The document provides information about a conference for enhancing writing careers through improved speaking skills. It discusses how public speaking fears can hurt careers, but effective verbal communication is a fundamental and learnable business skill. It offers techniques for organizing thoughts, capturing audiences, and exploring further opportunities through Toastmasters to practice and improve speaking abilities.

1. Enhance your writing career
with improved speaking skills
STC Philadelphia Metro
Chapter Annual Conference
March 27, 2010
Willow Grove, PA

2. Barrie Byron: writer, speaker, listener
Professional
Over 25 years
Newspaper publishing
software
Software trainer
Technical writer
Publishing manager
Consultant
Information developer
Always: learning, earning,
yearning
Leadership and speaking
15 years
STC member
STC volunteer
STC leader
STC mentor
10 years
Toastmasters member
Toastmasters leader
Toastmasters mentor

3. Fear of public speaking might be
hurting your career
Surveys and research results
show that most of us would
rather die than talk in front of
a live audience

4. Technologies change
Tools change
Teams change
Jobs change
Effective verbal communication is a timeless and
fundamental business skill that can be learned
Learn to give quick and accurate responses
Fundamental business skill

5. Content plan for enhancing your verbal skills

6. Effective verbal communication starts
with being present
Technical writers are producing the best content that is
matched to particular user needs.
Be sure that you are invited to the strategy and planning
meetings by offering good content to help reach the
common goals
Build community by listening, responding thoughtfully, and
earning trust
Respect relationships above publishing mechanisms
When you are present, be fully present and listen hard.
Listening is an activity.

7. Framework technique to organize your
thoughts and reduce thinking
Organize your thoughts into frameworks.
Frameworks include:
past, present, future
why, what, how
accomplishments, obstacles, next actions
situation, action, result
I believed this before, but I don't think that way anymore
because...
dreamer, realist, critic

8. Techniques to capture your audience
Pause. Silence is golden.
Apply the frameworks to any topic
You can quickly communicate for 1 to 3 minutes about that
topic without having to give much thought.

9. Activity: personal demonstration
Random questions from
audience
Framework of response.
Several responses in 1-2
minutes.

10. Interactive activities
Practice using the framework technique to answer questions
that occur frequently in our writing jobs.
Can you document these changes and still make the
deadline?
Can you meet an earlier deadline?
Can you extend the review period?
Can you publish without my technical approval?
Can we add new content?
Can you hire my sister-in-law?

11. Exploring verbal communication further
Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational
organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills
Toastmasters International is the leading movement devoted to
making effective oral communication a worldwide reality
Find a club
Shop around: try different clubs, size and culture varies
Attend a meeting, any meeting
www.toastmasters.org

12. Questions, review
Risks? Are you ready to stand out and practice your verbal
skills.
Questions on using the framework technique?
Organize your thoughts. Frame what you want to say.

13. Barrie Byron
Digitally distinct, just google
barriebyron.wordpress.com
competitions@stcpmc.org
barriebyron@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/barriebyron
Follow me on twitter @barriebyron
www.toastmasters.org