Oral Communication

PROF. I.PADMINI
VJIM
 Types

 Direct conversation or telephonic

conversation.
 Speeches, presentations, discussions are
all forms of oral communication.
 Face to face communication (meetings,
lectures, conferences, interviews, etc.) is
significant so as to build a rapport and
trust.
Importance
 Secure a new job – In employer surveys, communication skills
consistently rank amongst the top soft skills companies look for.
They want new employees to be able to speak clearly, concisely
and confidently.

 Advance your career – To communicate your thoughts on how the

processes, products or services can be improved. Businesses value
these skills in management positions.

 Managerial role - To command respect from your colleagues while

building a strong culture and team spirit. To deal with an
unexpected crisis and communicate your action plan to your team.

 Workplace success – To handle clients, customers, team meetings,

requesting information, giving feedback and discussing problems.

Advantages
 A high level of understanding and transparency in oral
communication as it is interpersonal.
 No element of rigidity . There is a flexibility for allowing changes
in the decisions previously taken.
 Feedback is spontaneous . Thus, decisions can be made quickly
without any delay.
 Time saving. No wastage of time like in written communication.
 The best for problem resolution. The conflicts, disputes and many
issues/differences can be put to an end by talking them over.
 Essential for teamwork and group energy.
 Promotes a receptive and encouraging morale among
organizational employees.
Disadvantages
 May not be sufficient as business communication is formal
and very organized.
 Less authentic than written communication as they are
informal and not as organized as written communication
 Timesaving as far as daily interactions are concerned, but
in case of meetings, long speeches consume lot of time
and are unproductive at times.
 There may be misunderstandings as the information is not
complete and may lack essentials.
 Requires receptivity from receivers.
 Is not frequently used as legal records except in
investigation work.
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Presentations Vs Speeches
 Planning

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• Occasion: facilities, time, context

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• Audience: designation, demography, size

• Purpose : inform, persuade, entertain

• Thesis: central / core idea

• Material : records, publications, statistics, surveys,

interviews
 Organizing
Patterns

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• Chronological

• Spatial

• Topical

• Cause-effect / problem-solution

• Climactic
 Delivery Modes
• Speaking from notes : best mode, body language,

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adjust according to audience

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• Speaking impromptu: keep short, one or two ideas

• Reciting from memory : to be avoided, can

memorize quotations if to be used

• Reading from a manuscript: acceptable on very few

occasions, to be done meticulously, to be thorough
with the text.
 Effective Delivery
• Verbal elements: word pictures, warm words, figures

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of speech, impact words, smooth flow, supporting

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materials
•Non-verbal elements: facial expression, appearance &
artifacts, posture, gestures, eye contact
•Vocal elements: voice modulation, appropriate tone,
pitch, rate, volume, articulation, pronunciation, pauses
•Visual elements: slides, pictures, graphs, maps,
charts
 Structuring

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•Introduction : to introduce the topic and create

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interest

•Main body : to present the matter under various topics

and sub topics

•Conclusion : to end, recapitulate

 Introduction
• Attention getter: question / quotation / anecdote /

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shocking statistics / unusual statement / joke

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•Thesis statement : statement revealing the central idea

•Audience adaptation : complimentary remarks,

reference to location, occasion, relating the benefits
•Credibility : research interest, latest information,
statistics, experience
•Preview: main topics and subtopics of speech
 Main Body

• Message based approach: facts secondary, facts to

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support /

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justify your statements, focus on message and related
facts
•Creativity : four steps—preparation, incubation,

illumination, verification
•Mind mapping : most effective, versatile thinking tool,
one central idea and 5-10 related concepts
 Conclusion

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• Summary
• One last opportunity to form an impression
•Signal the end : use phrases, tonal variations
•Reemphasize / give highlights of speech
•End with a bang not with a whimper
 Controlling nerves
• Visualize success
•Develop interest in topic

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•Prepare thoroughly
•Memorize opening statements
•Take quick drinks of tepid water
•Breathe deeply, evenly, slowly
•Concentrate on ideas
•Use eye contact