Effective Public Speaking Delivery and Preparation Guide
General Delivery Principles: Form and Content in Communication
Definition of Communication: At its most basic level, communication is defined as an exchange of messages. Every message consists of two primary parts: content and form.
Content vs. Form:
Content: The actual words or information being transmitted (e.g., the phrase "I love you").
Form: The delivery method or how the words are spoken, including emphasis and nonverbal cues.
Example of Emphasis: Changing the emphasis on the words "I love you" changes the meaning dramatically:
"I love you!"
"I love you!"
"I love you!"
Public Speaking Application:
A speaker with excellent content (the "what") but boring delivery (the "how") will fail to engage the audience.
A speaker with marvelous delivery but nothing substantive to say wastes the audience's time; professional speaking should provide learning value.
Poorly organized content can leave an audience confused, even if the delivery is entertaining.
The Integration of Form and Content:
An effective speaker must conscientiously bring both elements together. Focusing on words to the exclusion of delivery, or vice versa, results in a counter-productive speech.
Psychological Factors:
Speakers with poor delivery often fear forgetting their words and over-focus on content.
Speakers with strong delivery but weak content often fear rejection or being disliked, leading them to over-focus on the "performance."
Course Focus: While this course emphasizes content, form is considered a skill that must be practiced continuously throughout the term.
The Impact of Nonverbal Communication
Definition: Nonverbal communication includes any way we communicate without the use of words, such as a smile (which can communicate intentions or mask them).
Significance: Research indicates that nonverbal communication has a considerable impact on how messages are produced, exchanged, interpreted, and responded to.
The Rule: Research suggests that actual words account for only of the message's impact. However, Dr. James emphasizes that this does not mean words are unimportant; public speaking is a professional obligation to provide the best possible content.
Dominance of Nonverbal Cues: When verbal and nonverbal messages conflict (e.g., saying "I really like you" while crossing arms and looking away), people are significantly more likely to believe the nonverbal body language over the words.
Key Elements of General Delivery
Body Language:
Definition: The way we hold ourselves physically in relation to others.
Components: Includes gestures but encompasses the entire physical stance.
Impact: A speaker's stance communicates their thoughts and feelings about the audience, directly affecting their credibility and the audience's goodwill.
Paralanguage:
Definition: Vocal features that accompany speech.
Components:
Rate: The speed of speaking.
Volume: How loudly or quietly one speaks.
Inflection: The emphasis placed on specific words.
The "Fear Response": Speaking too rapidly with no pauses is often a sign of fear (trying to "get it over with"). This causes the audience to tune out and view the speaker as ridiculous.
Volume Issues: Shyness resulting in quiet speech prevents the audience from hearing the message, effectively meaning "you're not saying anything."
Delivery Methods and Protocols
1. Impromptu Speaking:
Characteristic: Little to no preparation time ("on the spot").
Context: The most common form of public speaking (e.g., being called on in class, answering a boss's sudden question).
2. Memorized Speeches:
Instructor's Stance: Strongly discouraged.
Drawbacks:
Sounds artificial and non-conversational (like reading a manuscript from memory).
High risk of failure; if a speaker forgets one word, they waste time trying to remember, often losing their place in backup notes.
3. Manuscript Speeches:
Characteristic: Reading a word-for-word rendition of a speech.
Use Case: Some formal situations, but not allowed in this class.
Drawbacks:
Reading implies looking down, which projects the voice to the floor rather than the audience.
Can result in a monotone delivery.
Speakers may still freeze; under pressure, the written words can look like "gibberish."
4. Extemporaneous Speaking:
Definition: Speaking from a prepared outline using limited note cards.
Benefits: It is the "best of all worlds" (a cross between memorized/manuscript/impromptu), allowing for organization while maintaining a conversational, spontaneous quality.
Podiums:
Purpose: To hold notes. It is not a "magic shield" or protection from the audience.
Protocol: In this class, students are never allowed to use a podium or its approximation. Standing freely makes it easier to learn the method and adapt to podiums later in professional life.
Starting and Ending Etiquette:
Do not start speaking until you have reached the spot and settled in for a few seconds.
Do not finish while walking away. Conclude the speech, wait a few seconds, then leave.
Extemporaneous Speaking: Part 2
Conversational Style:
Goal: Talk to people, not read at them. Public speaking is not a course in "public reading."
Spontaneity: Using short prompts forces the speaker to be spontaneous, similar to a lunch conversation with friends.
Note Card Protocol:
Outlines: Every speech must start with a full-sentence outline. This is a grade requirement. The outline is for organizing information, not for reading verbatim.
Card Specifications: Use inch index cards.
Prompts: Transfer information from the outline as single words or very short phrases. NEVER write full sentences or lengthy phrases.
Function: The cards are a way for the speaker to communicate to themselves, not a script for the audience.
Best Practices for Note Cards:
1. Size: Exactly . Larger notes compete with the audience for attention.
2. Single-Sided: Only write on one side to avoid getting lost.
3. Placement: Read from waist level. Do not bring cards to your face; it looks like a shield.
4. Spacing: Leave sufficient space. Cramped notes make it hard to find your place after looking at the audience.
5. Medium: Use dark ink. Pencil glares under fluorescent lights.
6. Vertical Writing: Writing vertically on the cards discourages writing long sentences.
7. Abbreviation: Use abbreviations to trigger memory (e.g., "Heroine rising NE States").
8. Sections: Create sections on the card (maximum of 4 sections using 3 lines). This helps you remember exactly where you left off.
9. Numbering: Number every card in case they are dropped or rearranged.
Rehearsing the Speech
Goal of Rehearsal: To convey the information, not the precise words. Because it is extemporaneous, the wording should change slightly every time.
Timing Protocol:
All speeches must be timed. Exceeding time limits is highly unprofessional as it steals time from other speakers.
Middle Time Strategy: In a class with a 2-minute window (e.g., 3-5 minutes), aim for the middle (4 minutes) during rehearsal.
Tool: Use a digital stopwatch/phone timer, not an analog clock.
Rehearsal Methods:
Segmental Rehearsal: Practice in - second chunks repeatedly until comfortable, then add the next chunk. This builds subconscious retention better than starting from the beginning every time.
Duration: Aim for an average of 1 hour of rehearsal for every 1 minute of speech time.
Schedule: Start at least one week in advance. Do not start the night before.
Rehearsal Integrity:
Finalize Content First: Once rehearsal begins, avoid revising the speech. Continual modification wastes rehearsal time and results in better content but lousy delivery.
Site Visit: Visit the speaking location ahead of time to check for projectors, mics, or space constraints.
Visualization: Imagine a real audience and practice eye contact during practice.
Out Loud: You must rehearse at the intended volume to train the mouth and throat and ensure accurate timing.
Gestures: Practice with body movements to utilize muscle memory.
Physical Preparation:
Avoid Stimulants: Caffeine or energy drinks can make you shaky and unfocused. Public speaking provides enough natural adrenaline.
Avoid Dairy: Dairy products can produce mucus that coats the throat and contain chemicals that cause drowsiness within hours of the speech.
Developing Delivery Skills: Eye Contact and Voice
Eye Contact Regulations:
Frequency: Maintain eye contact at least of the time.
Directness: Look directly into people's eyes. Do not look over their heads; the "looking at the back wall" trick is obvious.
Distribution: Move eye contact among all audience members (essential for groups up to 25 people).
Duration: Sustain contact for - seconds. Shorter is a "glance"; longer than seconds is considered "creepy."
Cultural Sensitivity: This Western style of direct eye contact may be challenging for students from cultures where it is seen as a lack of deference to authority.
Conversational Diction and Projection:
Audibility: If the back row cannot hear you, you are not doing your job.
Projection Exercise: Walk with a friend on a noisy street feet apart and converse over the noise daily for 1-2 weeks.
Clear Diction: Avoid slurring (common when nervous).
Diction Exercise: "Over-enunciation" (reading text slowly, exaggerating every syllable).
Nonsense Words Exercise: Repeat "abiday gibbida ta-ka" to work on consonants.
Emphasis: Avoid a monotone. Show interest in your own topic for the audience to follow.
Contractions: Unlike formal English papers, use contractions (e.g., "don't," "can't") to sound conversational.
The "Um/Uh" Filler Problem:
Fillers are unprofessional in public speaking.
Associations: There is evidence that "uh" is more common in men and "um" in women. Fillers vary by region and language (e.g., Japan uses "ano" or "eto").
The Three-Step Cure:
1. Recognize you do it.
2. Remember you do it.
3. Monitor every word as it comes out; replace the filler with a tiny moment of silence.
Gesturing and Body Language Guidelines
Hand Rules:
Never let your hands touch (including holding cards with both hands). This keeps the body open for gestures.
Keep only one hand on the cards at any time.
Keep hands visible at all times, even if sitting.
Gesture Quality:
Gesture regularly and vividly from start to finish.
Use both hands.
Avoid "Baby Gestures": Limited movements where hands stay close to the cards.
Avoid "Ready to Gesture": Holding hands out fixedly without actual movement.
Physical Stance:
Maintain a solid stance with both feet next to each other, facing the audience directly. Anything else suggests instability.
Bad Mannerisms to Avoid:
Hands in Pockets: Indicates hostility or insecurity.
Hands Behind Back: Indicates insecurity or distrust.
Hands on Hips: Conveys superiority or insecurity (though useful as a power pose before the speech out of sight).
Crossed Arms: Conveys disinterest or hostility.
Pacing: Avoid tiger-like pacing; if you can't walk controlled and casually, stay in one spot.
Crossing Ankles: Conveys instability.
Arms at Sides: Makes the speaker look like an uninteresting statue.
Hand Wringing: A clear sign of nervousness.
Dress Code:
Recommendation: Business or business casual.
Rationale: How you dress conveys your level of respect for the audience. Public speaking is a professional obligation. Avoiding pajamas or overly casual wear shows you value the audience's time.