8 Principles of a Good Oral Communicator
Oral Communication
List and discuss at least eight (8) principles of a good oral communicator.
According to Lewis (1975), Communication means sharing messages, ideas, or attitudes that produce a degree of understanding between a sender and a receiver. Communication cannot take place until the receiver correctly receives and interprets the information and then respond. Oral communication implies communication through the mouth and includes individuals interacting using spoken words. Speeches, oral presentations and discussions are all forms of oral communications. Being a good oral communicator can enable you to inform, motivate, entertain or even persuade others to accept your points of view. There are many basic principles of being a good oral communicator. For the purpose of this paper I will briefly discuss eight (8) of these principles. Maintaining good eye contact with your audience, knowing your topic and purpose, showing emotion of passions and interest during your speech, presenting a rounded picture and speaking clearly and pleasantly in a conversational manner all contribute to a person being an effective oral communicator.
Being prepared is of most importance when giving a speech. Know your subject. Thoroughly research your topic and prepare for possible questions. The written speech should never be memorized. You will look stiff, sound uninteresting and bore your audience. Memorizing is a fatal mistake. It turns the speech into a mere recitation; and reciting is not nearly as effective as speaking direct to the audience. A speaker must be free to alter, omit, or add as he sees what his audience requires. If possible, make up index cards with notes or key phases to refer during your speech.
It is very important to connect with your audience. Speak to your audience, listen to their questions, respond to their reactions, adjust and adopt. One mistake speakers often make is trying to prove they’re smart. When you stand in front of an audience,
List and discuss at least eight (8) principles of a good oral communicator.
According to Lewis (1975), Communication means sharing messages, ideas, or attitudes that produce a degree of understanding between a sender and a receiver. Communication cannot take place until the receiver correctly receives and interprets the information and then respond. Oral communication implies communication through the mouth and includes individuals interacting using spoken words. Speeches, oral presentations and discussions are all forms of oral communications. Being a good oral communicator can enable you to inform, motivate, entertain or even persuade others to accept your points of view. There are many basic principles of being a good oral communicator. For the purpose of this paper I will briefly discuss eight (8) of these principles. Maintaining good eye contact with your audience, knowing your topic and purpose, showing emotion of passions and interest during your speech, presenting a rounded picture and speaking clearly and pleasantly in a conversational manner all contribute to a person being an effective oral communicator.
Being prepared is of most importance when giving a speech. Know your subject. Thoroughly research your topic and prepare for possible questions. The written speech should never be memorized. You will look stiff, sound uninteresting and bore your audience. Memorizing is a fatal mistake. It turns the speech into a mere recitation; and reciting is not nearly as effective as speaking direct to the audience. A speaker must be free to alter, omit, or add as he sees what his audience requires. If possible, make up index cards with notes or key phases to refer during your speech.
It is very important to connect with your audience. Speak to your audience, listen to their questions, respond to their reactions, adjust and adopt. One mistake speakers often make is trying to prove they’re smart. When you stand in front of an audience,
References: Lucas, Stephen, E. (2007). The Art of Public Speaking 9th Ed. NY: McGraw-Hill Companies. Pages 93- 99 Clarke-Ellis, Viris. 2003. Public Speaking: the art made simple. Kingston Retrieved from: http://www.studymode.com/public-speaking-448031.html on October 4, 2012