This document provides tips for effective communication. It emphasizes that the audience is more important than the topic, and people want honest information from someone who cares about them. It then outlines steps to plan a message by considering the audience, key message, and visual aids. Preparation involves developing an opening, presentation body, and conclusion. When presenting, speakers should speak clearly, emphasize key ideas, involve the audience, and use body language and visual aids to enhance understanding. The goal is to help the audience understand the meaning and value of the information.

1. BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR
Whether you are giving a speech, leading a workshop, or talking one-to-one with a patient or family member, your
goal is to be a clear and effective communicator. The secret of good communication is remembering that the
audience is more important than the topic. People want you to care about them, and most of them hunger for
honest information from someone who tells the truth in plain language.
All communication is really one-to-one.
Even speaking to an audience means speaking to a collection of individuals.
Show people you care by helping them to see the meaning and value of the information you are sharing and
how it affects their professional lives.
The following are helpful hints on planning, preparing, and presenting a message to a group of individuals.
PLANNING YOUR MESSAGE
1. AUDIENCE 2. MESSAGE 3. VISUAL AIDS
Who is in the audience? In 25 words or less, what is the Will you use visual aids?
most important thing you want
What do they have in common? the audience to remember or do What kind? (PowerPoint, flip chart,
You with them? as a result of your acetates, chalk board, other)
communication?
What are their wants, worries, Will you use props and/or printed
and questions? handouts?
How long do you have?
What is your own purpose?
What response do you want from
them when you finish?

2. PREPARING YOUR MESSAGE
4. OPENING 5. PRESENTATION BODY 6. CONCLUSION
When beginning your presentation, You can build your presentation around When concluding your presentation,
plan to: different organizing themes such as: plan to:
Greet people warmly. The questions your audience is Summarize the main points.
likely to have.
Get the attention of your Invite or encourage people to
audience—state a question or A time structure (past, present, act—to put what they have
share a personal experience. future). learned into practice.
Preview what is coming— A problem-solution approach (your Suggest some next steps they can
promise people what they will get subject today, the problem, take to learn more about their
from listening to you or talking solution(s), benefits). topic; ask participants for ideas
with you. about how they can learn more.
A decision-making approach (state
Give your name after the question an opinion or suggestion, offer an Write a strong final line that alerts
or promise (or before if that opposite view, give evidence to people that you are finished and
seems a better time). support the first opinion or ends your presentation on a
suggestion, and restate it in a new positive note of hope.
Offer people some information way).
about your professional and End on time.
personal qualifications. If you use statistics:
Let people know if you want to Don’t overuse them.
hear questions during or after
your presentation. Note: It can Give a source.
make for a richer learning
Use up-to-date information.
experience if you answer
questions during your lesson.
Round up or down.
Present numbers visually if over
four figures long.
Turn facts into pictures when
possible.
As you speak, illustrate your points by
sharing examples.

3. PRESENTING YOUR MESSAGE
7. DELIVERY 8. BODY LANGUAGE 9. VISUAL AIDS
Use your plans from #4 under Stand rather than sit—if you are Locate and test equipment and
Preparing Your Message. In addition: able—while speaking. lights in advance.
Speak in short phrases in terms If standing, plant your feet firmly Place visual aids where they can be
your audience understands. on the floor; stand tall. seen and display only when ready to
discuss them.
Emphasize key ideas. Stand at ease and show a friendly
face. Display key words rather than
Define and translate technical sentences.
terms and statistics. If you are sitting when you speak,
lean forward slightly, from the Use lettering large enough to be
Use a conversational tone of voice. waist with a straight back. seen on a flip chart and a white
board.
Control the volume of your voice. Use your hands to communicate.
Use graphic devices for clarity
Involve your audience with Look and see the audience when (borders, bullets, boxes).
questions, handouts, or interactive you speak to them.
exercises. Add images as well as words (put
Convey energy and enthusiasm for images at top or left and text to the
Show respect for each person the topic. right).
during the question-and-answer
period. Wear clothing that makes you feel Use a pointer (roll a large piece of
comfortable and effective and paper, hold with rubber bands, and
Be courteous to hostile or difficult shows respect for your audience. color the tip).
individuals.
Use verbal focusing techniques Show slide for five seconds before
Repeat all questions before such as signposting (showing with you speak.
answering them in a large group. your hands the number of points
or ideas you want to highlight) or Talk to the group, not the screen.
Transition from one main idea to the inserted question (“So, what
another using: does all this tell us about Don’t sacrifice learning through
adherence to treatment?”). discussion to passive learning
Words: “therefore,” “according to.”
through technology.
Phrases: “as I explained earlier,” “on
the one hand”
Sentences: “Let’s look at another point
of view.” “Here is another way of
looking at this.”
At the end of your presentation, use your
conclusion plans from #6 under Preparing
Your Message.