Techniques of Delivery

Hargie et al (2004, p. 72) outline a number of features of effective deliveries, summarised as follows:

•   Use appropriate language and avoid jargon. If the audience do not understand most of what is being talked about, they will become detached.

•   Be suitably paced. Inexperienced speakers have a habit of speaking too quickly. On the other hand, speaking too slowly is a recipe for boredom. Where speed of delivery may be a particular concern, think about placing an accomplice in the audience primed to signal when you get too slow or too quick.

•   Use visual aids without placing them centre stage. Even the best of these are only aids to assist the speaker.

•   Make use of sub-summaries, signposts and links. Pause at transitional points in the flow of ideas to briefly summarize the material covered. Explaining

how this ‘chunk’ of information links with what comes next helps to signpost the path through the presentation and increases its coherence.

•   Emphasize key points verbally, non-verbally and vocally. Emphasize verbally through listing key points (e.g. ‘It is vital that you recognise…’), repeating core elements etc; non-verbally (e.g. Gestures, changes in posture, position); and vocally (e.g. Altering volume, speed of delivery, tone of voice).

•   Be verbally fluent. Effective public speakers do not have to be word perfect. Nevertheless, lots of ‘umms’ ‘ahhhhs’ and other fillers such as ‘you know’ can be highly distracting.

•   Be concrete and precise, rather than appearing vague and indefinite.

•   Be varied, e.g. intersperse talk with graphs, slides or pieces of video that the audience can look at as a break from listening. If appropriate, encourage some discussion or ask the audience to work on a brief exercise.

•   Include carefully chosen examples – as a bridge between what the listener knows and is familiar with and the new material being introduced.

•   Avoid distractions, e.g. pacing around, playing with a pen or pointer, over use of certain stock phrases. Gain control of body language.

•   Seem natural and not contrived. This can take some time and practice.

•    Rehearse what is going to be said.