Page 49 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Advanced Communication Skills

Notes Introduction

In business organizations, presentations and public speaking by the executives and other personals
are regular features. No matter what the area of responsibility is or what type of organization is
for which you are working, you have to give a presentation or speech sooner or later. You may
be asked to talk to colleagues, clients, suppliers for the general public. You may be asked to
speak for 15 minutes or one hour. Hence, public speaking and presentation skills are very much
essential for professional excellence. Technical skills account for 22-25% of professional excellence
and rest depends upon soft skills that include public speaking and presentation skills. Speaking
effectively and making an effective presentation is a skill that can be learnt, studied and polished.
In this unit, guidelines are discussed in learning the techniques/skills of making presentations
and public speaking.

2.1 Presentation Skills

A presentation is essential for the students, researchers and working managers in today’s fast
moving business environment. If presentation is effective, it creates a good impression about
the speaker and it clearly communicates the information. The presentation also reveals the
attributes of the personality of the speaker, i.e. confidence, fluency, style and conducting discussion
and debates. Business presentation differs from public speaking.
Points of Difference Business Presentations Public Speaking
Aim of speaking To give the audience what To give the audience what
Notes they know they need they believe they want
Type of audience Generally homogenous in Mostly heterogeneous
terms of their knowledge,
area of academic or
professional interest etc.
Expectations of audience Complete details about the Do not expect a lot of
topic details
Amount of information More Less
Level of interaction More, as the audience wishes Less, as a general
to understand the topic understanding is desired
thoroughly by the audience

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A presentation is a live mode of sharing information with a select audience. It is a form of oral
communication in which a person shares factual information with a particular audience. We can
define presentation as an oral activity using visual electronic aids to discuss new ideas and
information with a specific audience in an impressive and convincing manner.

2.2 Features of Presentation

1. A presentation is not a lecture. Classrooms lectures have well defined educational
objectives. Students raise questions and answer questions put by the teacher. A classroom
lecture is ideally a two-way communication process. But presentations are one-way,
initially. The audience sits through listening, watching, and taking notes.
2. The focus is on persuading the listeners to buy the ideas that are shared.

3. A presentation has a well-defined format. The audience sits through the delivery without
interrupting the presenter and after the completion of presentation, the audience is invited
to ask questions or seek clarifications.

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