Unit 5 – Active Listening, Persuasive Speaking & Presentation Skills

Vocabulary flashcards summarising key terms and concepts from Unit 5: Active Listening, Persuasive Speaking, Presentation Skills, Meetings, Netiquette, Telephone Etiquette, and Body Language.

Active Listening

Giving full, undivided attention to a speaker, processing the message, and responding with empathy and feedback.

Paraphrasing

Restating a speaker’s ideas in your own words to confirm understanding and show engagement.

Reflect and Clarify

Summarising or questioning a message to ensure accurate comprehension and eliminate ambiguity.

Open-Ended Questions

Queries that invite detailed responses, encouraging deeper discussion and insight.

Non-Verbal Cues

Facial expressions, gestures, posture, and other body signals that convey meaning without words.

Eye Contact

Looking at listeners or speakers to demonstrate attention, confidence, and sincerity.

Emotional Appeal (Pathos)

Persuasive technique that targets the audience’s feelings and values to motivate agreement or action.

Logical Argument (Logos)

Reasoned, evidence-based line of thought used to support a persuasive claim.

Credibility (Ethos)

Perceived trustworthiness and expertise of a speaker, crucial for persuasive impact.

Call to Action

Clear statement that tells an audience exactly what to do after a speech or presentation.

Persuasive Speaking

The art of influencing beliefs or behaviours through logical, emotional, and ethical appeals.

Presentation Skills

Abilities required to organise content, use visuals, and deliver information engagingly and confidently.

Visual Aids

Slides, charts, images, or graphs that support and clarify spoken content.

Introduction (Presentation)

Opening section designed to grab attention and outline key points.

Body (Presentation)

Main portion of a talk where ideas are developed with evidence and examples.

Conclusion (Presentation)

Closing segment that summarises points and reinforces the core message or call to action.

Structuring Effective Presentations

Organising a talk into a clear introduction, logical body, and memorable conclusion within time limits.

Audience Analysis

Researching listeners’ demographics, interests, and needs to tailor content effectively.

Engaging the Audience

Using stories, questions, interaction, and dynamic delivery to maintain listener interest and influence.

Conducting Meetings

Planning, facilitating, and documenting group discussions to achieve defined objectives.

Agenda

Pre-circulated outline of topics, timings, and goals that guides a meeting.

Minutes

Official written record of discussions, decisions, and action items from a meeting.

Action Items

Specific tasks assigned during a meeting, including responsible persons and deadlines.

Memo

Brief internal document used to inform or instruct employees about specific matters.

Professional Tone

Respectful, clear, and courteous style appropriate for workplace communication.

Netiquette

Accepted rules for polite and effective online and email communication.

Subject Line

Concise email heading that states purpose and aids recipient prioritisation.

Professional Email Writing

Crafting emails with clear subject, structured content, correct grammar, and courteous language.

Telephone Etiquette

Set of manners for answering, speaking, listening, and closing professional phone calls.

Active Listening (Phone)

Focusing on the caller’s words, providing verbal nods, and avoiding interruptions to ensure understanding.

Clear and Concise Speech

Speaking at moderate pace with precise wording to avoid ambiguity on calls or presentations.

Firm Handshake

Confident, moderate-pressure greeting that creates a positive first impression in interviews.

Posture

The way one sits or stands, signalling confidence, openness, or defensiveness.

Mirroring

Subtly matching another person’s body language to build rapport and trust.

Open Posture

Uncrossed arms and legs, upright stance indicating receptiveness and confidence.

Active Listening in Meetings

Demonstrating focus and empathy to foster participation and accurate decision-making during discussions.

Planning and Running Successful Meetings

Setting objectives, preparing agenda, inviting relevant participants, and managing time effectively.

Managing Professional Phone Calls

Preparing, greeting politely, staying on topic, note-taking, and summarising before ending a call.

Non-Verbal Communication

Transmission of messages through facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, posture, and tone of voice.

Effective Body Language in Group Discussions

Maintaining eye contact, nodding, open gestures, and upright posture to encourage collaboration.

Tone of Voice

Pitch, volume, and pace that add emotional context to spoken words.

Resilience

Ability to recover from setbacks and persist toward goals despite challenges.

Self-Discipline

Capacity to control impulses, manage time, and stay committed to tasks and goals.

Feedback

Information on performance used to adjust and improve future actions.

Goal-Setting

Defining specific, measurable objectives to guide effort and track progress.