PROFESSIONAL ORAL

PRESENTATIONS
There is perhaps no greater skill that can help you
build your career or business better than effective
public speaking. () Knowing how to persuasively
present your point of view can make the difference
between merely surviving or thriving in a vastly
competitive environment. (Slutsky & Aun, authors of The
Toastmasters International Guide to Successful Speaking, 1997)1
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PRESENTATIONS BLUEPRINT

O Identify workplace presentations
O Preview preparation steps
O Select delivery style

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Professional Oral
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Types of Workplace Presentations
Informative: to increase the level of knowledge
and understanding among listeners by
instructing
describing
explaining
Persuasive: to influence audience beliefs,
opinions, or behaviours by
convincing
reinforcing
actuating
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Preparation Steps

+ Determine general purpose
+ Analyse the audience
+ Determine specific purpose
+ Identify central idea
+ Identify main points
+ Gather supporting material
+ Organise outline
+ Rehearse presentation
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Preparation Steps (contd)
Analyse audience
Demographic features: age, race, gender,
occupation, education, etc.

Non-demographic factors:
Why is the audience there?
How much do they know about my subject?
What are their attitudes about that subject?
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Professional Oral
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Preparation Steps (contd)
Determine specific purpose
Speaker: What do I want the audience to have
achieved once my speech is over?

Audience: Whats in this message for me?

Phrase your specific purpose like:

At the end of my instructions, you will be able to
complete the monthly inventory online in less
than two hours.
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Professional Oral
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Preparation Steps (contd)
Identify central idea
State in a single sentence the essence
of the speech - clearly, concisely and
focused on the audience!

Ex: The online monthly inventory can
be completed in half the time by
following four simple steps.
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Professional Oral
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Preparation Steps (contd)
Identify main points
Main points should
be stated in sentence form
contain only one idea per point
be expressed in a uniform
grammatical structure
establish a direct connection with
central idea
be limited to 3-5.
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Professional Oral
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Preparation Steps
Identify main points (contd)
Central idea: Quality customer service
includes three primary goals.
Main point 1: Quality customer service
includes treating the customer with respect.
Main point 2: Quality customer service
includes listening to customer needs.
Main point 3: Quality customer service
includes providing customer satisfaction.
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Professional Oral
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Preparation Steps (contd)
Gather supporting material
Develop the main points with factual info and
evidence from
- own experience
- co-workers experience
- company resources (annual reports,
product catalogs, etc.)
- library and Internet sources.

Include visual aids to enhance verbal
supporting materials!
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Professional Oral
Presentations
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Preparation Steps (contd)
Organise outline
Put your info together in a logical sequence!

Introduction: Capture audiences attention,
identify nature and purpose of presentation!

Body: Provide verbal and visual supporting
info and evidence!

Conclusion: Provide a summary and closing
remarks!

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Professional Oral
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Delivery Style

Manuscript: read word-for-word
Memorised: free of dependence on notes
Extemporaneous: conversational style
with little reliance on notes
Impromptu: off-the cuff
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Professional Oral
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PRESENTATION TOOLS

+ State central ideas
+ Select supporting materials
+ Construct outlines
+ Rehearse delivery

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State Central Ideas

Central ideas must
- be expressed in a sentence
- contain one key idea
- contain a subject (Who/what the speech is
about) and a focus (what is emphasized about
the subject)
- be neither too general nor too specific
- be stated in both introduction and conclusion.



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Professional Oral
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Select Supporting Materials
Verbal supports:
explanations
examples
statistics
illustrations
testimony
comparisons
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Professional Oral
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Select Supporting Materials (contd)
Guidelines for effective use of visuals:

o Make sure the visual is large enough.
o Keep the visual simple.
o Create eye appeal.
o Have a definite purpose in mind for
using the visual.

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Professional Oral
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Construct Outline
The introduction
A preview for the remainder of speech:
1) Capture audiences interest.
2) Show some tangible gain for audience.
3) State central idea/thesis.
4) Preview main points to be developed in
the body.
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Professional Oral
Presentations
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Construct Outlines (contd)
The body
Speakers choice of main points along with
necessary verbal supports

Patterns of organization of main points:
4 Chronological
4 Topical
4 Spatial
4 Cause/Effect
4 Problem/Solution

Vary the choice of verbal supports!
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Professional Oral
Presentations
19
Construct Outlines (contd)
The conclusion

A review of key information - 3 parts:
E summary of main points
E restatement of central idea
E appropriate closing remarks

Guidelines:
Be brief and to the point.
Dont introduce new info.
Close presentation memorably!
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Professional Oral
Presentations
20
Rehearse Delivery
Guidelines for an extemporaneous
presentation:
Develop a speaking outline.
Practice out loud.
Practice in front of an audience.
Pay attention to your voice.
Pay attention to your body.
Cope with nervousness.


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Professional Oral
Presentations
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CONCLUSION
Skeletal outline form
I. Introduction
A. Attention getter
B. Need for info
C. Central idea
D. Preview of main points
II. Body
A. First main point
1. Verbal support
2. Verbal support
3. Verbal support
B. Second main point (1. 2. 3.)
C. Third main point (1. 2. 3.)
III. Conclusion
A. Review main points
B. Restate central idea
C. Close memorably



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Professional Oral
Presentations
22
Bibliography
Bove, C. L. and J. T. Thill., Business
Communication Today, McGraw-Hill,
Inc., New York, 1992 (pp. 530-557).

Cheesebro, T., L. OConnors, F, Rios.
Communication Skills. Preparing for
Carreer Success. Pearson, Prentice
Hall, 2006 (pp. 105-126).