Communicating at

Work

Ronald Adler
Santa Barbara City College
Jeanne Elmhorst
Albuquerque TVI Community College

Chapter 13

Delivering the
Presentation
Chapter Outline
Types of Delivery
Guidelines for Delivery
Question-and-Answer Sessi
ons
Speaking with Confidence
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005

Slide 2

Types of Delivery
Presentation Style
Monologues
One-way speeches without interruption
Large settings Formal occasions

Guided discussions
Listeners interrupt with questions and
comments

Interactive presentations
Even more audience involvement
Presenter often sits
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005

Slide 3

Types of Delivery
Manuscript Presentations
Speaker reads remarks word-forword from a prepared statement
Serious mistakes can occur
Usually sounds wooden and lifeless
Often too long
If cost of misstatements is high, can
be the best option
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005

Slide 4

Types of Delivery
Memorized Presentations

Recited word-for-word
A worse option than reading because
of chance of loss of memory
Sounds memorized
Can be useful for critical sections of a
talk
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005

Slide 5

Types of Delivery
Extemporaneous Presentations
Planned and rehearsed, but not wordfor-word
Can seem spontaneous and effortless
The most valuable, useful type of
delivery
Can use notes
Brief
Legible
Unobtrusive
Copyright The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc., 2005

Slide 6

Types of Delivery
Impromptu Presentations
Unexpected, off-the-cuff
Usually a familiar subject
Listeners dont expect
perfection

Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005

Slide 7

Types of Delivery
Tips for Impromptu
Presentations
Predict that you will be asked
to speak
Accept the invitation with
assurance
Present a definite viewpoint
early
Present support for your
Copyright The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc., 2005
viewpoint

Slide 8

Guidelines for Delivery

Visual Elements
Dress effectively
Speak with confidence and
authority
Get set before starting
Keep eye contact
No notes at the beginning
Stand and move effectively
Pack up after speaking
Finish smartly
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005

Slide 9

Guidelines for Delivery

Verbal Elements
Use an oral speaking style
Short sentences
Active voice
Plenty of personal pronouns
Use
contractions often
Address listeners directly and personally

Use appropriate language

Vocabulary
Enunciation
Pronunciation

Dont emphasize mistakes

Slide 10

Guidelines for Delivery

Vocal Elements
Speak with enthusiasm, sincerity and
conviction
Share ideas that you truly believe in
Speak loudly enough
Avoid disfluencies
eh um like you know
OK
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005

Slide 11

Question-and-Answer
Sessions

When to Answer Questions

During the presentation

Immediate clarification and expansion

Allow extra time
Delay answers to some questions

After the presentation

Control over the unveiling of information
Control over length of talk
May lose some listeners partway
Lose control over the last thing listeners
hear
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005
Slide 12

Question-and-Answer
Sessions

How to Manage Questions

Start the ball rolling

Anticipate likely questions
Clarify complicated or confusing
questions
Treat questioners with respect
Keep answers focused on goal
Buy time if necessary
Answer to the entire audience
Follow last question with a summary
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005
Slide 13

Speaking with Confidence

Accept Nervousness
Helps you focus on presentation
Learn to control it

Speak More Often

Begin with modest challenges and
low stakes
Speech courses give practice ground
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005

Slide 14

Speaking with Confidence

Rehearse Your Presentation
Eliminate:
Missing notes Clumsy wording
Excessive length
Confusing
material
Equipment problems

Rehearse on feet with audience

Rehearse to finish early
Rehearse 3-6 times
Pay attention to intro and
conclusion
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005
Rehearse in a real setting

Slide 15

Speaking with Confidence

Focus on the Topic and Audience
Keep focus off yourself
Compliment your audience sincerely

Think Rationally about your

Presentation
Myth 1: Presentation must
beperfect
Myth 2: You can persuade every
listener
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005
Myth 3: The worst will happen

Slide 16