.
Culture
Culture is the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other characteristics shared by groups of people.
For an effective speech or presentation, sometimes you might have to adopt the culture of the
audience.
For example, during the Jalsa of Maryam Nawaz in Sawat, she wore a traditional sheet(‫ )چادر‬and
she starts with the traditional and cultural language of Pashtoons says "Pakher Raghlai Pukhtano,
Sng Yiy, Tek Yiy," which create a wonderful effect on the presentation and she made a
connection with the audience.
Religion
There is wide variability in religion as well. There are at least one of a dozen major religions,
including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and others. Even we Muslims have
two sects, Sunni and Shia. Despite that, there are a lot of subsects in our religion. So, if you are
facing an audience you must have to keep in mind your audience speaking in favor of one
religion can offend another religion which can also offend your audience.
Education
Education is also important. For instance, an airplane mechanic undergoes a very different kind
of education and training from that of an accountant or a software engineer. This means that not
only the attained level of education but also the particular field is important in your
understanding of your audience.
Setting:
The setting of a presentation can influences the ability to give a speech and the audience's
ability to listen.
⦁ Room setup (size, time of day, temperature, external noises, lawnmowers) traffic.

⦁ Schoolroom coughs timing.

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COMMUNICATION WITH WORDS AS WELL AS WITH BODY
LANGUAGE

What is body language?

While the key to success in both personal and professional relationships lies in your ability to
communicate well, it’s not the words that you use but your nonverbal cues or “body language”
that speak the loudest. Body language is the use of physical behavior, expressions, and
mannerisms to communicate nonverbally, often done instinctively rather than consciously.

⦁ Postures.

⦁ Gestures

⦁ Eye contact

⦁ Tone of voice

⦁ Volume

⦁ Clouts

⦁ Smile

Body language is a natural unconscious language that broadcasts your feelings and intentions.
They like to choose non-verbal messages. When your non-verbal signal matches up with the
words you are saying it increases trust clarity. When they do not, they can generate tension,
mistrust, and confusion.

Nonverbal communication can play five roles:

Repetition: It repeats and often strengthens the message you’re making verbally.

Contradiction: It can contradict the message you’re trying to convey, thus indicating to your
listener that you may not be telling the truth.

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Substitution: It can substitute for a verbal message. For example, your facial expression often
conveys a far more vivid message than words ever can.

Complementing: It may add to or complement your verbal message. As a boss, if you pat an
employee on the back in addition to giving praise, it can increase the impact of your message.

Accenting: It may accent or underline a verbal message. Pounding the table, for example, can
underline the importance of your message.

TYPES OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

The many different types of nonverbal communication or body language include:

FACIAL EXPRESSION:

The human face is extremely expressive and able to convey words. Facial expression is
universal. The facial expression for happiness, sadness, anger surprise, fear, and disgust are the
same across cultures.

Body Movement and Posture:

The way you move and carry yourself communicates a wealth of information. The type
of non-verbal communication includes your posture beaning, stance, and subtle movements you
make.

Gestures:

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 You may wave, point, and use your hands when arguing or speaking immediately.

However, the message of some gestures can very different across cultures.

(OK) convey a positive message in English-speaking countries. It considers offensive in

countries such as Germany, Russia, and Brazil.

Eye Contact:

An especially important type of non-verbal communication.

The way you look at someone can communicate many things including interest, affection,
hostility, or attraction. Eye contact is also important in maintaining the flow of conversation and
gauging the other person’s interest and response.

Space:

Have you ever felt uncomfortable during a conversation because the other person was standing
too close and invading your space? We all need physical space, although that need differs
depending on the culture, the situation, and the closeness of the relationship. You can use
physical space to communicate many different nonverbal messages, including signals of
intimacy and affection, aggression, or dominance.

Voice. It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. When you speak, other people “read” your
voice in addition to listening to your words. Things they pay attention to include your timing and
pace, how loud you speak, your tone and inflection, and sounds that convey understanding, such
as “ahh” and “uh-huh.” Think about how your tone of voice can indicate sarcasm, anger,
affection, or confidence.

Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.

Socrates

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 WRITING WITH A PURPOSE

The purpose is the goal or aim of a piece of writing: to express oneself, to provide information,
to persuade, or to create a literary work. There are four purposes writers use for writing. When
someone communicates ideas in writing, they usually do so to express themselves, inform their
reader, persuade a reader, or create a literary work. In college, we mostly rely on two purposes
for composition style writing, and those are to inform or to persuade the audience.

Informative Writing:

The purpose of this writing is to inform or to share facts and other information. Informational
texts such as reports make statements that are supported by facts and truthful evidence.

This type of writing is clear, accurate, organized, thorough, and above all fair. Informative
writing is used to educate or explain something to the audience.

Examples: essays, research papers, presentations.

Literary Writing:

The purpose of this writing is to narrate or tell a story. The story can be made up or truthful.
Most forms of narrative writing have a beginning, middle, and end. Examples are fictional
stories and personal narratives.

A form of writing that is not a composition style writing but with the purpose to enter more than
inform.

Literary Work:

A form of creative writing as in fiction or non-fiction.

⦁ Novels

⦁ Plays

⦁ Poems

Expressive Writing:

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Its main purpose is to make connections to others and contribute to human thought and culture
and to establish and deepen human contact. Expressive writing is used to “express” our opinions.

⦁ Facebook,

⦁ Twitter,

⦁ Autobiographies

⦁ Dairies

⦁ Blogs or other social media networks.

PERSUASIVE WRITING:

Persuasive writing has the purpose to persuade states an opinion or goal and supporting it with
reasons and supporting details to get the audience to agree, take action, or both.

The writing purpose is to change the minds of the readers or at least to get the reader to question
their position on debate and consider the writer’s point of view.

Examples:

Is the death penalty necessary for criminals or not?

⦁ Essay

⦁ Research papers

⦁ Presentation

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.

Will Durant

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 PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION

refer to the transmission or passage of information or message from the sender through a selected
channel to the receiver overcoming barriers that affect its pace. It is a cyclic one it begins with
the sender in the form of feedback. It consists of certain steps and each step constitutes the
essence of effective communication.

DIFFERENT ELEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION

⦁ SENDER:

A sender is one who sends a message which may be a thought, idea, picture, symbol, report, or in
order and posture and gestures. The sender is the initiator of the message that needs to be
transmitted. The sender encodes it in such a manner that can be well understood by the receiver.

⦁ MESSAGE:

The message is the most important and intrinsic element of all speech communication models.

The message is referred to as the information conveyed by words as in speech and the
importance of information. The message is the heart of communication. The sender wants to
convey this to the receiver. It can be verbal or non-verbal.

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⦁ ENCODING:

The sender begins with the encoding process wherein he uses certain words or non-verbal
methods such as symbols, signs, body gestures, etc. to translate the information into a message.
The sender’s knowledge, skills, perception, background, competencies, etc. have a great impact
on the success of the message.

⦁ CHANNEL:

The Sender chooses the medium through which he wants to convey his message to the receiver.
It must be selected carefully to make the message effective and correctly interpreted by the
receiver. The choice of medium depends on the interpersonal relationships between the sender
and the receiver and also on the urgency of the message being sent. Oral, virtual, written sound,
gesture, etc. are some of the commonly used communication mediums.

⦁ RECEIVER:

The receiver is the person for whom the message is intended or targeted. He tries to comprehend
it in the best possible manner such that the communication objective is attained. Any negligence
on the part of the receiver may make the communication ineffective. It is the other end of the
process.

The degree to which the receiver decodes the message depends on his knowledge of the subject
matter, experience, trust, and relationship with the sender.

⦁ DECODING:

Refer to interpreting or converting the sent message into intelligible language. It simply means
comprehending the message. The receiver after receiving the message interprets it and tries to
understand it in the best possible manner. Effective communication occurs only if the receiver
understands the message in exactly the same way as it was intended by the sender.

⦁ FEEDBACK:

It is the ultimate aspect of the communication process. Feedback is the final step of the process
that ensures the receiver has received the message and interpreted it correctly as it was intended

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by the sender. It increases the effectiveness of the communication as it permits the sender to
know the efficacy of his message. The response of the receiver can be verbal or non-verbal.

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. —

Henry Ford

A well-educated mind will always have more questions than

answers. —Helen Keller

Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t. —Bill Nye

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 BARRIERS IN COMMUNICATION

Barriers may prevent communication or carry incorrect meaning due to which miss
understanding may be created. There are many reasons why interpersonal communications may
fail. In many communications, the message (what is said) may not be received exactly the way
the sender intended. It is, therefore, important that the communicator seeks feedback to check
that their message is clearly understood. There are different types of barriers some of them are:

⦁ SEMANTIC BARRIERS:

These are concerned with the problems and obstructions in the process of encoding and decoding
and decoding a message into words or impressions. Normally, such barriers result due to the use
of wrong words, faulty translation, different interpretations, etc. for example, a manager has no
knowledge of the English language and the other side. He is not well conversant with the Urdu
language, so here language is a barrier to communication. Because the manager may not be able
to communicate properly with the works.

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⦁ PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS:

Emotional or psychological factors also act as barriers to communication. The state of mind of
both senders is the receiver of communication. The state of mind of both sender and receiver of
communication reflects ineffective communication. Various mental and psychological issues
may be barriers to effective communication. Some people have stage fear, speech disorders,
phobia, depression, etc. All of these conditions are very difficult to manage sometimes and will
most certainly limit the ease of communication. For example, an angry recipient cannot
understand the message properly. At the line of communication, both the sender and the receiver
are psychologically sound.

⦁ ORGANIZATIONAL BARRIERS:

The factor related to organizational structure rules and regulation authority relational ships Etc.
May sometimes act as barriers to effective communication. In an organization with a highly
centralized pattern, people may not be procedure may also become a hurdle to communication
rigid rules regulations and cumbersome a procedure may also become a hurdle to
communication.

⦁ PERSONAL BARRIERS:

The personal factors of both sender and receiver may act as a barrier to effective communication
if a superior thinks that a particular communication may adversely affect his authority he may
suppress such communication. Lack of listing skills, lack of knowledge, lack of vocabulary, Ego,
attitudes of superior.

• ATTITUDE BARRIERS

Certain people like to be left alone. They are introverts or just people who are not very social.
Others like to be social or sometimes extra clingy! Both these cases could become a barrier to
communication. Some people have attitude issues, like huge egos and inconsiderate behaviors.

⦁ CULTURAL BARRIERS:

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When we join a group and wish to remain in it, sooner or later we will need to adopt the behavior
patterns of the group.

⦁ PHYSICAL BARRIERS:

An example of a physical barrier to communication is the geographic distance between the

sender and receiver(s). Communication is generally easier over shorter distances as more
communication channels are available and less technology is required. Although modern
technology often serves to reduce the impact of physical barriers, the advantages and
disadvantages of each communication channel should be understood so that an appropriate
channel can be used to overcome the physical barriers.

⦁ PHYSIOLOGICAL BARRIER:

Physiological barriers may result from the receiver’s physical state. For example, a receiver with
reduced hearing may not grasp the entirety of a spoken conversation, especially if there is
significant background noise.

⦁ LANGUAGE BARRIER:

Clearly, language and linguistic ability may act as a barrier to communication. However, even
when communicating in the same language, the terminology used in a message may act as a
barrier if it is not fully understood by the receiver(s). For example, a message that includes a lot
of specialist jargon and abbreviations will not be understood by a receiver who is not familiar
with the terminology used. As nurses, we are especially prone to making this mistake. We must
remember to use language that can be understood by the receiver.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

Benjamin Franklin

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 TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

⦁ Verbal communication:

Verbal communication can also be called oral communication. In simple terms, any
communication that happens orally between people is known as verbal communication. The
objective of such communication as verbal communication is to ensure that people understand
whatever you want to convey. It is quicker and more precise than email communication.
Example of people who were great at the verbal type of communication.

⦁ Nelson Mandela (ii) Martin Luther King

It is subdivided into two parts.

(A) Oral Communication: Communication happens through word of mouth, spoken word,
or conversation.

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Example: Mobile conversation, television, radio, etc.

(B) Written Communication: this happens through any word, written or often written
signs which convey a message.

Example.: Typed text, newspaper, printed words, letter, etc

⦁ Non-Verbal communication:

Behavior and elements of speech aside from words themselves transmit meaning. It includes
gestures, facial expressions, and body position, eye contact, touch.

What you say is a vital part of any communication. But what you don’t say can be even more
important. Research also shows that 55% of in-person communication comes from nonverbal
cues like facial expressions, body stances, and tone of voice.

⦁ Formal communication:

Formal communication refers to the interchange of information officially. The flow of

communication is controlled and is a deliberate effort. This makes it possible for the information
to reach the desired place without any hindrance, at little cost, and in a proper way. This is also
known as ‘Through Proper Channel Communication.

Examples: Emails, letterhead reports, etc.

Types of Formal Communication

Formal communication is of two types:

(1) Vertical Communication:

(i) Downward Communication

(ii) Upward Communication

(2) Horizontal Communication.

(1) Vertical Communication

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Vertical communication is of the following two types:

(i) Downward Communication:

The communication by the top hierarchy with their subordinates is called downward
communication. This communication includes orders, rules, information, policies, instructions,
etc. The chief advantage of downward communication is that the subordinates get useful timely
information which helps them in their work performance,

(ii) Upward Communication:

This is quite the reverse of downward communication. This flows from the subordinates to the
superiors. The subject-matter of this communication includes suggestions, reactions, reports,
complaints, etc. This sort of communication helps the superiors in taking decisions.

(2) Horizontal Communication

Horizontal communication takes place when two individuals of the same level exchange
information. Horizontal communication is used by the same level officers to solve problems of
similar nature and profit from the experience of other people. The subject-matter of horizontal
communication includes information, requests, suggestions, mutual problems, and coordination-
related information.

There are several more forms of communication which are discussed below.

DIAGONAL COMMUNICATION:

refers to communication that crosses both levels and functions or departments where staff
members from different departments, irrespective of their reporting relationship, interact with
one another within the organization.

⦁ Informal communication:

Communication is a casual and unofficial form of communication.

Example: Social media, WhatsApp, Roomer, gossip.

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⦁ Visual communication:

Visual Communication, as the name suggests, is the graphical representation of a message by

one party to convey something to another. It involves the transmission and interpretation of
information by way of visual resources, that can be read or viewed.

visual communication is purely based on vision, i.e. eyesight. This type of communication uses
visual aids to connect with the audience such as graphics, signs, symbols, typography,
illustration, advertising animation, and electronic resources. The aids not just inform, but also
persuade and entertain them.

Is abroad spectrum that includes signs color etc.

Elements of Visual Communication

Visual Resources that can be looked upon and understood easily by the audience are used, to
deliver information or ideas. The elements of visual communication are:

Objects: Any kind of icon or shape used for showing an explanation or conveying any message,
to the people to whom it is directed to.

Models: It is a three-dimensional representation of any person or object, whose size is smaller

than the actual size of that person or object. For instance, Globe is used as a model of Earth.

Graphs: A graph is basically a diagram representing the relationship between variables or items.
Graphs are of several types like histogram, frequency polygon, bar graph, line graph, and pie
chart. For instance: A line graph is used by the company to show its profitability over the years.

Tables: Tables contain data, facts, and figures, organized in rows and columns systematically.

Maps: A diagrammatic representation of a particular area, highlighting important spots, is called

a Map. Nowadays, digital maps are also available, along with printed ones.

Photographs: Photographs are the clicked pictures that are used to describe anything in detail.
For instance, If you want to show the culture of a particular region, Photographs would be of
great help.

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Videos: Video is a visual recording of motion pictures, which requires a player to play it. At
present, several people learn new skills through videos. It is one of the trending modes of
communication.

We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it
than we do from learning the answer itself. Lloyd Alexander

That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that
the nature of the thing itself is changed, but that our power to do is
increased. Ralph Waldo Emerson

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that
you learn, the more places you’ll go. Dr. Seuss

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 WHAT IS AN INTERVIEW?

An opportunity to sell your abilities, interests, and career objectives.

JOB INTERVIEW AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

Communication skills interview questions are questions that are asked during a job interview to
measure and test a person's ability to communicate in various settings and communication styles.
These types of questions are especially important when interviewing candidates for a position
that will function as part of a team for a communications-related role. Asking communication
skills interview questions allows interviewers to determine if someone has basic language
comprehension, can communicate both verbally and nonverbally, and can communicate with
different people in different situations (e.g. in meetings, via email).

Common communication skills interviewers look for in potential candidates

include:

➢ Nonverbal communication skills

➢ Verbal communication skills

➢ Friendliness

➢ Brevity

➢ Respect

➢ Empathy

➢ Listening skills

➢ Confidence

1. Start with some appropriate small talk

Often job interview communication will start with some small talk, asking questions about
getting to the interview, the weather, and so on.

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Respond appropriately in a conversational tone but avoid over-communicating.

Stay clear of problems or negatives such as describing how bad the traffic was.

Have a couple of polite conversational-type remarks ready for this small talk phase, for example,
comment positively on the building or surroundings.

2. Match your communication style to the interviewer

Important tips for job interviews include matching your communication style to that of the
interviewer.

If the interviewer is very business-like, then you should respond similarly.

Avoid offering up jokes and funny stories. If the interviewer is more informal and chatty, adjust
your communication style accordingly by responding in a more informal tone while still showing
respect.

3. Don't talk too much

A common mistake candidates make is talking too much.

Listen to the question being asked, ensure you are clear as to what is requested, and respond with
the information.

It is easy to move off the subject and chatter about irrelevant topics.

Effective communication means keeping your answers concise and to-the-point and making sure
you are answering what is asked.

It is advisable to ask for clarification if you are unsure what the interviewer means or wants.

Don't guess and make assumptions, this usually results in an inappropriate response.

Say something like:

"So you would like me to tell you about ...."

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The interviewer can then correct you if you have misunderstood. There is no need to fill up
silences with unnecessary rambling (wordy). Silences will naturally occur as the interviewer
gathers their thoughts or formulates the next question; it is important to be comfortable with
silences.

Interview anxiety can cause candidates to talk too much. Overcoming interview nerves will help
you to communicate effectively during your job interview.

4. Avoid interrupting the interviewer

One of the most important communication tips for job interviews is to avoid interrupting the
interviewer. Make sure they have finished speaking before you respond. You can do this by
allowing a pause before you start speaking.

Taking a little time to think about a question rather than rushing to answer also helps you to
organize your thoughts and prevents verbal fillers such as "umm" and "you know".

5. Avoid jargon and acronyms

Try not to use jargon (special words) in your answers or questions. The interviewer may be
unfamiliar with the jargon, often jargon is company-specific.

Using jargon does not make you sound knowledgeable in the interview, often it just sounds as
though the candidate is trying to impress with no real substance to the content of what is being
said. Speaking simply and coherently is the best way to establish rapport.

Be aware of the interviewer's body language. It will quickly tell you when you are not getting
your message across properly.

If you see that the interviewer appears confused or distracted refocus the interview by asking a
question such as: "Has that answered your question or is there something else you would like to
know.."

Know what they are looking for. They are evaluating your communication skills throughout the
interview. Do not focus on your history, focus on your key skills. Self-promotion is crucial.

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Some useful tips are given below

➢ Some useful tips are given below:

➢ For an interview, a person should reach at time

➢ Be decent and professional from beginning to end

➢ Knock the door if it is closed

➢ Ask permission

➢ Make a gentle handshake

➢ Do not get nervous

➢ Be friendly

➢ Do not interrupt the interviewer

➢ Do not waste the interviewer's time

➢ Body language is necessary

➢ Smile when require

➢ Talk loud and confident

➢ Do not stammer when you talk

➢ Do not talk too fast not too slow

➢ Practice

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 TYPES OF INTERVIEWS

Panel Interview (Board Interview)

A panel interview, also known as a board interview, is an interview conducted by a team of

interviewers, who together interview each candidate and then combine their ratings into a final
score.

Here one candidate is interviewed by several representatives of the firm. This technique entails
the job candidate giving oral responses to job-related questions asked by a panel of interviewers.

Each member of the panel then rates each interviewee on such dimensions as work history,
motivation, creative thinking, and presentation.

One-On-One Interview

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In a one-on-one interview, one interviewer meets one candidate. In a typical employment
interview, the applicant meets one-on-one with an interviewer. As the interview may be a highly
emotional occasion for the applicant, meeting alone with the interviewer is often less threatening.

Mass Interview (Group Interview)

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The mass/group interview is a relatively new technique in the west and almost unknown in our
country. It is a procedure for the discovery of leadership.

Several job applicants are placed in a leaderless discussion, and interviewers sit in the
background to observe and evaluate the performance of the candidates.

In a mass/group interview, the panel interviews several candidates simultaneously. The panel
poses a problem and then watches to see which candidate takes the lead in formulating an
answer.

Aspects assessed by supervisors during a group interview

➢ Leadership

➢ Intuitiveness

➢ Assertiveness

➢ Oral communication skill

➢ Enthusiasm

➢ Self-confidence

➢ Tactfulness

Personal Interview

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Most interviews are one-on-one: In which the candidate meets privately with a single
interviewer.

Stress Interview

In a stress interview, the interviewer seeks to make the applicant uncomfortable with
occasionally rude questions. The aim is supposedly to spot sensitive applicants and those with
low or high-stress tolerance.

Stress interviews may help unearth hypersensitive applicants who might overreact to mild
criticism with anger and abuse. It intentionally creates anxiety to determine how an applicant
will react to stress on the job.

Telephonic interview

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Generally, the telephonic interview is a pre-screening interview in which the interviewer
analyzes the candidate through a phone call. Such calls can be made with or without prior
information. A telephonic interview is not a reliable way of an interview because the interviewer
is unaware of the person on the other side of the phone.

Video-call interview

The video-call interview is the next level of the telephonic interview which allows the
interviewer to see whom he/she is interviewing. Applications specialized for video chats and
voice calls such as Skype, Google Chat, WebEx, Blue Jeans, etc are used to conduct such
interviews. Usually, such an interview is preferred when either party cannot be physically
accessed.

The first half of my life I went to school, the second half of my life I got
an education. Mark Twain

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 COMMUNICATION IN A TEAM

A team is working a collection of people who must work interdependently to achieve a

common goal or output.

According to some research team is considered one of the most effective and efficient methods
for achieving organizational tasks and gives away the first key. Teams must work
interdependently. And for interdependent cooperation, we need communication. So, all the
interaction and exchanges of information to achieve their goals.

HOW DOES COMMUNICATION WORK?

Team communication takes many shapes and forms, from verbal communication to
digital forms of written communication to things that are left unsaid.

Verbal team communication:

Team meetings one-to-one interactions, conversations, and calls.

Written communication:

Paper documentation, electronic documentation emails, team chat, and task. Within the
team, any combination of these communication forms will be in use.

Introverts in a team:

Introverts need time to reflect and process information, while extroverts often think out
loud and prefer immediate feedback. Most teams have a mix of introverts and extroverts and this
is something you need to consider when managing your team's communication styles.

Importance of Team Communication:

Most people who have worked in teams would agree on the importance of team
communication. It seems almost commonsensical that communication affects a team's
performance morale and work enjoyment levels.

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 PART 2
HOW TO DELIVER AN EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION

A presentation is a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations,

such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting, or briefing a team.

During a presentation, you aim to look confident, enthusiastic, and natural. You'll need more
than good words and content to achieve this - your delivery plays a significant part.

Effective presentation delivery

Think about if you were in the audience, what would:

• Get you to focus and listen

• Make you understand

• Activate your imagination

• Persuade you

Providing the audience with interesting information is not enough to achieve these aims - you
need to ensure that the way you present is stimulating and engaging. If it's not, you'll lose the
audience's interest and they'll stop listening.

Presentation delivery techniques

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Following are the delivery techniques.

Keep it simple

You shouldn't overwhelm your audience with information - ensure that you're clear and concise
and that you get to the point so they can understand your message.

Have a maximum of three main points and state them at the beginning, before you explain them
in more depth, and then state them at the end so the audience will at least remember these points.
If some of your content doesn't contribute to your key message then cut it out. Also, avoid using
too many statistics and technical terminology.

Connect with your audience

One of the greatest difficulties when delivering a presentation is connecting with the audience. If
you don't connect with them it will seem as though you're talking to an empty room. Trying to
make contact with the audience makes them feel like they're part of the presentation which
encourages them to listen and it shows that you want to speak to them.

Eye contact and smile

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Avoiding eye contact is uncomfortable because it makes you look insecure. When you maintain
eye contact the audience feels like you're speaking to them personally. If this is something you
struggle with, try looking at people's foreheads as it gives the impression of making eye contact.
Try to cover all sections of the audience and don't move on to the next person too quickly as you
will look nervous.

Smiling also helps with rapport(‫ )ہم آہنگی‬and it reduces your nerves because you'll feel less like
you're talking to a group of faceless people.

Body language

Be aware of your body language and use it to connect:

• Keep your arms uncrossed so your body language is more open.

• Match your facial expressions with what you're saying.

• Avoid fidgeting and displaying nervous habits, such as rocking your feet.

• You may need to glance at the computer slide or a visual aid but make sure you
predominantly face the audience.

• Emphasize points by using hand gestures but use them sparingly (‫)تھوڑا سا‬- too little and
they'll awkwardly sit at your side, too much and you'll be distracted and look nervous.

• Vary your gestures so you don't look robotic.

• Maintain a straight posture.

• Be aware of cultural differences.

Move around

Avoid standing behind the lectern or computer because you need to reduce the distance and
barriers between yourself and the audience. Use movement to increase the audience's interest and
make it easier to follow your presentation.

A common technique for incorporating movement into your presentation is to:

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 • Start your introduction by standing in the center of the stage.

• For your first point, you stand on the left side of the stage.

• You discuss your second point from the center again.

• You stand on the right side of the stage for your third point.

• The conclusion occurs in the center.

Your movement at the front of the class and amongst the listeners can help with engagement.

Speak with the audience

You can conduct polls using your audience or ask questions to make them think and feel invested
in your presentation. There are three different types of questions:

Direct

Rhetorical

Loaded

Direct questions require an answer: "What would you do in this situation?" These are mentally
stimulating(encouraging ) for the audience. You can pass a microphone around and let the
audience come to your desired solution.

Rhetorical questions do not require answers, they are often used to emphasise an idea or point:
"Is the Pope catholic?

Loaded questions contain an unjustified assumption made to prompt (‫)فوری طور پر‬the audience
into providing a particular answer which you can then correct to support your point: You may
ask "Why does your wonderful company have such a low incidence of mental health problems?"
The audience will generally answer that they're happy.

After receiving the answers you could then say "Actually it's because people are still unwilling
and too embarrassed to seek help for mental health issues at work etc."

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Be specific with your language

Make the audience feel as though you are speaking to each member individually by using "you"
and "your." For example: asking "Do you want to lose weight without feeling hungry?" would be
more effective than asking "Does anyone here want to lose weight without feeling hungry?"
when delivering your presentation. You can also increase solidarity by using "we", "us" etc - it
makes the audience think "we're in this together".

Be flexible

Be prepared to adapt to the situation at the time, for example, if the audience seems bored you
can omit details and go through the material faster, if they are confused then you will need to
come up with more examples on the spot for clarification. This doesn't mean that you weren't
prepared because you can't predict everything.

Vocal variety

How you say something is just as important as the content of your speech - arguably, more so.
For example, if an individual presented a topic very enthusiastically the audience would probably
enjoy this compared to someone who covered more points but mumbled into their notes.

Adapt your voice depending on what area you're saying - if you want to highlight something then
raise your voice or lower it for intensity. Communicate emotion by using your voice.

Avoid speaking in monotone as you will look uninterested and the audience will lose interest.

Take time to pronounce every word carefully.

Raise your pitch when asking questions and lower it when you want to sound severe.

Sound enthusiastic - the more you sound like you care about the topic, the more the audience will
listen. Smiling and pace can help with this.

Speak loudly and clearly - think about projecting your voice to the back of the room.

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Speak at a pace that's easy to follow. If you're too fast or too slow it will be difficult for the
audience to understand what you're saying and it's also frustrating. Subtly fasten the pace to
show enthusiasm and slow down for emphasis, thoughtfulness, or caution.

➢ Before the presentation, ensure that you prepare your vocal cords:

➢ You could read aloud a book that requires vocal variety, such as a children's book.

➢ Don't drink anything too cold before you present as this can constrict your throat which
affects vocal quality.

➢ Some people suggest a warm cup of tea beforehand to relax the throat.

➢ Pause to breath

When you're anxious your breathing will become quick and shallow which will affect the control
you have over your voice. This can consequently make you feel more nervous. You want to
breathe steadily and deeply so before you start speaking take some deep breaths or implement
controlled breathing.

Controlled breathing is a common technique that helps slow down your breathing to normal thus
reducing your anxiety. If you think this may be useful practice with these steps:

➢ Sit down in an upright position as it is easier for your lungs to fill with air

➢ Breathe in through your nose and into your abdomen for four seconds

➢ Hold this breath for two seconds

➢ Breathe out through your nose for six seconds

➢ Wait a few seconds before inhaling and repeating the cycle

➢ It takes practice to master this technique but once you get used to it you may want to
implement it directly before your presentation.

During the presentation delivery, if you notice that you're speaking too quickly then pause and
breathe. This won't look strange - it will appear as though you're giving thought to what you're

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saying. You can also strategically plan some of your pauses, such as after questions and at the
end of sections because this will give you a chance to calm down and it will also allow the
audience to think and reflect.

Pausing will also help you avoid filler words, such as, "um" as well which can make you sound
unsure.

10 Effective Ways to use Pauses in your Speech

Humour

More experienced and confident public speakers use humor in their presentations. The audience
will be incredibly engaged if you make them laugh but caution must be exercised when using
humor because a joke can be misinterpreted and even offend the audience. Only use jokes if
you're confident with this technique, it has been successful in the past and it's suitable for the
situation.

Strong opening

The first five minutes are vital to engage the audience and get them listening to you. You could
start with a story to highlight why your topic is significant.

For example, if the topic is on the benefits of pets on physical and psychological health, you
could present a story or a study about an individual whose quality of life significantly improved
after being given a dog. The audience is more likely to respond better to this and remember this
story than a list of facts.

Stories and anecdotes

Use stories whenever you can and judge whether you can tell a story about yourself because the
audience is even more interested in seeing the human side of you.

Consider telling a story about a mistake you made, for example, perhaps you froze up during an
important presentation when you were 25, or maybe life wasn't going well for you in the past - if
relevant to your presentation's aim. People will relate to this as we have all experienced mistakes
and failures. The more the audience relates to you, the more likely they will remain engaged.

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These stories can also be told humorously if it makes you feel more comfortable and because
you're disclosing a personal story there is less chance of misinterpretation compared to telling a
joke.

Anecdotes(‫ )کہانیاں‬are especially valuable for your introduction and between different sections of
the presentation because they engage the audience. Ensure that you plan the stories thoroughly
beforehand and that they are not too long.

Focus on the audience's needs

Even though your aim is to persuade the audience, they must also get something helpful from the
presentation. Provide the audience with value by giving them useful information, tactics, tips,
etc. They are more likely to warm up to you and trust you if you're sharing valuable information
with them.

You could also highlight their pain point. For example, you might ask "Have you found it
difficult to stick to a healthy diet?" The audience will now want to remain engaged because they
want to know the solution and the opportunities that you're offering.

Use visual aids

Visual aids are items of a visual manner, such as graphs, photographs, video clips, etc used in
addition to spoken information. Visual aids are chosen depending on their purpose, for example,
you may want to:

Summarize information.

Reduce the number of spoken words, for example, you may show a graph of your results rather
than reading them out.

Clarify and show examples.

Create more of an impact. You must consider what type of impact you want to make beforehand
- do you want the audience to be sad, happy, angry, etc?

• Emphasize what you're saying.

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 • Make a point memorable.

• Enhance your credibility.

• Engage the audience and maintain their interest.

• Make something easier for the audience to understand.

• Keep a drink nearby

• Have something to drink when you're on stage, preferably water at room temperature.
This will help maintain your vocal quality and having a sip is a subtle way of introducing
pauses.

Practice, practice, practice

If you are very familiar with the content of your presentation, your audience will perceive you as
confident and you'll be more persuasive.

Don't just read the presentation through - practice everything, including your transitions and
using your visual aids.

Stand up and speak it aloud, in an engaging manner, as though you were presenting to an
audience.

Ensure that you practice your body language and gestures.

Practice in front of others and get their feedback.

Freely improvise so you'll sound more natural on the day.

Create cards to use as cues - one card should be used for one key idea. Write down brief notes or
keywords and ensure that the cards are physically connected so the order cannot be lost. Visual
prompts can also be used as cues.

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 SPEAKING WITH CONFIDENCE

CONFIDENCE: The belief in oneself and what you are capable of.

Speaking with confidence means showing or expressing your opinions with belief.

When you have prepared a presentation. Now it’s time to wow the audience. How you look and
sound is going to make a big impression and your audience will form opinions quickly.

How to Look Confident

Make eye contact. Making eye contact is the first step to building trust with your listeners.
“Eyes play a key role in human social encounters,” according to one research report. “When
humans observe others’ faces, eyes are typically the first features that are scanned for
information.”

There’s a simple way to get better at this, but it takes a little work: Record yourself practicing
your presentation in front of a small audience. Watch the recording, noting all of the times you
look at your slides instead of at your audience. Practice and record again. Every time you do, try
to spend less time talking to the slides and more time making eye contact with your listeners.
Rehearse until you have the presentation down cold.

Keep an open posture. Open posture means that there’s no barrier between you and the
audience. This includes your arms. An uncomfortable speaker might unconsciously cross their

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arms, forming a defensive pose without being aware that they’re doing it. Confident speakers, by
contrast, keep their arms uncrossed with their palms turned up.

But your hands and arms are just one barrier. There are others to eliminate.

A lectern is a barrier. Stand away from it. A laptop between you and your listener is a barrier. Set
it to the side. If you keep your hands in your pockets, take them out. An open posture takes up
more space and makes you feel more confident. If you feel confident, you’ll look confident.

Use gestures. Confident speakers use gestures to reinforce their key points.

Find areas of your presentation where gestures will come across as natural, and use them to
highlight key points or emphasize a concept. If you’re listing several items, use your fingers to
count them off. If you’re talking about something wide or expansive, stretch your arms and
hands apart. Your gestures will reflect your feeling toward the topic you’re discussing and invite
the audience to engage with you on a deeper, emotional level.

How to Sound Confident

Eliminate filler words. Avoid words that serve no purpose except to fill the space between
sentences. These are words like um, ah, like, and the dreaded, you know? Excessive filler words
can be irritating to listeners, and make speakers sound unsure of themselves. Eliminating them is
also one of the simplest habits to fix.

Turn on the video or microphone of your smartphone and record yourself presenting. Play it
back. Your goal is to gain awareness around the filler words you use most. Write them down,
and practice again. When you catch yourself about to use one, err on silence instead to develop a
smoother, polished delivery.

Take time to pause. Most people use filler words because they’re afraid of silence. It takes
confidence to use dramatic pauses. A pause is like a period in a written sentence. It gives your
audience a break between thoughts.

Pauses are interpreted as eloquence — in music and public speaking. A simple way to learn the
power of the pause is to choose one or two phrases in your next presentation that express the key
message you want to leave your audience with. Pause before you deliver those lines. For

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example, “The most important thing I’d like you to remember is this…” Pause for two beats
before you complete the sentence. Whatever you say next will be instantly memorable.

Vary your pace. Confident speakers vary the pace of their verbal delivery. They slow down and
speed up to underline their most important points.

When they want to underline a certain message, they pause, then deliver their words at a slower
pace.

Check your posture

Want to give off a confident vibe? Stand up straight. Not only is standing up straight great for
your health – nice work healthy posture, but it is also a great way to present yourself as a
confident individual. Body language is just as important during a conversation as your choice of
words. If you stand up straight with your shoulders back and your head held high your
confidence will precede you.

Fake it ’till you make it!

There’s a saying in English, “Fake it ’till you make it.” It means to pretend to be good at
something, and pretend to feel confident. As you continue and build your skill, your fake
confidence will be replaced by real confidence.

When you get a chance to speak to people in English, take it! Stand up straight and tall. Jump
into the conversation and speak as if you’re completely fluent.

Prepare.

In the end, the best way to feel confident is to become a better English speaker. Certain kinds of
practice can be really helpful for boosting your confidence:

Practicing speaking will make you a better speaker. Even if you speak by yourself, you’re
training the muscles of your mouth and throat.

If you know that you’re going to talk about a specific topic, learning specific vocabulary for that
topic will make you feel a lot more prepared. For example, if you’re going to a job interview,
make sure that you know how to describe your educational background and job history.

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Practice and preparation can be a big help in building confidence. For example, rehearsing and
rewriting your presentations can help you to memorize the material. The more familiar you are
with your material, the smoother your presentation will go, and the easier it will be for you to
speak with confidence.

Lastly, think about being calm. Remind yourself to relax and use your knowledge.

FAZES OF SPEECH PREPARATION

Preparing a Speech:

• Choosing a Topic

• Analyzing the Who, Why, and Where

• Topic Research: Gathering Materials and Evidence

• Developing Your Thesis

• Supporting Your Ideas

• Organizing and Outlining the Speech

• Wording the Speech

• Preparing to Present

• Preparing to Present

• Delivering the Speech

Choosing a Topic

Before you can begin writing your speech, you must first establish the main topic about which
you plan to speak. Once you start to get an idea of your topic, do a little preliminary research.
See what others may have written or said about your general topic; reading their ideas may help
give you some new ideas or directions of your own.

Analyzing the Who, Why, and Where

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Take into account the demographics of your audience: gender, age, industry, the event at which
you're speaking, common interests, culture, and ethnicity, and how much they already may or
may not know about your speech topic. • Never stereotype your audience based on any of their
demographics. • Be mindful of gestures, colloquialisms, idioms, etc. It's important to recognize
what is accepted in one culture may be offensive in another.

Topic Research: Gathering Materials and Evidence

Make sure you find credible sources of information, whether they be from scholarly sources or
irrefutable facts. There are many places you can go to research; while the internet might seem
like the easiest place to find information, you always want to double-check to make sure those
sources are accurate and credible. Don't use research that might be outdated, particularly
concerning scientific or technological advances. Make sure you acknowledge your sources.
Never copy information word for word and claim it as your own; this is plagiarism and erodes
the ethical integrity of you, your speech, and your reputation.

Developing Your Thesis statement

The main argument of your speech is your thesis statement: what case are you trying to make? If
you are arguing for or against a certain idea, belief, or topic, you must provide compelling
evidence to support your position. When crafting your thesis statement, consider potential
arguments, questions, or concerns someone with an opposing viewpoint may have. This process
helps you develop a more robust thesis.

Supporting Your Ideas

Set the stage for how you plan to address your argument and make your case by laying out the
exposition of your argument. Appeal to your audience's core beliefs, goals, or common interests
to influence your audience by persuasion. If you are speaking to a sympathetic crowd, consider
influencing your audience with suggestion or popular sentiment on your given topic. Use
personal narratives and anecdotes to make your case if appropriate to your audience, topic, and
speech venue. If your idea is complex, consider breaking it down into simpler parts to more
thoroughly and easily describe your idea.

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Organizing and Outlining the Speech

To organize your thoughts, consider giving each point or supporting evidence its notecard. Begin
to arrange them according to their importance and your main points will begin to emerge.
Outlines typically begin with your thesis and end with any concluding thoughts. Depending on
your topic or thesis, arranging your points chronologically is an effective way to establish a
timeline of your argument. If giving an informational speech, you might describe your subject as
parts of an object, outlining each part or section. You can move from broad points to specific
points, or vice versa, depending on the effect you are trying to achieve and the argument you are
trying to make.

Wording the Speech

Use the ABC approach to begin your first draft. The Abstract explains your thesis. The Body
features your main points and supporting evidence. The Conclusion contains your final thoughts
and reiterates your point. Make sure to have all of your notes and research close by and easily
accessible so you can turn to your sources as often as you need to while your draft your speech.
Editing and revising are not the same thing. To edit, review your speech for changes. To revise,
actually implement those changes. Editing and revising are cyclical in nature. You can always
edit, revise, and remove sections later that are wordy or off-topic. Writer's block can happen to
even the best writers. Take a break for a few minutes and come back to your speech renewed and
refreshed. But don't stay away too long or you might lose your momentum.

Preparing to Present

Determine how you will present your speech: Will you read it verbatim (word for word),
memorize it, or read from an outline or notes? Reading verbatim has both its positives and
negatives. On the plus side, you'll have your entire speech written out in front of you; however,
these types of speeches tend to feel a bit forced on audience members. Memorizing your speech
can seem like a weighty task, but it allows you to retain all of your key points and wording while
still appearing natural and effortless to your audience. It frees you from having to read right off
of a manuscript. When speaking extemporaneously(‫)اچانک‬, you can have a rough outline of your

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notes. You might have this on a single sheet or perhaps across several notecards. If you're
nervous about presenting in front of a group of people for the first time, work out your nerves by
asking a small group of friends or colleagues to be your test audience. Your test audience can
give you immediate feedback on what you did well and how you could improve. Ever wonder
what you look like while giving a speech? Practice in front of a mirror, or better yet: record
yourself. You'll be able to see if you have any unconscious gestures or habits that you can correct
or prevent as you feel them happening.

Delivering the Speech

Make sure you dress to impress. While some speeches may be delivered in a casual setting, you
want to make sure you're wearing clothing appropriate to the dress code of your event. Be aware
of your body language. A closed body position (arms crossed, shoulders hunched) and lack of
eye contact will make it extremely difficult for your audience to engage with you. Engage your
audience by making eye contact with them. If making eye contact wigs you out, you can always
look just above their heads to give the same effect. Stand up straight, remember to breathe, and
limit your "um"s, "uh"s, and "like"s. Use whole phrases like "should have" instead of "shoulda."

“You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by
creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.”
Clay P. Bedford

“Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another
time.”
Chinese proverb

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EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION STRUCTURE- INTRODUCTION
AND CONCLUSION

What is the typical presentation structure?

This is the usual flow of a presentation, which covers all the vital sections and is a good starting
point for yours. It allows your audience to easily follow along and sets out a solid structure you
can add to your content.

1. Greet the audience and introduce yourself

Before you start delivering your talk, introduce yourself to the audience and clarify who you are
and your relevant expertise. This does not need to be long or incredibly detailed but will help
build an immediate relationship between you and the audience. It gives you the chance to briefly
clarify your expertise and why you are worth listening to. This will help establish your ethos so
the audience will trust you more and think you're credible.

2. Introduction

In the introduction, you need to explain the subject and purpose of your presentation whilst
gaining the audience's interest and confidence. It's sometimes helpful to think of your
introduction as funnel-shaped to help filter down your topic:

• Introduce your general topic

• Explain your topic area

• State the issues/challenges in this area you will be exploring

• State your presentation's purpose - this is the basis of your presentation so ensure that you
provide a statement explaining how the topic will be treated, for example, "I will argue
that…" or maybe you will "compare", "analyze", "evaluate", "describe" etc.

• Provide a statement of what you're hoping the outcome of the presentation will be, for
example, "I'm hoping this will provide you with..."

• Show a preview of the organization of your presentation

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 • The length of the talk.

Signal whether you want audience interaction - some presenters prefer the audience to ask
questions throughout whereas others allocate a specific section for this.

If it applies, inform the audience whether to take notes or whether you will be providing
handouts.

The way you structure your introduction can depend on the amount of time you have been given
to present: a sales pitch may consist of a quick presentation so you may begin with your
conclusion and then provide the evidence. Conversely, a speaker presenting their idea for change
in the world would be better suited to start with the evidence and then conclude what this means
for the audience.

Keep in mind that the main aim of the introduction is to grab the audience's attention and connect
with them.

3. The main body of your talk

The main body of your talk needs to meet the promises you made in the introduction. Depending
on the nature of your presentation, clearly segment the different topics you will be discussing,
and then work your way through them one at a time - everything needs to be organized logically
for the audience to fully understand. There are many different ways to organize your main
points, such as, by priority, theme, chronologically, etc.

• The main points should be addressed one by one with supporting evidence and examples.

• Before moving on to the next point you should provide a mini-summary.

• Links should be clearly stated between ideas and you must make it clear when you are
moving on to the next point.

• Allow time for people to take relevant notes and stick to the topics you have prepared
beforehand rather than straying too far off-topic.

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 • When planning your presentation write a list of main points you want to make and ask
yourself "What I am telling the audience? What should they understand from this?"
refining your answers this way will help you produce clear messages.

4. Conclusion

In presentations, the conclusion is frequently underdeveloped and lacks purpose which is a

shame as it's the best place to reinforce your messages. Typically, your presentation has a
specific goal - that could be to convert a number of the audience members into customers, lead to
a certain number of inquiries to make people knowledgeable on specific key points, or motivate
them towards a shared goal.

Regardless of what that goal is, be sure to summarise your main points and their implications.
This clarifies the overall purpose of your talk and reinforces your reason for being there.

Follow these steps:

• Signal that it's nearly the end of your presentation, for example, "As we wrap up/as we
wind down the talk…"

• Restate the topic and purpose of your presentation - "In this speech I wanted to
compare…"

• Summarize the main points, including their implications and conclusions

• Indicate what is next/a call to action/a thought-provoking takeaway

• Move on to the last section

5. Thank the audience and invite questions

Conclude your talk by thanking the audience for their time and inviting them to ask any
questions they may have. As mentioned earlier, personal circumstances will affect the structure
of your presentation.

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Many presenters prefer to make the Q&A session the key part of their talk and try to speed
through the main body of the presentation. This is totally fine, but it is still best to focus on
delivering some sort of initial presentation to set the tone and topics for discussion in the Q&A.

VERBAL ASPECT OF A PRESENTATION

Voice is a powerful tool for presenters. Voice can make all the difference between success and
failure when you’re aiming to engage your audience. In sales meetings, company updates, or
technical meetings, it is critical to keep your audience involved and interested in your remarks.
Learn how to stretch your voice by understanding Voice Control including Pitch, Pace(Rate),
Pause, Projection, Fluency, Enunciation, etc.

Pitch

Pitch refers to the ups and downs of your notes when you speak. We all can speak from a vocal
range – which includes higher notes and lower notes. However, it takes great awareness and
practice to notice your own pitch and to change it consciously. Why is pitch important? A
monotone voice bores the audience and a bored audience is less likely to recall your key points
or to take action. To play around with pitch try thinking of popular characters who have voices at
either end of the vocal range then practice speaking (or singing!) like them. For example, you
might think of Michael Jackson’s high-pitched voice and then compare it with Barry White’s
deeper tones. You can also simulate the voices of movie actors to start expanding your own
range. Over time your awareness and practice with pitch will enable you to vary your voice as
you speak – all with the aim of drawing your audience into your remarks. Now that we’ve looked
at Pitch, let’s move on to Pace.

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Pace

Pace refers to the speed at which you speak. Just as monotone is boring so is mono-pace. A good
speaker knows the value of changing the pace as they speak. For example, when you are
introducing an exciting topic you can speed up the pace of your voice. On the other hand, when
you want people to focus their attention you may slow down for emphasis. The overall point is
that variation is the key to success here.

Pauses Versus Vocalized Pauses

A text that is read has punctuation so that the reader can see miniature landmarks to define the
text. When spoken, similar punctuation is needed for comprehension, and the speaker’s
responsibility is to offer the text with pauses. Space between phrases, properly planted, allows
the audience to understand the structure of the speaker’s sentences and paragraphs. It also gives
time for the audience to “digest” crucial phrases.

Generally, spoken sentences and paragraphs need to be simpler and shorter than what can be
comprehended by reading. Pauses can help increase comprehension.

Projection

This aspect of voice is by far the most important as it correlates to your audience’s ability to hear
your remarks. Even the most intelligent presenter can not have their desired impact if the people
in the room cannot hear their key points. With projection, everyone can hear your comments
without having to strain their voice. However, there is still value in varying your projection to
add intrigue and interest to your comments. For example, you might want to soften your voice to
emphasize a key point and then later increase the volume for another point. In either case, you
must ensure that all members of the audience can hear each and every point. Practice projecting
your voice by imagining that everyone is sitting against the far wall in the room. Ensure they can
hear you and that you are speaking from your diaphragm. Now that we have discussed Projection
let’s take a look at Personality.

Pronunciation

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Proper articulation applied to a given word is that word’s pronunciation. The pronunciation
includes how the vowels and consonants are produced as well as which syllable is emphasized.
For generations, speakers depended on “markings (such as the International Phonetics Alphabet
or similar Dictionary Symbols) to discover or decide how words were officially pronounced.
With online dictionaries now readily available, one needs only to “lookup” a word and select
“play” to hear an audible recording of the official and the precise way a word should be
pronounced. Now there is no excuse for mispronouncing a word in a speech. A mispronounced
word will obliterate a speaker’s credibility, and the audience’s attention will be focused on the
fault rather than the message.

Fluency

is the smoothness of the delivery, the flow of words, and the absence of vocalized pauses.
Fluency is not even noticeable. Listeners are more likely to notice errors than to notice the
seemingly effortless flow of words in a well-delivered speech.

THE AUDITORY ASPECTS OF A PRESENTATION

Unfortunately, due to all the distractions and technology surrounding us, concentrating on
communicating with others is becoming increasingly difficult. We know that effective
communication requires both speaking and listening. Most people have the speaking part down,
but few have mastered the art of listening.

The auditory aspect means the process of receiving, constructing meaning from and responding
to spoken or non-verbal messages to hear something with thoughtful attention.

An effective presentation requires extra attention while preparing for it. First of all, one must
keep in the mind his audience. Then the auditory aspects like articulation, pronunciation, dialect,
pitch, etc must be in the mind of the speaker to present a speech.

Voice, or vocal sound, is made when controlled air being exhaled from the lungs, passes over the
vocal cords causing a controlled vibration. The vibrating air resonates in the body, chest cavity,
mouth, and nasal passages. The vibrating air causes a chain reaction with the air in the room. The
room’s air, set in motion by the voice, is captured by the listener’s ear. The vibration of the air

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against the eardrum is transferred to electrical impulses that are interpreted by the listener’s
brain. Thus, the sounds we can make are predicated on the breaths that we take.

Articulation

We are often judged by how well we speak in general. A measure of perceived intellect or
education is how well we articulate. That is: how well and correctly we form our vowels and
consonants using our lips, jaw, tongue, and palate to form the sounds that are identified as
speech. Diction and enunciation are other terms that refer to the same idea. For instance, saying
“going to” instead of “gonna” or “did not” instead of “dint” are examples of good versus poor
articulation. Consonants and vowels are spoken with standard accepted precision, and serious
students and speakers will strive to practice the clarity of their sounds.

Pronunciation

Proper articulation applied to a given word is that word’s pronunciation. The pronunciation
includes how the vowels and consonants are produced as well as which syllable is emphasized.
For generations, speakers depended on “markings (such as the International Phonetics Alphabet
or similar Dictionary Symbols) to discover or decide how words were officially pronounced.
With online dictionaries now readily available, one needs only to “lookup” a word and select
“play” to hear an audible recording of the official and the precise way a word should be
pronounced. Now there is no excuse for mispronouncing a word in a speech. A mispronounced
word will obliterate a speaker’s credibility, and the audience’s attention will be focused on the
fault rather than the message.

Vocal Quality

The quality of the voice, its timbre (distinctive sound), and its texture affect audibility and can
affect articulation. Our voices are unique to each of us. It is a result of our physical vocal
instruments, including the diaphragm, vocal cords, lungs, and body mass. Some examples of
vocal quality include warm, clear, soft, scratchy, mellow, and breathy. Each speaker should
practice maximizing the vocal effect of his instrument, which can be developed with vocal
exercises. There are numerous books, recordings, and trainers available to develop one’s vocal
quality when needed. The quality of one’s voice is related to its range of pitch.

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Pitch and Inflection

The pitch is the “highness” or “lowness” of the voice. Each of us has a range of tones. Vocal
sounds are actually vibrations sent out from the vocal cords resonating through chambers in the
body. The vibrations can literally be measured in terms of audio frequency in the same way
music is measured. When the pitch is altered to convey a meaning (like raising the pitch at the
end of a sentence that is a question), it is inflection. Inflections are variations, turns, and slides in
pitch to achieve meaning.

Rate of Speaking

Finding the Right Pace for Your Speech If you speak too quickly…If you speak too slowly. the
audience might get the impression you have nothing important to say the audience might think
you are too tired to be presenting the audience has a difficult time catching up and
comprehending what you are saying. They need time to digest the information. So plan on
periodic pauses. the audience can forget the first part of your sentence by the time you get to the
last! (It happens!) And they lose interest. the audience might think you really do not want to be
there. The audience might think you are wasting their time by taking longer than necessary to
relay your message. As a speaker, you cannot race with the audience, nor drag their attention
down.

Pauses Versus Vocalized Pauses

A text that is read has punctuation so that the reader can see miniature landmarks to define the
text. When spoken, similar punctuation is needed for comprehension, and the speaker’s
responsibility is to offer the text with pauses. Space between phrases, properly planted, allows
the audience to understand the structure of the speaker’s sentences and paragraphs. It also gives
time for the audience to “digest” crucial phrases.

Generally, spoken sentences and paragraphs need to be simpler and shorter than what can be
comprehended by reading. Pauses can help increase comprehension.

Vocal Projection

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The volume produced by the vocal instrument is projection. Supporting the voice volume with
good breathing and energy can be practiced, and helping a speaker develop the correct volume is
the main task of a vocal trainer, teacher, or coach. Good vocal support with good posture,
breathing, and energy should be practiced regularly, long before a speech is delivered. There are
numerous exercises devoted to developing projection capabilities.

NON-VERBAL ASPECTS OF PRESENTATION

Non-verbal communication in which physical behavior is used to express or convey information.

Postures.

Gestures

Eye contact

Tone of voice

Volume

Clouts

Smile

Body language is a natural unconscious language that broadcasts your feelings and intentions.
Your body language tells a lot about you. When your non-verbal signal matches up with the

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words you are saying the increases trust clarity. When they do not they can generate tension,
mistrust, and confusion.

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 SPEECH VISUALIZATION

5 Things You Should Visualize Before You Give a Public Speech

Visualization is an extremely important confidence-boosting tool. There are some things that you
should and shouldn’t visualize before your speech. The following are the things you should
visualize before you give a presentation.

Visualization is the technique of using your mind to experience the event in your way before you
go out and give your speech. You may do this in a quiet place, where you close your eyes and
you think about what it would be like to be up on stage giving that speech.

1. The Introduction

You should start and visualize your introduction. The introduction is one of the hardest parts of a
presentation and getting it right is extremely important.

You need to be able to pull in the audience and engage them and get them on board for the rest
of the speech. If you fail in the introduction it can be hard to pick up your speech back up.

Visualize your introduction. Don’t just visualize yourself giving the introduction, visualize
yourself giving it well and having that audience engagement that you desire. If you have a joke
in your opening then imagine the audience laughing, imagine yourself giving that opening and
then them laughing.

2. The Audience’s Reaction

The audience’s reaction is probably the most important thing you can visualize. Your speech is
all about the audience…not about you. It’s all about how they react to you and how they react to
what you said.

So imagine in your mind you’re standing up on stage and looking out at the audience. How are
they reacting to you? Are they leaning in? What are they doing with their hands? are they
clapping or cheering? what are they doing to egg you on(to encourage)? to be engaged with you
and to show you that they’re on board?

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Imagine your audience doing exactly what you want them to do when you’re delivering your
speech.

3. Your Body Language

This is one of the areas where a lot of people trip up( to make a mistake) during a speech. They
may be giving a really good presentation but they are fidgeting and twitching, or they’re walking
strangely.

Bad body language throws people off completely. If you’re watching someone on stage and
they’re parading around like a complete goose you not going to have any idea what they’re
saying. You’re just thinking about how weird that looks!

So imagine your body language when you giving this speech. Imagine how you’ll stand, imagine
how you walk across the stage, imagine how you hold the pulpit, etc.

4. Your Pauses

We want to avoid Ums and Ahs at all costs because again it throws people off. It is also very
unprofessional.

What we want to do is replace those with pauses. To do that we need to be conscious about our
pauses. So let’s imagine ourselves giving a speech and let’s imagine the points where we’ll
pause. We will hold that pause for one second or maybe two seconds and we’ll see the
audience’s reaction.

Feel that pause and let the awkwardness go by the wayside.

5. The Standing Ovation

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Imagine that you finish the speech you delivered, had that audience engagement your body
language is great. Your pauses have been great and then you finish and everyone gets up and
gives you a big clap and a big standing ovation.

That is exciting. That is something that’s going to get you pumped up, it’s going to get you
confident and excited to give your speech

What The Audience Does After Your Speech

Imagine what your audience does after your speech. Remember I said your speech is all about
the audience, not about you.

How is the audience going to go away and take your content and implemented it in their own
lives? If it’s in a business meeting, how are they going to go back to their desk and use your
information to work differently? If it’s at a conference, how are people going to talk about your
speech when they mingle with other people at the conference?

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This will boost your confidence and help to make you calm and relaxed when it comes to going
time.

EXPERT PRESENTATION SPECIFICATION

Qualities of Top Speakers The best speakers

1. High Levels of Energy and Vitality. They engage in enthusiastic conversation with their
audiences. They are warm, friendly, and likable. It is clear that they are happy to be there with
the audience and that they enjoy sharing their ideas with people they treat as friends and
colleagues.

2. Excellent Content and Delivery. Because listening to a speaker is a form of

‘‘infotainment’’(information and entertainment) and people are always interested in hearing and
learning new ideas, excellent speakers share excellent material with their listeners. Speakers only
succeed long term if they give powerful and popular public presentations. People must come
away nodding their heads and talking about what a great job the speaker did on her subject. They
must be eager to hear the speaker again.

Spend Time Studying, Researching, and Preparing There are several rules that professional
speakers must follow to get to the highest levels of income and acclaim. Top professional
speakers prepare thoroughly. It is not uncommon for a speaker to spend 10 hours reading,
reviewing, reorganizing, and practicing to give a one-hour talk. Top speakers learn everything
they can about the audience. They ask about the ages, occupations, and backgrounds of those
who will attend.

Be Clear About Your Objective Like a professional speaker, you want to achieve complete
clarity about why the presenter is giving a presentation.

Learn the Language Every company and organization has a special language, complete with
organizational history, culture, and current events. A good speaker seems so familiar with the
company or organization that he or she is addressing that the listeners get the feeling that the
speaker works personally in their company or industry.

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Plan and Organize Your Material Professional speakers plan and organize their talks well in
advance. They continually write and rewrite their material, moving some remarks and comments
forward or backward in the presentation. They are continually looking for ways to make their
points more enjoyable and effective.

Review and Rehearse They review and rehearse their talk over and over, even if they have
given this talk many times before. They never trust memory or experience. Just as a pilot reviews
every point on his checklist, every single time, the professional speaker reviews every single
point in his talk, and continues doing this, right up to the moment of delivery.

Check out the Location Top professionals arrive early and check out every detail of the room,
just as a general would study every detail of the battlefield. They check the three most important
factors: sound, lighting, and temperature. On almost every occasion, one of those three critical
elements will need to be changed or corrected in some way. People say video cameras are meant
to be focused on a single face. In speaking, the audience comes for one reason: to see the
speaker’s face. Everything else they can get by reading a book or listening to an audio program.
The face of the speaker is the focal point and center of attention in the presentation.

Get to Know the Audience Professionals meet and greet the participants before the talk so that
they can get to know them a little. They introduce themselves, ask what they do, and make small
talk with them. When members of the audience see you mixing and mingling with others before
the seminar, they automatically like you better and become a more positive and supportive
audience. When you stand up, you have already won them over.

Learn the Names of the Key People One of the most important things a professional does is to
learn the names of the key people and then refer to them in the course of the talk. People are
always flattered when you positively refer to them from the stage.

Know-How to Get On and Get Off Professionals plan their openings and closings thoroughly and
rehearse them over and over. They know exactly how to ‘‘get on’’ and how to ‘‘get off.’’ They
review their introductions with the introducers so that they are clear. The way that an introducer
brings a speaker onto the stage sets the tone for the speaker. It cannot be left to chance.

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This is why a good introduction is carefully written out so that it raises interest and expectancy
when it is read.

Engage the Audience Top speakers to engage the audience from the first words. They may start
with silence to center the audience or with an opening remark to grab attention. Top
professionals keep the audience members on the edge of their seats. They achieve this by asking
questions, pausing, and then delivering the answers. They make points and emphasize key ideas.
They tell stories to illustrate their messages.

Treat Them as Friends Top professionals treat the audience as friends. They smile as if they are
glad to see the audience members and as if it is a real pleasure to have a chance to share ideas
with them. The audience members know instantly if you like them and feel positively toward
them. You achieve this feeling by being charming and by smiling warmly before you even open
your mouth.

Use Every Speaking Method Possible When they begin, the top speakers promise that what they
are about to say will be really interesting and helpful. They often tell a story about someone who
heard these same ideas and who made a major positive change in his or her life. Top speakers
use a series of rhetorical devices and other methods that have been developed and used on the
stage or in movies for many years. They use silence to center the audience and to give the
audience time to settle down or digest key points. They use pauses prior to key points or
immediately afterward, to punctuate their delivery and emphasize key ideas. There is a saying in
selling and speaking that the person who asks questions has control. When you ask a question,
you grab the total attention of the audience members for the length of time it takes them to
answer the question. Their minds lean into the question, especially if it is one that can have
different answers.

Experts Keep Shifting Gears Telling is not selling. Keep shifting gears by asking questions and
then delivering answers. They use dramatic pauses and extended silences before or after key
points. Use a dramatic pause in the middle of a sentence before you drive the main idea home.
Top Experts are masters of timing. They tell a story in parts, with pauses and drama, sometimes
digressing to mention another idea, and then coming back to the story. They tell jokes the same
way. They allow people to process the point they have made. They give people time. They watch

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their faces until it is clear that they understand you. Similarly, when you tell a joke, it is very
important that you do not ‘‘step on your lines.’’ When the audience laughs, let them laugh until
the laughter starts to die down. Only then do you continue on with your talk. Audiences like to
be entertained by a speaker. They enjoy laughing. Don’t deprive them of the time they need to
take for thought and introspection, or of the time that they laugh after you have said something
funny.

Use Both Your Voice and Body Experts to speak a little louder. This demonstrates confidence
in what they are saying. They use their bodies more, moving their arms, nodding their heads,
smiling, and being more animated. For example, when you want to make an important point,
expand your arms wide or increase your volume. When you want to suggest intimacy, hold your
fingers and your hands together gently as you lean toward the audience. Let your arms drop.
When you are speaking, your natural stance should be with your arms at your sides. You can
touch your fingertips together and lightly emphasize key ideas. Keep your head and your chin up,
signifying confidence in your words. Especially, smile warmly at the audience. Twinkle like
Santa Claus. Enjoy yourself. Have fun. Be happy. Speak as though this is a wonderful experience
for you and that you are enjoying every minute.

Summary In the final analysis, the only way to learn to speak is to speak and speak and speak
and speak. When you prepare, practice, and rehearse over and over again, incorporating more
and more of these professional speaking devices into your performance, you will soon become a
spellbinding speaker.

“Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve.”
Roger Lewin

“The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think
— rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to
load the memory with thoughts of other men.”
Bill Beattie

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 Q&A PREPARATION FOR AN EXPERT DISCUSSION

Many presentations facilitate question and answer sessions as either part of a presentation or a
stand-alone event. Q&A sessions allow audiences to find out more about certain topics or even
ask a question to someone whom they would never normally get the chance.

These types of sessions are great for keeping audiences engaged because no two sessions are
alike. However, it does take time to prepare a successful Q&A event, and we’ll show you some
tips that will make your event run even more smoothly!

Hold a briefing session before the event

Make sure that everyone is informed and ready for your event by having a briefing session
beforehand. In this briefing, you should invite the speakers or presenters, any moderators as well
as people working behind the scenes such as stage managers. Here you should run through the
event program and establish any time limits or rules before the event. By doing this you can
make sure that everyone is prepared for the event and iron out any issues, thus taking steps to
provide the best experience for your audience.

Enough time

Making sure that you have enough time for your Q&A session is something you should address
even early on in the planning stages of your session. The timing for a Q&A session depends on
your setup. If the Q&A session should be something that you will have after a presentation,
perhaps you want to allocate 15 minutes for questions at the end. If there is more than one
presenter, then you may want to allocate more time for questions. If you are holding a panel-type
Q&A event where there is no presentation and the majority of the time will be spent on questions
and discussion, you will want to dedicate the majority of the time to the questions and minimize

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time spent on introducing the panel guests. You don’t want to have to rush the participants, or
only have enough time to answer a couple of questions.

Stick to the time limit

As well as making sure that you have enough time for questions, make sure that you stick to that
time limit. If you find that there are a lot of questions left, consider continuing the conversation
online and letting your audience know that they can do this by following a certain hashtag. This
way, you can stay respectful of people’s time whilst allowing everyone to have their questions
answered.

Great moderator (‫)ناظم‬

If you need someone to moderate your Q&A session, then make sure you choose your moderator
carefully. The role of the moderator is to be the connection between the audience and whoever is
answering the questions. They make sure that the questions that are being asked are appropriate
and make sure that the event moves forward and doesn’t get stuck on a certain question.

If you are the moderator, make sure that you are prepared and that you have briefed all involved
in the event. Remember, a great moderator facilitates the conversation and does not join in or
take over.

A few prepared questions

If you’re worried that your audience won’t have any questions to ask, or need some inspiration
for things to ask, consider adding a few pre-prepared questions that can use to kick off the
session. This will give the speaker something to start with, and allow your audience more time to
think about some things that they may like to ask about.

Use the right tools and equipment

During your planning process, ensure that you have the right tools in place to make your Q&A
event successful. If you want your audience to ask questions by speaking, make sure that you
have a microphone to make that you can hear your audience ask questions.

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Alternatively, use Mentimeter’s Questions from Audience feature to make the logistics of
questions and answers events easy by letting the audience ask their questions with their
smartphones.

Notify the audience at the start

At the start of the event, let your audience know that you will be taking questions to be answered
during the event. This helps your audience to think about what they might like to ask throughout
the event - hopefully resulting in more questions from the audience.

Collect questions throughout the event

As well as notifying your audience that there will be a Q&A session, you can also collect
questions throughout the event or presentation. One way of doing this is by using the Mentimeter
Questions from Audience function. This lets your audience ask questions at any time, but will
allow the presenter or the moderator to control when the questions are answered. This will
minimize any disruptions during the presentation, but at the same time ensure that all the
audience’s questions are answered.

Don’t start a debate - facilitate that afterward

You might find that some audience members want to engage in a debate during these types of
events, especially around controversial topics. The presenter and the moderator should avoid
indulging in such debates during the actual session as they take up time and are often only
interesting for the person debating.

Instead, if you find that an intense discussion is starting, let the audience know that they can
continue the discussion afterward or give them away to reach out to contact you after the
presentation. This will help the session run a lot more smoothly and without any drama.

Brainstorm Questions

Brainstormed a list of possible questions that people in the audience might ask me. Ask friends
what questions they might be asked.

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This is a common problem for subject-matter experts. It even has the name “The Curse of
Knowledge”. Because you know your topic so well, it’s difficult for you to imagine what it’s like
to not have that knowledge. So when you’re planning your Q&A, and you’re presenting to an
audience of laypeople, don’t ask your fellow experts what questions they would have, ask
someone who has a similar level of knowledge and similar attitudes to your audience.

Prepare Answers

Acknowledge the concern behind the question. When you apply the first step then you should
also prepare answers for the question you have already visualized. You must prepare a suitable
and convincing answer to the question.

Practice Out Loud

Practice the answers that you are going to give when you are asked. But it is not sure what
question you thought of would ask, sometime questions are asked out of the box then you should
be flexible.

“I think the big mistake in schools is trying to teach children anything,

and by using fear as the basic motivation. Fear of getting failing grades,
fear of not staying with your class, etc. Interest can produce learning on
a scale compared to fear as a nuclear explosion to a firecracker.”
Stanley Kubrick

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 STRESS MANAGEMENT DURING A PRESENTATION

Ways to Calm Your Nerves Before a Big Presentation public speaking nerves and present
with confidence.

For those not born with natural eloquence, public speaking can be remarkably nerve-racking.

There are several small things you can do before your presentation that will help calm your
nerves and set you up for optimal oration(‫)زبان‬.

1. Practice

Naturally, you'll want to rehearse your presentation multiple times. While it can be difficult for
those with packed schedules to spare time to practice, it's essential if you want to deliver a
rousing presentation. If you want to sound great, write out your speech rather than taking
chances winging it.

Try to practice where you'll be delivering your talk. Some acting strategists suggest rehearsing
lines in various positions-standing up, sitting down, with arms open wide, on one leg, etc. The
more you mix up your position and setting, the more comfortable you'll feel with your speech.
Also, try recording your presentation and playing it back to evaluate which areas need work.
Listening to recordings of your past talks can clue you into bad habits you may be unaware of, as
well as inspire the age-old question: "Is that what I sound like?"

2. Transform Nervous Energy into Enthusiasm

Studies have shown that an enthusiastic speech can win out over an eloquent one.

3. Attend Other Speeches

If you're giving a talk as part of a larger series, try to attend some of the earlier talks by other
presenters. This shows respect for your fellow presenters while also giving you a chance to feel
out the audience. What's the mood of the crowd? Are folks in the mood to laugh or are they a bit
stiffer? Are the presentations more strategic or tactical? Another speaker may also say something
that you can play off of later in your presentation.

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4. Arrive Early

It's always best to allow yourself plenty of time to settle in before your talk. Extra time ensures
you won't be late (even if Google Maps shuts down) and gives you plenty of time to get adapted
to your presentation space.

5. Adjust to Your Surroundings

The more adjusted to your environment you are, the more comfortable you'll feel. Make sure to
spend some time in the room where you will be delivering your presentation. If possible, practice
with the microphone and lighting, make sure you understand the seating, and be aware of any
distractions potentially posed by the venue (e.g., a noisy road outside).

6. Meet and Greet

Do your best to chat with people before your presentation. Talking with audiences makes you
seem more likable and approachable. Ask event attendees questions and take in their responses.
They may even give you some inspiration to weave into your talk.

7. Use Positive Visualization

Whether or not you consider yourself a master of Zen, know that plenty of studies have proven
the effectiveness of positive visualization. When we imagine a positive outcome to a scenario in
our mind, it's more likely to play out the way we envision it.

Instead of thinking "I'm going to be terrible out there" and visualizing yourself throwing up mid-
presentation. Positive thoughts can be incredibly effective-give them a shot.

8. Take Deep Breaths

The go-to advice for jitters has truth to it. When we're nervous, our muscles tighten-you may
even catch yourself holding your breath. Instead, go ahead and take those deep breaths to get
oxygen to your brain and relax your body.

9. Smile

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Smiling increases endorphins, replacing anxiety with calm, and making you feel good about your
presentation. Smiling also exhibits confidence and enthusiasm in the crowd. Just don't overdo it-
no one enjoys the maniacal clown look.

10. Exercise

Exercise earlier in the day before your presentation to boost endorphins, which will help alleviate
anxiety.

11. Work on Your Pauses

When you're nervous, it's easy to speed up your speech and end up talking too fast, which in turn
causes you to run out of breath, get more nervous, and panic! Ahh!

Don't be afraid to slow down and use pauses in your speech. Pausing can be used to emphasize
certain points and to help your talk feel more conversational. If you feel yourself losing control
of your pacing, just take a nice pause and keep cool.

12. Use a Power Stance

Practicing confident body language is another way to boost your pre-presentation jitters. When
your body is physically demonstrating confidence, your mind will follow suit. Studies have
shown that using power stances a few minutes before giving a talk (or heading to a nerve-racking
interview) creates a lasting sense of confidence and assurance. Before you go on stage, strike
your best Power Ranger stance and hold your head high!

13. Drink Water

A dry mouth is a common result of anxiety. Prevent cottonmouth blues by staying hydrated and
drinking plenty of water before your talk. Keep a bottle of water at arm's reach while presenting
in case you get dry mouth while chatting up a storm. It also provides a solid object to hurl at
potential hecklers.

14. Join Toastmasters. Toastmaster clubs are groups across the country (and the world)
dedicated to helping members improve their public speaking skills. Groups get together during

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lunch or after work to take turns delivering short talks on a chosen topic. The more you present,
the better you'll be, so consider joining a Toastmaster club to become a top-notch orator.

15. Don't Fight the Fear

Accept your fear rather than trying to fight it. Getting yourself worked up by wondering if people
will notice your nervousness will only intensify your anxiety. Remember, those jitters aren't all
bad-harness that nervous energy and transform it into positive enthusiasm and you'll be golden.

For help and assistance

0343-5668315

Kamran Zaib (MPhil English)

Lecturer in the Department of English

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