Thursday, October 18, 2007

Oral Communication & Written Communication

How Do Oral Presentations Differ from Written Forms of Communication?

It seems obvious; oral presentations differ from written communication in that you are talking rather than writing. If you think about it for a moment, however, you'll realize that there are two critical points that flow from this, and which have a tremendous influence on how you prepare and deliver your presentations. If you understand these, you are well on your way to being an excellent presenter!

1 - There is no written record

Usually there is no complete written record for your audience to consult - you talk; they (hopefully) listen. This means that simple, direct presentations are best: otherwise you risk losing your audience's attention. Remind them periodically about the overall structure of your presentation, and how the information fits together. In other words, don't just present to your audience, but rather guide them through your presentation.

2 - You Must Understand and Use Non-verbal Communication (Body Language)

Remember, you are delivering your message in person, and in front of other people. This means that your message will not simply be what you are saying, but how you are saying it. In other words, you must take into account the fact that that your voice, posture, hand gestures, use of eye contact, and overall appearance are all sending their own messages, and that these have to fit with what you are saying. Non-verbal communications (body language) is critically important; in fact, lots of studies have shown that people pay more attention to how you present than what you present!





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