How can you communicate orally with clarity and precision?

1 Know your purpose and audience

Before you speak, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who you are speaking to. Your purpose could be to inform, persuade, inspire, or entertain, and your audience could be your colleagues, managers, clients, or stakeholders. Knowing your purpose and audience will help you tailor your content, tone, and style to suit their needs and expectations. For example, if your purpose is to inform your colleagues about a new project, you should use simple and accurate language, provide relevant details, and avoid jargon or acronyms that they may not understand.

2 Plan and structure your speech

Planning and structuring your speech will help you organize your thoughts, avoid rambling, and create a logical flow of information. You should start with an introduction that captures the attention of your audience, states your main idea, and outlines your key points. Then, you should develop each point with supporting evidence, examples, or stories in the body of your speech. Finally, you should end with a conclusion that summarizes your main points, reinforces your message, and provides a call to action or a recommendation. You can use transitions, signposts, and repetitions to connect your ideas and guide your audience through your speech.

3 Use clear and precise language

Using clear and precise language will help you communicate your message effectively and avoid confusion or misunderstanding. You should choose words that are appropriate for your audience, topic, and purpose, and avoid vague, ambiguous, or complex terms that may obscure your meaning. You should also use short and simple sentences, avoid filler words or verbal crutches, and speak with confidence and conviction. You can also use rhetorical devices, such as metaphors, analogies, or anecdotes, to make your speech more engaging and memorable.

4 Adjust your delivery and nonverbal cues

Your delivery and nonverbal cues can have a significant impact on how your audience perceives and responds to your message. You should adjust your voice, pace, volume, and intonation to suit your purpose, audience, and mood, and to emphasize your key points. You should also use gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, and posture to convey your emotions, enthusiasm, and credibility. You should avoid distracting behaviors, such as fidgeting, mumbling, or looking at your notes too often, that may undermine your confidence and professionalism.

5 Seek feedback and improve

Seeking feedback and improving your oral communication skills is an ongoing process that requires practice and reflection. You should ask for constructive feedback from your audience, peers, or mentors, and identify your strengths and areas for improvement. You should also review your own performance, either by recording yourself or by recalling your speech, and evaluate how well you achieved your purpose, addressed your audience, and delivered your message. You should also seek opportunities to practice your oral communication skills in different settings and situations, and learn from your mistakes and successes.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?