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Module-2
Oral Communication

Introduction: Meaning – Principles of successful oral communication, Conversation control

–Reflection and Empathy: two sides of effective oral communication.
Oral Presentation: Role of business presentations, Planning and Organizing Presentation,
Planning Team and Online Presentations, Developing Visual Support for Business
presentation, Practicing and Delivering Presentation - Refining your delivery.
Business Pitch:10 steps in Pitching, Elevator Pitching
Class room Exercise: Business pitch with video recording using PowerPoint and
feedback.

Definition Of Oral Communication

 Oral communication, also known as Verbal Communication, is the interchange of

verbal messages between sender and receiver.
 Oral communication, while primarily referring to spoken verbal communication,
can also employ visual aids and non-verbal elements to support the conveyance of
meaning.
 Oral communication includes speeches, presentations, discussions, and aspects of
interpersonal communication.
 As a type of face-to-face communication, body language and choice tonality play
a significant role, and may have a greater impact upon the listener than
informational content.
 This type of communication also garners immediate feedback.

Principles of Successful Oral Communication

1. Brevity.
2. Clarity.
3. Choosing Precise words.
4. Avoids Meaning less Phrases.
5. Sequences.
6. Avoid Jargons.
7. Avoid Verbosity.
8. 7 C’s of Communication.
9. Prepositions.
10. Adjectives & Verbs.

Characteristics of Effective Oral Communication

 Consider the objective

 Think about the interest level of the receiver
 Be sincere
 Use simple language, familiar words
 Be brief and precise

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 Avoid vagueness
 Give full facts: Great Delivery
 Assume nothing
 Use polite words: speaking without hurting
 Cut out insulting message
 Say something interesting and pleasing to the respondent
 Allow time to respond
 Listener participation
 Art of speaking

Reflection and Empathy

The body language should show the real interest in speech. Make eye contact. Lean forward.
And speak as a person with genuine feeling of other person with concern.

 Sense of time as a Skill: The time limits announced in formal oral activities should be
strictly observed. You place of conversation or presentation should not exceed 110-
120 word per minute.

 Summarizing as an integral part of oral communication: Before you express your

opinion or give your response to other's opinion, you should be able to recognize,
analyses and evaluate what the other person has said.

Two sides of Effective Oral Communication

 Listening
 Presenting

Listening

 Listening is an important component of conversation control.

 Definition of listening: It is a physical and psychological process that involves

choosing to listen, understanding, and responding to symbolic messages from others.

 To be able to understand appreciate the other person.

 Allow the communicator to talk freely without interrupted.

Characteristics of Good Listener and Poor Listener

Good listeners

 Do not interrupt
 Remain patient
 Make eye contact
 Show interest
 Low attentive
 Concentrate
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 Ask open question

Poor listeners

 Over- talkative
 Inattentive
 Interrupt
 Impatient to talk
 Poor concentration

Purposes for Listening

 To distinguish sounds.
 For enjoyment.
 To understand a message.
 To evaluate a message.

Principles of listening

 Listen Patiently.
 Understanding speakers feelings.
 Restatement & Summary.
 Time for discussion.
 Avoid expressing views.
 Less explanation.

Steps in the listening process

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Presenting

 Cut down habits such as interrupting or showing little interest.

 Its advisable to shun ‘yes’, ‘but’ and ‘ifs’.
 Try to encourage the other person by body language.

Be an Effective Presenter

 Try to present facts

 Not your opinions
 Keep to the point
 Keep the listener’s interest in mind
 Support your argument with suitable examples
 Ask for feed back and answer questions honestly
 Make eye contact

Non -Verbal Communication is the message or response not expressed or sent in words
-hints , suggestions , indications.

 Actions speak louder than words.

 “What you are speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say” -Ralph Waldo
Emerson
 There is a distinction between the meanings we ‘give’ in words and the meanings
we ‘give –off ’ in NV signals.
 Non -Verbal signals are unconscious parts of our behavior which is a deeply
rooted part in our entire makeup.
 In fact, it is the most basic part of our personality.
 Behavior has no opposite, i.e. there is no such thing as non-behavior.
 NVC is the unspoken communication that goes on in every Face-to-Face
encounter with another human being.
 It is recognized as the route to discover what the other side wants, without them
ever saying it, like a secret way into their soul.
 NVC stands for the innermost, instinctual form of human communication.
 Communication researcher Mehrabian found that only 7% of a message’s effect
are carried by words ; listeners receive the other 93% through non -verbal means.
 Bird whistell suggested that spoken words account for not more than 30-35% of
all our social interactions.
 Over 65 percent of the social meaning of the messages we send to others are
communicated non-verbally.

Kinesic Communication- Body Language

 Kinesic communication is a message conveyed through non-verbal acts.

 Kinesic communication is also know as body language or body talk

 Non-verbal clues influence the perception and understanding of the verbal message.
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 The bodily gestures, postures, and facial expressions by which a person

communicates non verbally with others”.

KINESICS:

♦POSTURE
♦GESTURE
♦FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
♦GAZE / EYE CONTACT

Body Language

 Facial expression(s)
 Eyes
 Lips
 Arms
 Hands
 Fingers

Classification of non-verbal Communication

 Symbols of Body Language

 Face facts
 Positive Gestures
 Negative gestures
 Signs of nervousness
 Gestures of aggressiveness
 Gestures of rudeness
 Gestures showing self importance
 Gestures showing lack of good sense
 Gestures showing superiority of position

Lateral Gestures

 Physical setting:

arrangements of furniture

 Dress:

pay attention to clothes when its needed to impress people

 Personal space:

space indicates the level of formality, informality, intimacy or distance between them

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Need for learning oral communication skills

 To help problem solving

 To resolve conflict
 To influence people to work together.
 To persuade others to be involved in organizational goals
 To be assertive without being aggressive
 To develop listening skills
 To be an effective negotiator
 To make a proposal

Oral communication requires skillful control of tone, voice, pitch and precise use of words.

The Nature of the Spoken Word

 The speaker should converse slowly, with proper semantic pause, to enable the
listener receive and register in his mind what ever is heard.
 Research has established that an individual speaks nearly 125 words a minute, and
the brain of the listener processes nearly 4-5 times more rapidly.
 An important principle of oral communication is to speak fluently, without long
pause or non-stop rushing through word.

Fluency

 Fluency usually means ease as a condition of speaking.

 The listener does not have to strain his mind to receive, register and interpret the
message heard.

Barriers of effective oral communication

1. Status
2. Complexes
3. Closed and all knowing mind
4. Poor retention
5. Premature evaluation and hurried conclusions as distortions
6. Abstracting
7. Slant
8. Cognitive dissonance
9. Language barrier

Conversation Control

 conversation control involves skills of listening and talking in a positive and

meaningful way at an appropriate time.
 techniques of changing the direction of conversation smoothly.
 The ability to allow a discussion to develop along key issues in an uninterrupted
way towards the desired end.
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Conversation Skills Control

 How to sell or buy

 How to negotiate
 How to interview
 How to participate in a meeting
 How to disagree without being rude
 How to protest without offending
 How to compliment/ praise
 How to respond to personal criticism

Ability to notice cues/clues

A cue is a keyword or phrase a person uses when he/she wants to indicate that something is
important to him/ her.

Interpreting signs and signals

 While speaking, we all unconsciously keep moving our hands, eyes, head, legs, and
other parts of the body or engage in some other non- verbal behavior.
 Signs consist of visual indicators such as frown, smile, eye movements and so on.
 Signals are behavioral indicators others an give us.

Parallel conversation

We engage in conversation to explore something. It may be to find out facts, or know the
issues, or seek out situations.

Sequential Conversation

When we converse in a skilful controlled way, we make statements that are sequence to
what is said by other person. There is a logical link between the statements made by the
speaker an the listener. Sequential conversation between two persons is always fruitful.

ORAL PRESNTATION

Role/ Importance of Business Presentation

Business presentations are often utilized by the organizations and companies as a way to sell
an idea or product for motivating the audience or training purposes. The presenter needs to
prepare and rehearse before a business presentation for becoming confident. There are many
factors that determine the effectiveness of a business presentation. Some of them are stated
below:

1. Connecting
A memorable bonding experience between the audience and the presenter is created by the
interactive business presentations. This type of presentations involves the audience and helps
in the driving home the overall message.

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2. Informative
Every listener wants to know about the main nuggets of information such as learning tricks
for improving the performance or how to overcome problems. A great presentation leaves the
audience with a good piece of information that should be eye-opening and enlightening.

3. Inspiring
It is very important that a business presentation should be able to capture the attention of the
audience. It should consist of the elements of a story, complete with anecdotes, lessons,
conflicts, and resolutions. In addition to this, the presentation also required targeting on the
important points from the start for capturing the attention of the audience.

4.Appealing
The impact of a business presentation on the audience is also affected by using visual or
physical props. Some of the factors that mostly appeal the audience are screen projectors,
handouts, slides and body language of the presenter. However, the exact impact of the props
greatly depends on their relevance to the presented information.

Types of Business Presentations

There are basically four types of business presentations stated below:
1. Group Presentations
The findings of a team are communicated by the group presentations. Generally, these types
of presentations remain informational in structure and seek to convince the people for
accepting new programs and strategies.
2. Presentation Aids
Nowadays, the computer programs such as Flash and PowerPoint are used by the presenters
for enhancing their presentation. Even the simple blackboard can augment the business
presentations by capturing the feedback and questions of the audience.
3. Persuasive Presentations
The main motive of a persuasive presentation is to convenience the audience for supporting
certain views. Generally, it outlines an organization goal or problem and then follows it by
the statements for detailing the present state of affairs.
4. Informative Presentations
This type of presentation consists of educating the audience. It consists of status reports or
summaries and starts with an overall goal that follows the action and specific plans.
In simple words, a business presentation plays a vital role in the advancement of any
organization.

Planning your Presentation

A good presentation requires careful planning. In general, you will need to follow these steps
to plan a successful presentation:

1. Brainstorm and outline: What's your topic? What do you know about the topic? What
do you want your audience to know?
2. Research: Use research to support your argument, find examples and statistics, or to
learn more about your topic.
3. Write an outline.
4. Write a draft.
5. Plan any visual aids such as PowerPoint or any activities you want your audience to
participate in

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6. Practice, practice, practice! Make sure your presentation is not too long, and edit it
down as needed.

Organizing your Presentation

A good presentation should be well organized, with a beginning, middle and end.

Beginning:
The beginning of a presentation is very important! This is when you have an opportunity to
grab the audience's attention, and set the tone for your presentation.

 Use an attention grabber. Some attention grabbing techniques include: asking a

thought-provoking question, showing the audience am intriguing picture, telling a
story or use a real life example related to your topic, sharing a shocking statistic
related to your topic, sharing a powerful quote, playing a short video
 Introduce yourself and the topic you will be discussing
 Outline what you will be talking about.

Body:

 Discuss your main points in a logical order

 It should be clear to your audience when you are moving from one point to another
 Use examples to support your points

Conclusion:

 Summarize the main points

 Avoid providing new information at this point, but you can state any additional
questions that you think your research has led you too
 Use language that lets your audience know that your presentation is coming to an end
 Avoid ending with "that's it!" or apologizing for your presentation
 Thank the audience for listening and invite questions

Signal Words and Transition Phrases

Using transition and signal phrases throughout your presentation will help keep it organized
and ensure your thoughts are communicated clearly. Try using some of the phrases below to
introduce ideas and structure your presentation.

Introducing your presentation:

 The topic/question I will be discussing today is...

 This presentation will investigate/examine...

Providing an outline:

 I want to start by..., then I will...

 This presentation is divided into [x number] of parts. First I will... then I will..., finally
I will conclude by...
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 There are [x number] of points I will discuss: A, B, C and D

 Let's begin by looking at... before examining...

Introducing your main point:

 A significant issue is...

 A major concern is...
 The central problem is...

Rephrasing your main point:

 In other words...
 Another way to think about the problem is...

Moving to another point:

 Now let's consider...

 I'd like to move on to examine...
 Now, turning to the issue of...

Introducing an example:

 A case in point is...

 Take the case of...
 This is illustrated/demonstrated by...
 An example of this is...

Introducing images or explaining visuals:

 This image/diagram illustrates...

 As you can see here...

Introducing and integrating videos:

 We will now watch a short video that illustrates...

 In the video we've just watched, it is important to note that...
 As the video demonstrates...

Conclusions:

 To sum up...
 In conclusion...
 In summary...
 To summarize...
 To conclude...
 Therefore...

Inviting and Answering Questions:

 I am happy to take questions now.

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 That's a very interesting question. In my opinion,...

 Thanks for your question. What my research shows is that...
 That's a relevant question, but it is out of the scope of my research.
 I'm afraid I cannot answer that question, but that's an interesting topic.

The above tips have been adapted from RMIT University Study and Learning Centre's "Oral
Presentations: Signalling and Transition Phrases."

TEAM PRESENTATION

Making a presentation can feel like a lonely task as you stand up and face your audience.
Whether you sink or swim all depends on your performance – and of course that depends on
how well prepared you are. There are times when you may have to give a presentation as part
of a team e.g. pitching for a contract. This can be a daunting prospect too as you have to rely
on other people and you may feel anxious about loss of control.

As a presentation team you need to work together closely to achieve your desired
outcome. The first step is to decide who should be in the team, who should lead and
what each person should be responsible for.
If possible, plan and structure your content so that the audience benefits from
contrast and variety. For example, if one speaker presents a lot of facts and figures;
the next could follow with some colourful images. Similarly, you can alternate the
voices or characters by perhaps having a serious personality followed by a more
light-hearted one. Again this helps keep your audience engaged.
Rehearsals are always important and particularly so for team presentations as there is
more chance things could fall apart. It’s about working together, deciding on the best
‘batting order’, making improvements to content etc. It is especially important to
rehearse handovers from one presenter to another. These are the things that
demonstrate to the audience that you are well organised, confident and truly a team –
not just a group of individuals.

Here is an example of a smooth handover:

Jack: “I’ll now hand you over to Jill who will explain the steps involved in the design
process.”
Jill: “Thanks Jack. (Then to the audience) I’d like to spend the next 10 minutes or so
talking you through how we will…………….”

Ten tips for being an effective team on the day

1. Arrive early and allow plenty of time for set up.

2. Agree who will sit where and what works best for the available space.

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3. Be supportive and encouraging towards colleagues who are particularly nervous about
presenting.
4. Have a strong leader to kick off the presentation effectively and to move things along.
5. When they are not presenting, the rest of the team should support their colleague by
paying attention and looking involved in what is being said.
6. Show some appropriate reactions e.g. nodding or smiling at certain points – even if
you’ve heard the presentation numerous times already!
7. Remember the impression you create with the audience counts for a great deal.
8. Glance at the audience now and again to show you are in touch with them. You might
pick up on some reactions or vibes too.
9. Never shuffle through your own notes while your colleague is talking.
10. Demonstrate a united front and back each other up throughout and especially at
question time.

In conclusion, giving a team presentation can be a very rewarding experience. It all

depends on teamwork and making sure you have all your ducks in a row.

Online Presentation

An online presentation is a prepared speech or talk in which a person or group provides

information, pitches a new idea, or introduces a new product or service through a video call.
Online presentations are given to an audience, usually in a business setting.

Start With Momentum

Virtual presentations are like taking a flight on an airplane. The beginning and ending are
super important, but the middle’s kind of a blur.

That’s why, if you’re going to prioritize any part of your presentation, you are better off
spending the majority of your energy on the first and last minutes. Let’s focus on the first
moments.

The beginning of your presentation is critical because it sets the tone—a good first
impression makes you feel confident and your audience relaxed. This forward momentum
will carry onto the middle part of your presentation where you’ll be presenting the bulk of
your data/statistics/information—so if you don’t nail your first impression, you won’t gain
that forward momentum you need for the rest of your presentation.

And believe me, people judge you almost instantly! Here’s what the science has to say about
first impressions

So when you’re delivering a presentation online, you should try to make your beginning as
error-free and smooth as possible. This includes being prepared and removing potential
roadblocks:

Fix computer errors: ALWAYS double- or triple-check your equipment before giving a
virtual presentation. Make sure your microphone, webcam, and internet is working. If you
have to fumble around with technical details during the video call, your audience may have
the impression that you are unreliable.
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Eliminate distractions: Silence your phone, turn off desktop notifications, get rid of loud fan
noises, and make sure your room is kid/dog free. Keep in mind that your audience will likely
be listening through their headphones, so even the tiniest of noises might be heard.

Dress appropriately: Here’s an easy one that some people actually neglect. Have you ever
been in a situation where you feel like you should have worn something a little nicer? If you
are giving a business presentation, dress in business appropriate attire (yes, even the pants,
too!). It’s best to match your audience—and if in doubt, err on the side of professional! It’s
also important to wear a color to stand out from your background, but not a color that’s too
distracting.

Be happy: Like it or not, we can’t hide our emotions. Research shows that people can hear
your mood from your voice. So if you’re not in a good mood, try boosting it! Watch some
funny YouTube videos or give yourself a small pep talk. Sounding confident and happy is the
key to success, so make sure you are in the right mood before you go live.

Open With IISSAAQQ

What does this really bad spelling of Isaac stand for? IISSAAQQ stands for the best ways to
start an online presentation:

Icebreaker: One of the best ways to open up your audience is to give a virtual icebreaker. I
always keep an icebreaker on hand that can be done over the computer before starting any
online presentation—it’s one of the best ways to connect with your audience!

Illustration: You can say to the audience “Remember when…” and provide a picture, or
paint a scene by telling the audience to imagine a scene when xyzzy occurred.

Short story: A short personal story or story about someone else can really grip people, but
the key is to make it short and not drag on.

Statistic or surprising fact: A really good statistic can get people thinking and challenge
their perspective.

Aphorism: An aphorism is a common phrase or saying, such as “an apple a day keeps the
doctor away.” Add a twist to the aphorism for added effect (“an apple a day keeps the doctor
away… except if you’re sitting with an apple computer for 8 hours a day.”

Analogy or metaphor: Saying an analogy (“User interface is like peeling an onion”) can
really break down complex terms into more simpler ones, making it more digestible for your
audience.

Question: Starting with an engaging question can add a great amount of audience
engagement, or even asking a rhetorical question can get them thinking out-of-the-box.

Quote: A great way to start your online presentation is with a quote–but it should be related
to your presentation and from a credible source.

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End With a Bang

The ending is the part where your audience is (hopefully) happy that the presentation is over,
and they feel like they’ve learned something or feel inspired to change. If you’ve made it this
far in your presentation, the LAST thing you want to do is crash and burn. So here are some
tips to make an amazing presentation that will remain in your audience’s mind long after it
has ended.

Have an easy solution: The last few slides of your presentation should not be too
information-heavy. Keep that for the middle. Your last slides should be both convincing and
easy-to-understand.

Have a clear ending: Avoid the awkward “So, does anyone have any questions?” moment
by providing an end slide to your virtual presentation. It can be a simple recap of the
presentation, or a call to action.

Include a digital goodie: Include a digital goodie at the end! Everybody loves getting things,
and it shouldn’t stop just because you are online. Digital goodies might include a
downloadable PDF or document that includes more statistics/research or a list of relevant
sources related to your presentation.

Lead with a call to action: Calls to action are driven by emotion. And they work because we
often respond to emotion over logic. If your business is proposing a new solution to an
existing problem, try focusing on the emotional benefits vs. the statistics—happier customers
vs. less product returns, cleaner world vs. smaller carbon footprint, etc. You can also try this
double method: start with the negative, which amplifies the potential bad that might happen if
your recommendation is not taken. Then, you can add in the positive, which highlights the
good that can happen when your recommendation is taken.

End with humor: One of the best ways to end a presentation is to use humor. If you do it
right, you can leave a HUGE impression on your audience that will last for days, weeks, or
months! There are a few ways to end with humor. First, you can introduce a question in the
beginning or middle of your presentation and answer it in a funny, surprising way at the end.
Second, you can end a story you started but stopped in the beginning or middle of the
presentation. Some really good people to draw inspiration from are stand-up comedians. One
great example of callback humor is in the movie, Airplane! In the beginning of a movie, a
passenger enters a taxi. The driver tells the passenger to wait for a bit, but the driver never
comes back as he ends up on an airplane instead. In the closing credits, this scene is played,
which recalls the intro of the movie in a funny but memorable way:

Good Visual Aids During a Business Presentation

Good visuals in a business presentation can range from complex videos to a simple poster.
For those presenters who are not skilled in the video arts, there are several ways to present
information with visuals that will help your audience remember key points long after your

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presentation has ended. Three effective methods include PowerPoint presentations, flip
charts and posters.

PowerPoint Presentations

PowerPoint offers hundreds of font, audio and image options for its users. The first thing
presenters should understand is that just because there are 350 font options does not mean
you should use them. Always use either light font over a dark background or dark font over
a light background. Avoid red font and green backgrounds or fonts and backgrounds that
are close on the color wheel as they will be difficult to read. Follow the rule of 8. The rule
of 8 states that you should be able to read your presentation while standing 8 feet away
from the standard computer screen. If the font is too small to read from this distance, it will
be too small to read in your presentation. Include a maximum of five points per page.

Effective Flip Charts

Flip Charts are not only inexpensive but they can also be used for ideas and brainstorming
within the context of the meeting. Use dark markers to write on a flip chart and make sure
you have plenty of paper on the flip chart pad. Some flip charts now have adhesive on the
back of each page so the presenter when finished, can stick the page to a corresponding
wall that the audience can see. This feature prevents having to flip back and forth from
page to page wasting valuable time and allows for writing a free flow of ideas with ease.

Effective Posters

Posters are prepared much in advance of a presentation. The simplest posters can be made
from poster board with graphics and text added with glue or tape. More advanced posters
can be made using PowerPoint and then printed and laminated for a more professional look.
Change the size of your PowerPoint slide to a good poster size, such as 2-by-3 feet , and
decrease the view percentage on your computer screen to around 25 percent, or the smallest
view that still allows you to see each element clearly. PowerPoint hints also apply to poster
design. Avoid designing posters that are too busy or have too much text. A poster should
have an eye-catching visual that tells the story without viewers having to read paragraphs of
accompanying text.

Considerations

Simplicity is key in conveying information visually. The more complex the visual, the more
likely you are to lose the message you are trying to convey. Visuals can help your audience
retain information up to six times longer. Beware, however, of staying on one visual for too
long. According to The Eggleston Group, studies show that audience members become
bored with a visual after 7 to 10 seconds. Always rehearse with your visuals. Don't forget to
inspect the room where you will be presenting to make sure the elements required for your
presentation, such as projectors, screens and outlets, are available.

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Practicing a Presentation

Did you know that the more you practice a presentation, the more you will sound as though
you are presenting spontaneously? It takes great practice to pull off a flawless, professional
presentation. In this lesson, you will learn the importance of practicing a presentation.
Let's examine a common business scenario for presentation development. Jessica works as a
marketing manager of a candy company and has been assigned to present product research
information to the marketing and sales team.

Importance of Practicing

There are many reasons to embrace practicing as part of a presentation repertoire. Practicing
helps eliminate speaking flaws, such as tongue twisters, poorly worded sentences, or
difficult-to-pronounce words. For example, if Jessica's candy presentation contains the
tongue twister 'World Wide Web,' it would help if she would practice saying the phrase so
that it flows off her tongue. In addition, if her new candy flavor is espresso-flavored, she
should pronounce it 'espresso' and not 'expresso.'
Practicing sets good timing for the presentation delivery. For example, Jessica might
assemble a presentation and estimate a time of 30 minutes based on the number of slides.
Unfortunately, if Jessica doesn't actually run through the presentation, she could end up with
a speech double the length.
Practicing reduces nervousness and gauges a speaker's energy level. Many presenters quickly
realize that giving a speech without any practice creates instant nervousness and trepidation.
If Jessica is able to practice and gain confidence, it will make her presentation engaging and
professional.

Techniques for Practicing

There are different techniques available to presenters to choose how they want to practice
their presentation. The first method is to recreate the presentation environment. This can be
achieved by practicing the speech in the room where Jessica will be later speaking.
In addition, it is helpful to use props and practice moving around the room. Jessica would
want to practice her visual cues by bringing examples of the new espresso candy, setting up
her technology needs, and moving around the room while delivering her speech. It would also
benefit Jessica to arrive an hour early to do a dry run through of her entire candy presentation.
This will help her gain confidence and will work out any last minute issues.

Delivering the Presentation

How you say things may often appear to be more important than what you say. Have you
listened to charismatic speakers who gain and maintain the attention of the audience? Have
you also encountered speakers who quickly put an audience to sleep? Experienced presenters
learn to communicate effectively by using voice, gestures, and visual aids while trying to
establishing a comfortable environment for the audience.

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Voice

Using your voice effectively can have a great impact on your delivery. The
best speaking voice is conversational, natural, and enthusiastic. Use the following guidelines
to develop an effective speaking voice:

 Alter the pitch (high and low) of your voice to prevent yourself from sounding
monotone. Don't alter the pitch too much, however, because this may make you sound
unnatural.

 Speak loudly enough to be heard by everyone in the room, but vary the volume of
your voice to maintain interest and emphasize key points.

 Stress certain words as another way to add emphasis. Typically when you stress a
word, the pitch and the volume increase.

 Alter the rate at which you speak to maintain interest and add emphasis. Speak faster
to show excitement and/or build suspense. Speak slower to show the importance of an
idea. Pause after important ideas to allow the audience time to grasp them.

Gestures

Speakers often communicate with their audience either intentionally or unintentionally using
gestures and other physical behaviors. Use the guidelines below to help use gestures to your
benefit:

 Maintain eye contact with members of the audience to keep their attention level high.
Eye contact signals that you care about the audience and you are attuned to their
needs. Also use eye contact to detect confusion or boredom so that you can then
modify your approach.

 Use positive facial expressions such as smiles, expressive eyes, and looks of empathy
and encouragement to communicate feelings and emotions.

 Stand naturally with your feet spread slightly apart and arms relaxed at your sides.

 Minimize gestures like pacing back and forth, rocking back and forth, playing with
coins in your pocket, wringing your hands, and other types of fidgeting. These
gestures not only signal that you are nervous, but they are distracting to the listener as
well.

 Use quick and energetic movements of your hands and arms to add expression to your
talk. Maintain the attention of the audience by making your movements unpredictable
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Visual Aids in Presentation

Visual aids can help you emphasize main ideas, illustrate

a concept, or stimulate the interest of your listeners. Examples of visual aids include posters,
overheads, flip charts, photographs, computer-generated slides, and three-dimensional
effects.

 Use visual aids to emphasize important points and add interest to your presentation —
don't put every word of your entire presentation on them.

 Select the appropriate visual aid for the environment. It may be possible to pass
visuals around to a small audience but in large groups you'll need to project them.

 Give the visuals a consistent appearance including color and spacing. Start the text at
the same place on each visual.

 Try to observe the seven by seven rule: on an overhead slide have no more than seven
lines and seven words per line. Similar rules would also pertain to flip charts,
PowerPoint and other computer generated slides, and posters.

 Use a simple typeface or font. Don't use more than two different typefaces, if
possible.

 Make sure the text is large enough for people in the back of the room to read. Letters
on a flipchart should be at least 3 inches in height. For a projected overhead or slide,
fonts between 20 and 48 points are customary.

 Don't show visuals that conflict with what you're saying — this includes displaying
them once you've moved beyond their content.

 Don't read the text that's on the visual, but do paraphrase and add to it.

Establishing a Comfortable Environment

While you won't always have control over the environment when you do a presentation, there
may be ways you can modify the environment so that it is both comfortable for you and the
audience members. The guidelines that follow are intended to help you become aware of
environmental factors that can affect the delivery of your presentation.

 Make sure the lighting is adequate.

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 Locate the temperature controls and regulate the temperature if necessary. If it is too
warm or too cold, audience members will focus on their discomfort rather than on
your presentation.

 Conduct a test of any audiovisual equipment to ensure it's in working order. Have a
backup plan in place just in case — whatever can go wrong, will go wrong at the
worst possible time.

 Clean off any white boards or chalk boards that might distract the audience.

 Make adjustments to the setup of the room to ensure everyone in the audience will be
able to see you. Make sure that everyone can see the visuals you plan to use.

 If possible, practice your talk in the setting where you are scheduled to speak. This
will not only help you determine what other factors you might have to overcome, but
also make you feel more comfortable. If practicing in the room isn't possible, try to
visit it prior to your presentation so you know what to expect.

 When possible, greet members of the audience as they come into the room. Not only
will this make them feel welcome and at ease, but it may also help reduce your
nervousness.

 Try to eliminate barriers between you and the audience. These kinds of barriers
include lecterns, tables, or audiovisual equipment. Physical barriers communicate that
you're trying to maintain your distance from the audience.

REFINING YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS

1. Identifying the need.

2. Decide on Formal.

3. Formulate Your Objectives.

a) Productivity Objective

b) Performance objectives

c) Ability/Skill objectives

d) Knowledge objectives

e) Receptivity objectives

4. Understand the Audience

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MBA-SVIT
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MBA-SVIT
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10 Ways to Create a Successful Business Pitch

Recently, the term “business pitch” has become as popular as the term “startup.” A pitch is
essentially a business plan that one presents verbally to potential investors of a business. A
shorter summary of the complete pitch is an elevator pitch. The startup owner has to clearly
explain the business opportunity to the investors, so that they can make the most appropriate
decision.

Here are 10 necessary steps to create a winning pitch for your business.

1. Time span

The pitch should be clearly explained to the investors in a short time. You should know that
you only have a few minutes to sell your business idea. This is a do-or-die situation, which
requires the utmost composure.

2. Make your presentation realistic

Presenting a realistic picture of the future prospects of the business is preferred. You have
been running the business with your own funds up until now, so you have had your share of
successes and failures. Your projections must be based on those experiences and must sound
absolutely realistic.

Related: Create a Business Plan in 15 Minutes or Less

3. Savings attitude

One of the most important qualities of a startup founder is financial control. Having an
understanding of where each and every penny is being spent in the business will add to your
brownie points. You have to make the investors know that you have a grip on the business
and its operations. They should feel that you are a dependable leader and are passionate about
your vision.

4. The business opportunity

The most important aspect of pitching for your business is to highlight the business
opportunity and how are you going to tap it. Your business is out there to fill gaps, but it is
the size of the market and its affinity to the product that will fetch you the investor’s trust.
Highlighting the opportunities and challenges would help you put forth your arguments more
assertively.

5. Understanding of the competition

Understanding the competition is important for every business owner, which must be
showcased while presenting the business pitch. An in-depth competition analysis must be
presented and you must highlight how your product stands out and has better future
prospects, as compared to others.
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6. Marketing strategy

Knowing your marketing plan is another very important aspect of pitching your business.
Your goal is to build a market for your products and services. The strategy has to be clearly
explained to the investors, so they know how are you going to position the product in the
market.

7. Target audience

Being focused about your business and knowing who exactly you wish to sell to is important
for the business. This lets you earn the investors’ confidence so they know that you are going
to reach out to a tangible audience and achieve the desired profitability.

Related: Sign up to receive the Startup Nation newsletter!

8. Focus

The more focused your approach, the higher your chances will be of getting the desired
amount of funding. In your pitch, you need to communicate the precise plan of action, and
how you will use it to achieve the desired results. You also need to be specific about the
amount of funding you require.

9. Create a multi-level pitch

A multi-level pitch helps you divide the pitch into shorter and longer versions. The shorter
versions help in explaining the basics. The longer version helps to explain the details and how
the plan is going to be executed.

10. Get your team to participate

A business leader must always take his or her team along with them. This adds to the
confidence of the audience. You should encourage team members to participate in the pitch
process by planning out the speaking slots for them. A strong team showcases the ability of
the business to grow and provide the desired return to the investors.

Making a successful business pitch to your investors may seem challenging, but using the
right approach will surely bring you supporters.

At to Say

What Not to Say and Do

Elevator Pitch Examples

What's an elevator pitch, and how can it help your career? An elevator pitch—also known as
an elevator speech—is a quick synopsis of your background and experience. The reason it's
called an elevator pitch is that it should be short enough to present during a brief elevator
ride.

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This speech is all about you: who you are, what you do, and what you want to do (if you're
job hunting).

Your elevator pitch is a way to share your expertise and credentials quickly and effectively
with people who don't know you.

Done right, this short speech helps you introduce yourself to career and business connections
in a compelling way. It can help you build your network, land a job, or connect with new
colleagues on your first day of work.

When and How to Use an Elevator Speech

If you're job searching, you can use your elevator pitch at job fairs and career expos, and
online in your LinkedIn summary or Twitter bio, for example. An elevator speech is a great
way to gain confidence in introducing yourself to hiring managers and company
representatives.

You can also use your elevator pitch to introduce yourself at networking events and mixers. If
you're attending professional association programs and activities, or any other type of
gathering, have your pitch ready to share with those you meet.

Your elevator pitch can be used during job interviews, especially when you're asked about
yourself. Interviewers often begin with the question, "Tell me about yourself" — think of
your elevator pitch as a super-condensed version of your response to that request.

What to Say

Your elevator speech should be brief. Restrict the speech to 30-60 seconds. You don't need to
include your entire work history and career objectives. Your pitch should be a short recap of
who you are and what you do.

You need to be persuasive. Even though it's a short pitch, your elevator speech should be
compelling enough to spark the listener's interest in your idea, organization, or background.

Share your skills. Your elevator pitch should explain who you are and what qualifications and
skills you have. Try to focus on assets that add value in many situations. This is your chance
to brag a bit — avoid sounding boastful, but do share what you bring to the table.

Practice, practice, practice. The best way to feel comfortable about giving an elevator speech
is to practice it until the speed and “pitch” come naturally, without sounding robotic. You
will get used to varying the conversation as you practice doing so. The more you practice, the
easier it will be to deliver it when you’re at a career networking event or job interview.

Practice giving your speech to a friend or recording it. This will help you know whether
you're keeping within the time limit and giving a coherent message.
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Be positive and flexible. You often aren’t interviewing for a specific position when you
deliver your pitch, so you want to appear open-minded and flexible. Don’t lead with the stuff
you’d rather not be doing. (For example, if you don’t want to travel a lot for work, that’s
completely legitimate – but you needn’t volunteer that information right off the bat.) This is
your chance to make a great first impression with a potential employer. Don’t waste it.

Mention your goals. You don't need to get too specific. An overly targeted goal isn't helpful
since your pitch will be used in many circumstances, and with many different types of
people. But do remember to say what you're looking for. For instance, you might say, "a role
in accounting" or "an opportunity to apply my sales skills to a new market" or "to relocate to
San Francisco with a job in this same industry."

Know your audience, and speak to them. In some cases, using jargon can be a powerful move
— it demonstrates your industry knowledge. But be wary of using jargon during an elevator
pitch, particularly if you're speaking to recruiters, who may find the terms unfamiliar and off-
putting. Keep it simple and focused.

Have a business card ready. If you have a business card, offer it at the end of the conversation
as a way to continue the dialog. If you don’t, you could offer to use your smartphone to share
your contact information. A copy of your resume, if you're at a job fair or a professional
networking event, will also demonstrate your enthusiasm and preparedness.

What Not to Say and Do During Your Elevator Speech

Don't speak too fast. Yes, you only have a short time to convey a lot of information. But don't
try to fix this dilemma by speaking quickly. This will only make it hard for listeners to absorb
your message.

Avoid rambling. This is why it's so important to practice your elevator speech. While you
don't want to over-rehearse, and subsequently sound stilted, you also don't want to have
unfocused or unclear sentences in your pitch, or get off-track. Give the person you’re talking
to an opportunity to interject or respond.

Don't frown, or speak in a monotone way. Here's one of the downsides to rehearsing: it can
leave you more focused on remembering the exact words you want to use, and less on how
you're carrying yourself. Keep your energy level high, confident, and enthusiastic.

Modulate your voice to keep listeners interested, keep your facial expression friendly, and
smile.

Don't restrict yourself to a single elevator pitch. Maybe you're interested in pursuing two
fields — public relations and content strategy. Many of your communication skills will apply
to both those fields, but you'll want to tailor your pitch depending on who you are speaking
to. You may also want to have a more casual, personal pitch prepared for social settings.

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Elevator Pitch Examples

Use these examples as guidelines in crafting your own elevator pitch. Make sure your speech
includes details on your background, as well as what you'd provide an employer with:

I recently graduated from college with a degree in communications. I worked on the college
newspaper as a reporter, and eventually, as the editor of the arts section. I'm looking for a job
that will put my skills as a journalist to work.

I have a decade's worth of experience in accounting, working primarily with small and
midsize firms. If your company is ever in need of an extra set of hands, I'd be thrilled to
consult.

My name is Bob, and after years of working at other dentists' offices, I'm taking the plunge
and opening my own office. If you know anyone who's looking for a new dentist, I hope
you'll send them my way!

I create illustrations for websites and brands. My passion is coming up with creative ways to
express a message, and drawing illustrations that people share on social media.

I'm a lawyer with the government, based out of D.C. I grew up in Ohio, though, and I'm
looking to relocate closer to my roots, and join a family-friendly firm. I specialize in labor
law and worked for ABC firm before joining the government.

My name is Sarah, and I run a trucking company. It's a family-owned business, and we think
the personal touch makes a big difference to our customers. Not only do we guarantee on-
time delivery, but my father and I personally answer the phones, not an automated system.

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Prof. Manjunatha S
MBA-SVIT