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Lesson 18
Strategies for Effective Oral Delivery
VOCAL CUES
A voice communicates a great deal more than words alone. A presenter’s voice is a potentially powerful tool to make an oral delivery effective and impressive. Professionals whose careers depend on skilled communication take seriously the need to develop positive and powerful vocal attributes. The quality of a speaker's voice is determined by four characteristics: pitch, volume, rate, and tone. An effective speaking voice is well modulated, meaning the pitch, volume, rate, and lone are altered to give appropriate and interesting expression to the message. A voice that is pleasing and easy to listen to is mellow, meaning it is rich in tone and sounds fully mature. It is moderate; the pitch is not too low or too high, volume is not too loud or too soft, and the rate of speech is neither too fast nor too slow. To add to the effectiveness of a delivery, the qualities of a speaker's voice should be varied and congruent with the message. Vocal qualities should also be varied to provide contrast. In addition, since it is often perceived that the nature of a person's voice reflects something of the nature of the person, a presenter should develop and communicate with a steady, resonant, and mature voice. Pitch The term pitch refers to the degree of highness or lowness of a sound. Every voice has a normal pitch in terms of what is '"normal" for the speaker. The norm for an effective communicator is a pitch that can be raised a few levels without sounding squeaky and lowered a few levels without sounding grimly. Such a range allows a speaker to vary pitch for contrast while maintaining a vocal quality that is pleasing to the ear. Pitch has a notable impact on how a presenter is perceived. In every species that makes audible sounds, the young have higher-pitched voices than do grown adults. Consequently, a high-pitched voice is associated with immaturity. An excessively high-pitched voice is shrill and unpleasant to listen to for long. A person who speaks in a high-pitched voice will be taken more seriously if the pitch is lowered. An effective presenter uses pitch changes to indicate a change in the message. At the end of a sentence, dropping the pitch signifies a statement; raising the pitch signifies a question. For that reason, repeated lifts in pitch ac the end of declarative statements create an impression of a speaker who is uncertain. Occasional and appropriate variations in pitch can be used to accentuate meaning. Rapid, frequent, and meaningless changes in pitch make it difficult for an audience to listen attentively, and may suggest that the speaker is highly emotional or frantic. Volume Listeners want to clearly hear a speaker without straining to do so and without being blasted out of their chairs. A presenter who speaks too loudly may be perceived as bombastic, aggressive, or insensitive to listeners. On the other hand, one who speaks too softly may convey the impression of being passive or insecure. It is commonly thought that. a point is emphasized by voicing it more loudly. The reverse is true. An audience is more attentive to a point that is stated at a lower (but still clearly audible) volume. Emphasis is added by lifting the pitch, slowing the rate, and/or changing the tone of voice. (Vocal emphasis is further strengthened with appropriate visual cues.) Rate An average rate of speech is 140 words per minute. As with other vocal characteristics, the rate of speech should be varied during a presentation. For emphasis, a speaker may periodically slow down to less than 100 words per minute to voice a point in a deliberate manner. To elevate the level of energy or quickly
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convey a point of lesser importance, a speaker may occasionally accelerate the rate to more than 170 words per minute. A consistently slow rate of speech conveys fatigue or disinterest. Flailing speech can suggest that the speaker has difficulty formulating thoughts. Presenters who consistently speak at a rapid rate may be perceived to be nervous, impatient, or hurried. Tone The quality of tone is a combination of pitch, strength, and character. Character refers to the sense or meaning a particular tone conveys. For example, a tone of voice may be described as gentle, angry, sarcastic, childish, or serious. The tone of voice with which a speaker expresses a point says more to an audience than the words themselves. As with other vocal characteristics, tone also says something to an audience about the speaker. A faltering tone of voice is perceived as timid or indecisive, a harsh tone of voice as aggressive. A nasal lone lacks the depth that adds authority to a voice. A monotone or flat tone that lacks variations suggests a lack of interest or energy. Speech Patterns The term speech pattern refers to any vocal trait that is habitual. Although usually learned behavior, speech pattern are sometimes a reflection of a psychological or emotional condition. A person who repeatedly voices the phrase like “you know" may have acquired the habit from a peer group, or the pat- tern may signal that the person is nervous when speaking before a group. Like the characteristics of vocal quality (pitch, volume, rate, and tone), speech patterns can either contribute to or detract from a presenter's effectiveness. Some speech patterns are very pleasing and add to the clarity and meaning of a message, others are very distracting or muddle a message. The speech pattern with which presenters are most concerned arc inflec- tion articulation, fillers, pauses, and accents. Inflection. Proper inflection is the practice of altering the tone and/or pitch of voice to more clearly express or magnify meaning. It is an effective communication technique that can help to sustain audience attention and make a message more memorable. Proper inflection is a speech pattern of skilled speakers who deliver each point in just the right pitch and tone that exactly conveys the conveys of the information, how the speaker feels about the point, or how the speaker wants the audience to feel in response. Meaningless or misplaced inflection is a barrier to effective communication. For instance, a sing-song (roller-coaster) effect is produced by a repeated pattern of gradually raising pitch when voicing the first phrase of a compound sentence; peaking mid-sentence at the conjunction (and, or, but); then dropping the pitch as the second phrase is voiced. It is meaningless to repeatedly begin sentences with a booming volume, and then allow the volume to trail off at the end, with little or no inflection on selected words. Articulation Articulation is the skill of speaking in distinct syllables. Articulate speech is characterized by correct pronunciation and clear enunciation. More articulate speech is developed by listening to articulate speak- ers and emulating their speech patterns, checking a dictionary when in doubt about the pronunciation of a word, and practicing enunciation exercise. Enunciation exercise stress movement of the mouth; relaxation of the lips, tongue, and jaw muscles that are used to form words; and voicing consonants clearly and distinctly. Mumbling is a speech pattern lacking articulation. Speakers who mumble do not convey vocal vitality, they lose the advantage that skillful inflection adds to a presentation, and they may be perceived as disinterested or timid. Articulation can, however, be overdone. Precise and obviously deliberate attention
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Facial Expressions Standing before an audience, a presenter looks at the expressions on people's faces to ascertain audience reactions. Mentally, the presenter checks, "How does the audience feel about this point?" Likewise, an audience observes the presenter. From facial expressions, an audience derives a sense of how a presenter feels about a point and about them. Is the presenter smiling? Serious? Or wearing an expression of bland indifference? Is she grim or glad to be here? Does he appears confident or uncertain? Does the presenter appear relaxed and naturally expressive or tense and restrained? Some persons, nervous about speaking before a group, suppress their feelings in an attempt to exert self-control. The result is rigid and inhibited behavior that lacks expressiveness facially and in other respects as well. It is only by expressing how one feels about a subject that a presenter can hope to instill those same feelings in others. It does not suffice to express oneself in words alone. To have the greatest impact on audience, a presenter must express feelings visually. The excitement on a speaker's face generates excitement in an audience. An expression of concern prompts an audience to respond with concern. A facial expression that reveals anxiety causes an audience to feel anxious and uneasy. With respect to facial expressions in particular, it is helpful to address a group as though speaking to a trusted friend one-on-one. Many people who mask their feelings when presenting are animated communicators when they "just talk" showing a range of facial expressions that would move an audience to applaud. Eye Contact Of all the features of the face, none has more potential for expression than a person's eyes. Making eye contact with people in an audience is important because it sends a signal that the speaker is connecting with them. Attention to eye contact forces a presenter to become sufficiently prepared so as not to be dependent on reading from notes. Meaningful eye contact distinguishes relational presenters from information-bound speakers. To make and maintain eve contact entails more than merely looking at people. How a speaker looks at people in an audience is telling: the expression in and around a person's eyes is self-disclosing. A message and perceptions of the presenter are enhanced by meaningful and focused eye contact—meaningful in terms of being expressive, focused in terms of attentiveness to persons in the audience. Depending on other visual cues conveyed, shifting one's eyes creates an impression of being either nervous or devious. Presenters want to avoid being perceived as "shifty-eyed," a term used to describe someone who is not straightforward. Rolling one's eyes can communicate uncertainty, frustration, or annoyance traits that are not appealing in a professional presenter. A presenter should also refrain from fixated eye contact; that is, unrelentingly fixing one's gaze on any one point or person in the room. A speaker who concentrates on notes, the top of a podium, or on visual aids neglects the audience. Fixing one's gaze on one person can make that person feel uncomfortable. It is easier to make focused and meaningful eye contact with everyone in a meeting room when presenting to a small group. When presenting to a large audience, eye contact is made by "sweeping" the room with the eyes (similar to the way hands sweep the face of a clock). The technique is described below. Picture that people in the audience are seated on the face of a clock. Periodically focus on different points of the "clock": to 12 (the back of the room), 3 (the side of the room to your right), 9 (the side of the room to your left), 6 (the front of the room nearest you). Move your glance to the center of the clock, and then sweep the room again. To avoid following a pattern that becomes predictable to the audience, alter the direction in which your eyes sweep the room. Although the sweeping technique does not ensure that a speaker will make eye contact with every person in a large audience, it does promote the perception that the speaker is doing so. Presenters who refer to notes must develop skill at maintaining eye contact while handling notes. A
technique practiced by newscasters is useful. Notes are placed unobtrusively at waist height. The speakerdocsity.com
glances down to check facts (but doesn't drop the head too much), and quickly resumes eye contact with the audience. When changing from one sheet of notes to the next, the top sheet (or note card) is moved inconspicuously to the side and slipped under the bottom—without lifting, waving, or rattling pages in n distracting manner. Being very well prepared for a presentation minimizes the need to look at notes and frees a speaker to look at the audience with focused, meaningful eye contact. Gestures Natural, spontaneous gestures are an asset to a presentation provided they are consistent with the meaning a speaker intends to convey (and provided they are culturally correct). Appropriate gestures give physical expression to the spoken word. They are symbolic in nature, in that the meaning of many gestures is commonly understood among members of the same culture. What does it mean, for example, when a person responds to a question by shrugging the shoulders? In the United Stales, the gesture indicates, "I don't know." It could mean differently in a different country. In a business presentation, speaker should refrain from gesturing in ways that trigger negative responses from an audience. Pointing or wagging the index finger, for example, is impolite and potentially offensive. Pointing is perceived as parental and is often associated with scolding. Instead of pointing, emphasis can be added by gesturing, with an open hand, fingers together, palm and inner wrist turned slightly toward the audience, forearm slightly bent and extended at about a 45-degree angle to the side (not aimed directly at the audience). A point can also be accentuated by slightly raising the forearm and cupping the hand with fingers touching (in a manner that suggests the point is perched on the fingertips). When gesturing, fingers should be together (splayed fingers make hands appear larger and gestures more aggressive). The palm should be relaxed (slightly curved, as opposed to a flat and rigid palm). Hands should never be used to grip a podium. Doing so inhibits gesturing and conveys tension. A speaker should refrain from placing hands on hips with arms bent at the elbow a stance perceived as aggressive. In most situations, hands should be out of a speaker's pockets. Speakers who put their hands in their pockets often do so because they don't know what else lo do with them. From nervousness or lack of awareness, they jingle coins or rattle keys and distract the audience from the message. On occasion, when the setting is casual and a speaker wants to convey the impression of being "just one of the folks," placing hands in one's pockets (briefly) can be a gesture that puts an audience at ease. However, it is a gesture that should be done intentionally, sparingly, and only when appropriate to the setting. Gestures are more natural when arms and hands are relaxed. When not gesturing, arms may drop loosely to one's sides, or hands may be comfortably folded (not tensely clutched) in front of the body in a manner that curves the arms forward. When a presenter uses gestures to accentuate a message, arms and hands will not stay in any one position for long. Very expressive speakers need to lake care to avoid gesturing excessively. On the other hand, stoic speakers need to add gestures to their repertoire of presentation skills. When presenting to large groups, gestures need to be expressed more expansively or they will not be seen by people seated, at a distance from the platform. Movement The influence of television has accustomed people to viewing visual images in action. A presenter is a visual image. As a rule, when a speaker remains stationary, as though locked in one place on the platform, the interest of the audience wanes. When a speaker doesn't move. People in the audience don't move— their heads, their eyes, or their position while seated. Remaining sedentary for long is tiresome, and the last thing a presenter wants to create is the impression of being tiresome. Head Movement A speaker's head should move. How? In a manner that reinforces the meaning the speaker wants to convey. Nodding the head up and down communicates affirmation. Shaking the head side to side signifies
disagreement. Cocking the head to the side signals uncertainty, or suggests that a person is thinking. docsity.com
Clothing of very bold or bright colors should be avoided. Hot pink or neon green may be stylish and attractive to wear to a party, but will not create a favorable impression during a business presentation. Appropriate attire for a business presentation is not based on personal preference or styles that are currently in vogue for social occasions. The purpose of a business presentation is not to make a fashion statement. It is to deliver a message that the audience will take seriously. They will be more inclined to do so if the presenter looks like someone to be taken seriously. Avoid distracting habits Some behaviors do not belong on the platform of a business presentation, among them those listed below. Never chew gum in a business presentation. Never smoke in a business presentation. Refrain from fiddling with clothing, jewelry, hair, fingernails, audio-visual equipment, or in any manner that could distract the attention of the audience. A professional's platform behavior is always governed by good manners and courteous regard for the people in an audience.
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