SPEAKING SKILLS

What are speaking skills?

The ability to speak confidently and fluently is something which children will develop during their time at school, and something that will help them throughout their life.

Speaking skills are defined as the skills which allow us to communicate effectively. They give us the ability to convey information verbally and in a way that the listener can 

understand.

What are the four fundamental language skills

Reading, writing, speaking, and listening are the four fundamental language skills that help people communicate and understand the world around them:

Speaking

Allows people to express their thoughts, ideas, and emotions to interact with others.

Listening

The counterpart to speaking, and is equally important for effective communication.

Reading

Helps people expand their knowledge and understanding of language.

Writing

Allows people to express their thoughts and ideas in a structured and organized manner. 

These skills are interconnected and important for success in school, work, and personal relationships. 

Here are some ways these skills complement each other:

Reading and vocabulary: Reading can enhance vocabulary, which can improve speaking and writing.

Listening and comprehension: Listening can sharpen comprehension skills, which can help with spoken and written communication.

Speaking and fluency: Speaking can help people become more fluent, which can help them learn better. 

The LSRW method is a way of learning that focuses on listening, speaking, reading, and writing in that order. This method can help people learn more effectively. 

The Four Elements of Speaking Skills

Vocabulary: A vocabulary is a set of familiar words within a person's language.

Grammar: The rules of a language, for example for forming words or joining words together in sentences

Pronunciation: the act or result of producing the sounds of speech with reference to some standard of correctness or acceptability. The way in which a particular letter word or sound is said

Fluency: Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression.

Types of Speaking Skills

1. Informative

2. Instructional

3. Persuasive Presentation

4. Decision Making Presentation

Informative Presentation

What is an informative presentation?

Informative presentations serve to present specific information for specific audiences for specific goals or functions. The type of presentation is often identified by its primary purpose or function. Informative presentations are often analytical or involve the rational analysis of information.

An informative speech is a type of speech that provides detailed facts to an audience about a particular subject. This subject might be a person, place, event, object or process. When you're giving an informative speech, your fundamental aim is to give your audience information they never knew in a compelling way.

How do you write an informative presentation?

Analyze the audience. What can the audience be reasonably expected to know? 

Use appropriate language. What are the norms for speaking style for the audience? 

Outline your speech

Think about your tone

Explain the importance of the topic. Why should the audience listen? ...

Express interest in the subject material. ...

Show, don't tell. ...

Be specific.

Sample speech guidelines. Seven key items.

Topic

Choose a product or service that interests you (if you have the option of choice) and report findings in your speech. Even if you are assigned a topic, find an aspect or angle that is of interest to research

Purpose

Your general purpose, of course, is to inform. But you need to formulate a more specific purpose statement that expresses a point you have to make about your topic—what you hope to accomplish in your speech.

Audience

Think about what your audience might already know about your topic and what they may not know, and perhaps any attitudes toward or concerns about it. Consider how this may affect the way that you will present your information.

Supporting Materials

Using the information gathered in your search for information, determine what is most worthwhile, interesting, and important to include in your speech. Time limits will require that you be selective about what you use. Use visual aids!

Organization

Write a central idea statement that expresses the message, or point, that you hope to get across to your listeners in the speech.

Determine the two to three main points that will be needed to support your central idea.

Finally, prepare a complete sentence outline of the body of the speech

Introduction

Develop an opening that will

get the attention and interest of your listeners,

express your central idea or message,

lead into the body of your speech.

Conclusion

The conclusion should review and/or summarize the important ideas in your speech and bring it to a smooth close.

Delivery

The speech should be delivered extemporaneously (not reading but speaking), using speaking notes and not reading from the manuscript. Work on maximum eye contact with your listeners. Use any visual aids or handouts that may be helpful.

Informative Speech Topics

How to improve your communication skills.

Why you should buy an electric car.

How to read body language.

The benefits of time in nature.

A lecture given by a teacher in a high school or college class is an example of an informative speech. 

A manager in a retail store giving a presentation to her staff about how to explain a new product line to customers would also be an example of an informative speech.

Sample Presentations

Importance of Effective Communication

People understand the importance of communication, but sometimes they cannot communicate through communication. It happens due to a lack of better communication skills. Below, we have discussed a few ways to communicate effectively.

Interruption: It becomes very annoying when someone disrupts you while talking. It looks pretty unethical to disrupt someone while talking constantly, and the conversation can take a different turn. So, while talking, let the other person complete their talk before you start talking.

Listen patiently: Listen patiently when someone tries to make a healthy conversation. It is one of the ways to do effective communication, as it gives a clear understanding of what the person is trying to say.

View your body language: Body language speaks about your personality. Some people make uncomfortable gestures through their body language. So, you should keep your body language friendly and warm rather than keeping it arrogant.

Do not go over your point: Communication is all about expressing thoughts so that the other person can understand. It is not that you are trying to prove something correct and the other person incorrect. Some people try to win the conservation, which leads to struggles and arguments.

Watch your words: Before telling someone something, make sure you know what you are saying. We often say things that we should not do out of anger or anxiety. Remember, once spoken, words cannot be withdrawn. Thus, it is suggested that you do not say something that you can regret later.

Practice: If there is a professional meeting where you need to communicate about your product or work, it is recommended to practice already. Practice in front of the mirror or with a friend only. Choose how your conversation will begin, all the points you cover, and how you will end it.

Conclusion

As many people may feel comfortable communicating, communication is an art developed through practice and evaluation; every good communicator passes through a process to learn communication and practice skills, review themselves, and decrease where they can be.

Communication is essential to share our thoughts and feelings to live a happy life. Better communication makes us feel better about everything surrounding us and makes us suffer less. So, it is necessary to learn the art of communication to put across one point well.

What is the benefit of time spent in nature?

Spending time in nature has been found to help with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. For example, research into ecotherapy (a type of formal treatment which involves doing activities outside in nature) has shown it can help with mild to moderate depression.

Benefits of Being in Nature

The benefits of being in nature abound. When we get closer to it – be it untouched wilderness or a backyard tree – we do our brains and bodies a favor. This is true for all ages and walks of life; the outdoors offers one of the most reliable boosts to our mental and physical well-being. In fact, studies show that what you see, hear, and experience in your environment changes not only your mood, but how you’re nervous, endocrine, and immune systems work as well.

Encourages Physical Activity and Engagement

Accessibility to everyday green spaces encourages people to simply get out the door. This in turn motivates them to be active physically, spiritually, and socially, which can offset chronic illness, disability, and isolation. Spending time outdoors also fights boredom and raises self-esteem. Plus, being outside makes us feeling more energetic and alive – a good enough reason to get out and get moving.

Reduces Stress

Stress reduction is one of the most well-known benefits of being in nature. Getting outdoors, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings

Improves Short-Term and Working Memory

Believe it or not, being in nature can help improve your short-term and working memory. In fact, one study suggested that walking in nature could improve your short-term memory by 20 percent

What is an instructional presentation?

2. Instructional

An instructional presentation is a type of presentation that teaches a specific topic or skill to an audience. The goal of an instructional presentation is to leave the audience with a better understanding of the topic and the ability to apply that knowledge.

Your purpose in an instructional presentation is to give specific directions or orders. Your presentation will probably be a bit longer, because it has to cover your topic thoroughly. In an instructional presentation, your listeners should come away with new knowledge or a new skill.

Here are some tips for creating an instructional presentation:

·     Define learning objectives

Clearly define what you want the audience to learn by the end of the presentation. 

·     Consider the audience

Understand the audience's level of knowledge and adjust the presentation accordingly. 

·     Break down complex concepts

Break down complex concepts into smaller, more digestible segments. 

·     Use real-life examples

Use real-life examples to illustrate each point and help the audience connect with the material. 

·     Add interactive elements

Incorporate interactive elements like quizzes or group activities to reinforce understanding. 

·     Group related content

Group related content elements together to help the audience process the information more easily. 

·     Manage audience attention

The human brain has an attention span of about 7 to 10 minutes, so make changes to the presentation every 7 to 10 minutes to keep the audience engaged. 

Examples of instructional presentations include training sessions, webinars, and workshops. 

3. Persuasive Presentation (able to persuade somebody to do or believe something)

What is a persuasive presentation?

A persuasive presentation is a speech that aims to convince an audience to accept a specific viewpoint, take action, or support an idea. A good persuasive presentation uses a combination of logic, facts, and empathy to help the audience see an issue from a new perspective. 

Here are some tips for giving a persuasive presentation:

Start strong: Grab the audience's attention with a surprising fact, a thought-provoking question, or a relatable story. 

Be audience-focused: Consider your audience's mindset and demonstrate that you understand it. 

Use visuals: Use visuals to summarize and clarify your main ideas. 

Be organized: Present in a clear and well-organized manner. 

Use body language: Maintain eye contact, use appropriate gestures, and stand or move purposefully. 

End with a call to action: Make your ending memorable by reinforcing the key benefits of your proposals or making a rallying call to action. 

Research: Research the topic and familiarize yourself with the counterargument. 

 What are examples of persuasive presentations?

Topics for your persuasive speech

Voting Should Be Made Compulsory

All school children should wear a uniform.

Facebook is making people more socially anxious.

It should be illegal to drive over the age of 80.

Lying isn't always wrong.

The case for organ donation.

Preparation: Consider your audience

As with any speech, preparation is crucial. Before you put pen to paper, think about what you want to achieve with your speech. This will help organise your thoughts as you realistically can only cover 2-4 main points before your audience get bored.

It’s also useful to think about who your audience is at this point. If they are unlikely to know much about your topic then you’ll need to factor in context of your topic when planning the structure and length of your speech.

You should also consider their:

Age

Gender

Cultural or religious backgrounds

Shared concerns, attitudes and problems

Shared interests, beliefs and hopes

Baseline attitude - are they hostile, neutral, or open to change?

Voting Should Be Made Compulsory

Introduction
Voting is not just a right, it is also a responsibility. People who vote during the elections in India represent just a percentage of the total population.
Voting should be made compulsory so that the leaders who are elected deserve to lead the nation. India needs to become more politically literate. Giving people the right to vote is not enough.
You need to make voting mandatory as this ensures that people learn about their position with respect to issues such as social change, empowerment, financial policies and other aspects that are of critical importance for national growth and development.
Viewpoint
• Indian voters need to become more involved in the electoral process. Currently, there are gaps between the urban and rural areas of India when it comes to critical issues such as growth and development. Encouraging Indians to vote is not enough. Electoral politics has become rampant because only a cross section of the population bothers to vote. This can change if voting is made compulsory.
• Australia is one of 10 countries across the globe which mandates that voting is compulsory. It is doing well on the economic front. Countries like the island nation of Singapore are forging ahead because all its citizens are mandated by law to cast their votes.
If India wants to rival the growth and development of such countries, the legislators and the bureaucrats must summon the courage to initiate processes for making voting mandatory.
• In a number of countries where casting a vote is option, researchers have found that voter turnout does not reach a healthy percentage. Low voter turnout can often tip the scales and cause unworthy candidates to secure a victory.
If a citizen is satisfied with the performance of a particular political party, he or she should vote for it rather than abstaining from the process simply because of laziness or apathy.
• Voter apathy has become a big problem in many parts of India. Local and central governments are spending huge amount of money and resources to create campaigns that encourage people to vote. This expenditure can be eliminated if voting were to be made compulsory.
• Compulsory voting came about in several nations as a response to poor voter turnout. This has remedied the situation for these nations to a large extent. Consider the following facts. Australia has reported more than 90% voter turnout for each election since the year that voting was made compulsory for all its citizens.
• Compulsory voting is all about people making the state accountable for all its actions. If the while nation is made to vote at the polls, problems such as vote capturing and criminalization of politics would be eliminated.
There are a huge number of initiatives that the local and central governments can take to make the process easy. Postal voting procedures, online voting methods, week-end voting processes as well as automated electoral enrolment are ideal for handling the huge volume of voters.
Conclusion
not having enough time to vote is cited as one of the most common excuses cited by those who do not bother going to the polls. If Indian voters are encouraged to exercise their right to vote, strength in numbers can eliminate electoral malpractices. If the entire nation judges the performance of the regional or central government, elections will reflect the true hopes and aspirations of the Indian population.

4. Decision Making Presentation

Decision making process indicates recognizing and defining the nature of a decision situation, identifying alternatives, choosing the “best” alternative, and putting it into practice.

Decision Making & Decision Making Process Decision making is an act of choosing one alternative from among a set of alternatives. Decision making process indicates recognizing and defining the nature of a decision situation, identifying alternatives, choosing the “best” alternative, and putting it into practice.

How do you make a decision-making presentation?

Components of decision-making presentation

Here are some tips for using presentation skills to influence decision-making:

Know your purpose: Understand the goal of your presentation 

Know your audience: Consider who will be watching your presentation 

Use storytelling: Share personal experiences to help illustrate your points 

Provide evidence: Use facts to support your arguments 

Use visuals: Include images or other visual aids to help convey your message 

Call to action: Encourage the audience to take a specific action 

Explain your thought process: Describe the system you use to make decisions 

Offer an example: Share a specific example of a decision you've made 

Deliver confidently: Present your information with confidence 

Decision-making is the process of choosing between options. It's a soft skill that can be applied in many different work settings. 

Steps in the decision-making process

Define the problem and goals

Identify decision criteria

Gather alternatives

Evaluate alternatives

Select the best alternative

Implement the alternative

Evaluate the decision's effectiveness

You have many decision-making examples in daily life such as:

Deciding What to Wear

Deciding What to Eat For Lunch

Choosing Which Book to Read

Deciding What Task To Do Next

And so on. Now let us look at some of these examples in detail.

Decision-Making Examples in Daily Life

Examples of Decision-Making In Management

Conclusion

Decision-Making Examples in Daily Life

These are common decision-making examples in daily life. Apart from these, you should know about other decision-making examples.

Whether we talk about decision-making examples in our personal lives or at work, we can spot many more decision-making skills examples, some so routine you don’t even notice them. However, some decisions can have a far-reaching impact.

Examples of Decision-Making In Management

At work, the core function of the management is to make decisions on business operations and growth. Whether it is managing the workforce, servicing clients, ramping up production, or hiring new employees, we see plenty of decision-making skills examples in everyday operations.

Let’s understand the importance of decision-making better by looking at some examples of decision-making in management:

Decision-Making in Human Resources

Imagine you are the CEO of an e-commerce start-up. Your work is expanding and you need to hire the right resources to help you realize the vision of creating a leading online retail platform.

You would need to hire people who are experienced and adept in their fields such as software development, marketing, operations, procurement, and logistics.

Since the business is an online start-up, you won’t need to hire employees who work on the premises exclusively. You can also get talented location-independent workers capable of delivering the required technical support and services online.

By ensuring an optimal mix of on-site and remote workers, you can easily carry out the functions in a cost-effective way. Emails and chat communications as well as video interactions can keep the team spirit going. This will also give you the flexibility of hiring talent that might be scattered over different geographic locations and can come together digitally to create path-breaking solutions.

Decision-Making in Production

One of the most typical examples of decision-making in management is to take a call on production facilities.

As your business expands and demand grows, you will be forced to increase your production capacity. The next step would be to decide how much capacity installation is required to meet demand effectively. You will also need to identify the right equipment for the purpose and the workforce to run the production processes.

Your decision has to be guided by the fact that the ultimate aim is to increase production sustainably so that you have the flexibility of scaling up or down without incurring a high cost.

Decision-Making in Marketing  

At some point or the other in their journeys, most companies undergo rebranding. Usually, businesses are small initially, with only local or regional reach and branding, but as they start expanding, the need for rebranding surfaces.

Quite often, logos, the company’s official mascots, and even names are changed to assert a new identity, capability, and vision. Rebranding activities are strong decision-making skills examples that take into account company values, products, target audiences, cultural and social sensibilities, and business aspirations.

Decision-Making in Client Servicing

When a business is new, the aim is to bag as many projects and clients as possible. The more work you get, the more money you make is the usual belief. However, you can look at various decision-making skills examples to understand that this approach is not ideal in the long run.

For instance, you might discover that you are spending too much time and resources on an old client and not generating enough revenue that could justify such heavy resource allocation. That client might be one of your earliest clients and could have been instrumental in your business’s early-stage growth. However, it is important to move with the times. The client or project that worked at the beginning might not be feasible once you grow beyond a certain stage. Hence, tough decisions need to be taken now and then.

Such situations are common decision-making examples.

Conclusion

We just went through some of the usual decision-making and problem-solving examples that are a part of most people’s professional lives. There could be more complex decisions that we would require to take in the course of our careers. Sometimes these can be individual decisions such as hiring or firing an employee or organizational decisions such as opening a new office.