Here are a few ‘key principles’ to keep in mind when you are preparing to speak in front of others, whether it is in the classroom, at a conference, in an interview, or as part of a seminar. The principles are deliberately broad so that they can be applied to a range of disciplines and contexts.
Key Principles of Communication:
- We are all always communicating. There are three main registers of communication; to be as effective as possible, we must be actively aware of them all.
o Body language: non-verbal communication
o Tone: vocal communication
o Content: the content or message - Goal and Audience: What do you want your given audience to do/remember?
o Be clear about your Goal.
o Modify your Goal to appeal to your specific Audience. (Remember, you can change
your goal, but not your audience!)
WIIFM: “What’s In It For Me?”
o This question (asked from the perspective of your audience) must be answered as directly and practically as possible at the beginning of any lecture, interview, conference paper, seminar discussion.
o Tell your audience what they will gain from paying attention to and remembering
the material you are presenting/discussing? - Credibility: “Why should I listen to you?”
o Tell your audience how you know what you know. Have you done research/ taken a class/ received your degree/ done this before/ had personal experience in a given area?
o Do you have common ground with your audience? This can also help establish credibility and WIIFM (“I am like you, I know that this information will help you as it has me…”).
Tips for Non-verbal and Vocal Communication:
- Physical Communication
o Take up space
– Stand with your feet hip distance apart, fully facing your audience.
– Build in meaningful movement, commanding space between lectern, computer,
chalkboard etc.
o Make eye contact
– Spend a few seconds with each person you look at.
– For bigger lecture halls, use an M or a W pattern to spread eye contact throughout the room.
o Avoid defensive postures
– Arms crossed, hands in pockets, hands clasped behind or in front of body.
– These postures limit your gestural ability and will make your audience close off as well.
o Avoid fiddling with props
– Put down the pen/chalk/remote when you are not using them.
– If you know you play with jewelry, don’t wear it; if you play with your hair, pull it back;
– Empty your pockets of change and keys that make noise and tempt fiddling.
o Stand your ground
– Avoid swaying, pacing
– Avoid the hip-cock
o Fake it till you make it
– Smile!! Even if you don’t feel like it; this will put your audience at ease and soon you will feel better
!
- Vocal Communication:
o Be aware of your habits in the following areas:
– Volume – how loud you speak in relation to size of space and audience
– Pitch– where in your voice you speak (high/low/monotone)
– Rate – Speed, how slow or fast you speak
– Vocal Variety – how often you change your pitch, rate, and volume
o Together, these aspects create Tone: the emotion, confidence, enthusiasm with which you
speak.
o Avoid filler words: um, uh, sort of, like, you know…
What to do?
– Enlist a monitor or tape yourself; you need to hear it to change it.
– Replace these with silence: Pauses are good for you (sound well considered) and your audience (time to process info)!
o Avoid upspeak: when you turn statements into questions, upward inflection after all statements.
What to do?
– Enlist a monitor or tape yourself; you need to hear it to change it.
– Picture exclamation points after your statements; vocally send your points in a parabola that lands with your audience; silently say “dammit” after a declaritive statement, such as your name.
Know Yourself to Help Yourself: How do your nerves manifest themselves?
- Note what happens when you get up to speak
o Do you sweat/ shake/ mind goes blank/ pace/ talk too fast/ and so on?
o Knowing what to expect will keep you from feeling thrown off in the moment.
o Mind shift: this is normal and even necessary! It is your body’s way of getting ready to perform. Anxiety = Energy! - Anticipate and prepare:
o Wear dark colors if you know sweat; write yourself notes to SLOW DOWN in the margins of you notes; take a deep breath when your mind goes blank
o Warm-up and get some exercise before hand to release nervous energy in your body
o Do not drink too much caffeine before presenting
o Build in some meaningful movement (not pacing!) to use some of that nervous energy
o Bring water
o Make sure your blood sugar is not too low (don’t forget to eat!) - DO NOT tell your audience you are nervous. Things are never as apparent from the outside as the inside.
- Be other-centered: Remember that you are speaking in service of you audience. Everything you do is to help them learn/ remember/ take action. The less you focus on yourself, the less nervous you will be.
Elise Morrison
Associate Director for Speaking Instruction
Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning
