Page 57 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Advanced Communication Skills

Notes
4. Tell them what next: Your listeners may not remember links and transitions you
move through in your arguments/presentation. You alone know when you move
from one stage or step to another step. You should, therefore, help your audience
know that you are introducing a new point so that they follow your sequence.

2.5 Six Great Helpers in Presentation

To enhance one’s presentation skill it is absolutely imperative to secure the help of the six great
helpers – the five W’s and the one H. The concept of incorporating them as extremely useful
tools in the art of writing fiction was first propagated by Rudyard Kipling. Subsequent to this,
experts in various disciplines realized their need in specific areas. Communication too,
incorporated them as helpers to explain the basic concepts of presentation and interaction. These
are as follows:

Why

The purpose of presentation must be clear to the speaker. It is necessary to be aware of the real
reason for making a presentation. If it is of a frivolous nature, where the basic intent is furthering
and cementing of social relationships, problems do not arise. However, if the thrust is on
intersection oriented presentation, care must be taken to concretize ideas with correct emphasis
at appropriate junctures. Let us address some queries which might help us in streamlining our
purpose.
Why am I making a presentation? What is the real reason for conveying my message? What does
the audience stand to gain from my presentation? In other words, a personal brainstorming
session prior to formulation of ideas in a logical sequence is necessary. This could be done by
listening to all ideas and thoughts that crowd the mind. Sorting or prioritizing them in order of
importance or manner of presentation can be done at a later stage. In the initial phase, it is
important to list down all ideas. Next, one should attempt to guess the reaction of the listener:
what would you achieve or aim to achieve through an effective and efficient transmission of
your message – a change of attitude or belief, or an increase in knowledge on the part of the
listener?
Having answered this query, your purposive message is formulated, which could be:

1. To inform: Provision of information could be in the form of details, facts and figures.
2. To persuade: Adoption of face saving devices or politeness tactics such as “please”, “thank
you”, etc., will be effective.

3. To persuade: Usage of talk tactics such as, name dropping or use of power or position to
force the co-interactant into accepting your point of view often helps in exercising your
influence over the audience.
4. To educate: Provision of all facets of the issue should be discussed, so that there is greater
comprehension on the part of the receiver.

5. To empathise: This means observance of an empathetic attitude. Empathise with the
interactant and to feel or at least indicate that similar feelings are being shared. It could be
verbal, i.e., in the form of expressing condolence or concern or it could be non-verbal, such
as clucking of the tongue or putting an arm around the shoulder to show concern.
6. To entertain: Usage of strategies, such as humour, narration of anecdotes, short quizzes or
music will elevate the mood and break the monotony of the presentation.

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