SPCH 1301-12-1
Delivery
COMS 3302
What is Good Delivery?
Good delivery does not call attention to itself. You want the audience to focus on what you say, not how you say it. When delivery is strong, the audience remembers your message’s content, not the style of delivery you put it in. This is an art, not a science. There are guidelines and rules to follow, but you need to be yourself, and let your personality emerge.
Methods of Delivery—There are four basic methods and each has advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation.
- Manuscript: Speech is written out word-for-word. A myth that this is a safe and easy way to deliver a speech. The weaknesses of this delivery are usually far more severe than the advantages.
Advantages: (1) control of time, (2) control of word choice, and (3) when style is critical—elegant language.
Disadvantages: (1) loss of eye contact and (2) loss of natural speaking style. The two disadvantages typically far outweigh the advantages of this style.
This delivery method requires much practice in order to attain a smooth, fluid speaking style while maintaining some degree of audience eye contact
- Memorized: Speech is memorized word-for-word. Can be effective for very short speeches, but its value is limited. Some tips on constructing:
Memorize the structure before the words.
As you practice it, try to visualize giving the speech so you can become conversational and avoid the sing-song type rhythm.
Don’t stare straight ahead; try to evenly distribute your gaze to all
Advantage: Eye contact should be excellent
Disadvantages: (1) Can be easily distracted and (2) often lose natural speaking style
- Impromptu: Off-the-cuff, lack of formal preparation...speech is given with little preparation. Can occur routinely in our jobs when the boss asks us for an update on some project we are working on.
Advantages:(1) Natural speaking style and (2) excellent eye contact
Disadvantages: (1) Weak organization and (2) weak support. Word choice is often poor, usually very general or vague on specifics, and in general, a waste of the audience’s time
- Extemporaneous: Carefully prepared and practiced but not written out like manuscript. Most associated method for business speeches. This creates a natural, conversational sound. It is flexible and allows speakers the chance to adjust to each audience and its responses.
Advantages: (1) Strong eye contact and (2) natural speaking style. Eye contact not as strong as memorized or impromptu, but good enough for effective public speaking.
Disadvantage: Word choice not as precise; but seldom is it necessary or required to be.
The Speaker’s Voice
Speak to that you have enough volume to be heard and understood. Must be able to be heard or nothing else matters. A good goal is to be able to be heard without amplification by 50-60 people in a room with average acoustics.
Vocal pitch: How high or low you sound...no variation is a monotone. Few people are true monotones, but many of us need to increase our vocal variation between our highs and lows. Habitual pitch is what we naturally speak at; while optimum pitch is the best we can do without straining our voice at either end.
Speakingrate: How fast or slow you speak. Your goal is to speak at a rate that is easily understood. Generally, when giving a speech, plan to speak a bit slower than you do in normal conversations. It is common for us to speak at a slightly faster rate than preferred due to heightened anxiety from this situation. Audiences generally like speakers who move a rapid clip, but within reason. A nice pace demonstrates knowledge and control. Too slow is highly unlikely to happen to anyone.
Use of pauses: Selective use of silence can be a helpful tool. This is a nonverbal way of saying to your audience, “this point is important, remember this!” Don’t overdo this or it will look like you are unsure of what you are saying.
Beware ofvocal fillers (vocalized pauses): The dreaded "uhm's", "er's", "you know's", etc. Keep to a minimum. To eliminate or reduce you first must become aware of them. They are bad habits and can distract an audience from listening to your message. A variation on this concept is the tag question, which is something like “know what I mean” or “okay” stuck on the end of a sentence. A few of these will not derail your presentation, but when the audience, like, starts counting them, you, eh, have trouble…know what I mean?
Pronounce words distinctly and naturally. Be careful with your language; don’t slaughter the language; try to pronounce words correctly but still naturally and comfortably.
For those who have accents or dialects. Don’t try to hide an accent or a dialect. The only thing that matters is being understood; not where you are from. If you have concerns, a slower rate will often off-set any problems with accents for understanding.
The Speaker’s Body
The Greek historian Herodotus said “people trust their ears less than their eyes. In other words, we tend to believe body language more than words when the two are inconsistent. We often form impressions about people and their message not on the content alone, but also on how they say with their body movements, gestures, appearance, etc.
Be conscious of your personal appearance. Clothing is often an unspoken communicator: Make sure your clothing doesn't clash with your message. Always consider how you will look to your audience and the image you will create. When in doubt, lean toward a more conservative appearance. Your goal should always be to create a favorable impression amongst your listeners.
Movement must be done with purpose and relevance. Provide some movement: No movement is bad...excessive movement is bad...but a little movement can be effective. Try to step beyond the lectern...at a minimum shift focus from behind lectern. A good way to create a casual, informal, but still professional atmosphere is to step out from behind the lectern and move a little closer to the audience. Eliminate distracting mannerisms. Don’t hold a pen while speaking; set your note cards down on the lectern. Avoid tugging on hair, hooking thumbs through belt loops, etc.
Gestures need to be free; keep your hands at the ready. Use gestures effectively: Use your hands to your advantage. Try to keep out of pockets for most of speech...let gestures be natural extension of your message. Iverson study on gestures of blind vs. sighted people concluded that gestures are a natural innate form of communication—take advantage of this.
Stand (do not sit) with a relaxed but alert posture. Do not sit for that is too casual for public speaking. Do not lean into the lectern and do not slouch while speaking.
Maintain eye contact. Eye contact is critical: Try to evenly distribute your gaze to all audience members. Don't "eye dart"; don't look 2" over heads and don't "head bob." A key element in any successful speech. Eye contact is one way to control the flow of conversation and who participates and who does not. To look at or away from others can send a strong message. Facial expressions serve as one more channel for effective communication. Generally, changes in facial expression precede and forecast shifts in tone and mood. The one expression that has the same meaning in every culture is the smile.
Managing the Impressions Others Have of You
Delivery Impressions
The first impression we have of you—your credibility— will start to emerge when you deliver a speech. You can enhance your credibility (ethos) by being sensitive to the following factors:
(1)Competence—competent speakers are informed, intelligent, and well-prepared. To fulfill this goal, pick topics you have some knowledge of; adequately research your topic no matter what your knowledge level; have your ideas clearly organized in a manner the audience can easily follow, cite authoritative sources, and refer to your own experience when applicable.
(2)Integrity—speakers with integrity are seen as honest, ethical, dependable, having the best interest of their audience at hand. Integrity can be presented in persuasive speeches by presenting all sides to an issue. The more a speaker asked for from an audience, the more important it is to have integrity.
(3)Likable—speakers who smile; have direct eye contact; enjoy laughter at appropriate times (especially at themselves); and make themselves seem more “human.” When audiences and identify with us, they tend to like us more. The term “identification” can be achieved by sharing stories and using examples the audience can relate to. Things not to do: wearing sunglasses, wearing hats, chewing gum; no combs or other foreign objects in your head.
(4)Forcefulness—speakers who are confident, decisive, and enthusiastic. Even if you don’t “feel” forceful, you need to project an image of energy but without going overboard and seemingly contrived. Speakers who talk about subjects they are uninterested in, seldom seem forceful.
Other Facts on Delivery:
- Research supports the claim that effective delivery can aid a speaker more in adding clarity to a message than in persuading others to agree with you.
- Effective delivery certainly does not harm persuasive efforts, but audiences are not inclined to agree with a speaker’s argument on the basis of delivery alone.
- Poor delivery can damage a speaker’s ethos (credibility) in the eyes of an audience. Effective delivery can enhance that credibility even if it doesn’t affect a change in audience attitudes.
- In order to be an effective communicator you must have a well-organized and supported message. Effective delivery, then, can make that message come to life and affect attitude change and/or add clarity for the audience.
- In short, effective delivery is a necessary but not a sufficient element of public speaking to present a successful message.