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Student Resource
Gamble, The Public Speaking Playbook, 2nd Edition
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Lecture Notes
Chapter 23: Business and Professional Speaking
Learning Objectives
1-1 Participate proactively in an employment interview
1-2 Interact effectively in a meeting
1-3 Pitch an idea
1-4 Deliver a briefing
1-5 Present a report
1-6 Conduct a training session
Outline
I. First, get the job: how to handle a job interview.
A. One of the first steps in the interview process is researching the job position
and the organization.
1. After you conduct your research, generate a set of questions that you
think that the interviewer may ask you and rehearse your responses.
2. Based on your research, you should also create another list of questions
that you will ask the interviewer about the position or company’s culture.
a. Questions regarding salary, vacation, and employee benefits
should be avoided, particularly during the first interview.
3. The last stage in this process entails reviewing your application and
résumé, include updates as needed.
B. Interviews are planned conversation distinct from a casual conversation.
1. Interviews are designed to achieve specific objectives via the questions
and responses that are shared.
2. Similar to a formal presentation, interviews require preparation.
3. Interviews are structured.
4. There is an introduction or orientation to the interview process where
rapport is established between the interviewer and interviewee.
5. There is a middle or body of the interview which is the longest segment.
Student Resource
Gamble, The Public Speaking Playbook, 2nd Edition
SAGE Publishing, 2018
6. There is also a conclusion where the main points of the interview are
summarized and closing comments are presented.
C. There are different types of questions that are utilized in an interview.
1. Closed questions require a yes or no response.
2. Open questions are broader and allow more flexibility in terms of the
potential responses.
a. Both open and closed questions can be primary or secondary.
i. Primary questions introduce a topic.
ii. Secondary questions probe or serve as follow-up to primary
questions.
b. Interviewees should follow the STAR method when responding to
questions.
i. Respondents would begin by describing a relevant situation, how
you assessed the task required, the action that you took, and the
results that you achieved.
D. During the interview, interviewees must utilize appropriate communication
behaviors.
i. You are expected to answer the questions clearly and provide enough
information in each response so that the interviewer can effectively
determine if you are the right person for the job.
E. It is also important to make a positive first impression.
i. Interviewees should smile, make eye contact, and use a firm handshake.
ii. Interviewees should speak directly and articulate clearly.
iii. Interviewees should convey enthusiasm by commenting on how happy
you are to have the opportunity to meet with him or her.
II. Meetings are common at work and in other professional contexts.
A. It is important to be an active participant in meetings.
i. Review the agenda and identify other topics that should be included.
ii. Give yourself time to prepare
iii. Actively participate in a way that is relevant and respectful
iv. Praise others contributions
v. Keep your comments relevant
vi.Solicit feedback ask questions, and keep track of accomplishments and
responsibilities
B. Leaders should work on creating an agenda that is circulated in advance and
that articulates a clear goal.
Student Resource
Gamble, The Public Speaking Playbook, 2nd Edition
SAGE Publishing, 2018
1. Leaders should formulate the meeting and it’s agenda, and an circulate
it in advance.
2. Develop an agenda and circulate it in advance.
3. Leaders should arrive early to address questions and build rapport with
the members.
4. Leaders should model appropriate behavior by turning off cell phones
and other distracting devices.
5. Leaders should introduce new attendees and provide a meeting
orientation.
6. Leaders should also maintain control of the meeting by encouraging all
members to actively engage and appropriately address members that are
attempting to dominate the discussion.
7. Leaders should also summarize the meeting and remind group members
of their responsibilities at the end of the meeting.
8. Leaders must be open to answer questions
9. Leaders should also politely thank members for their attendance and
propose another meeting time.
III. Persuasive presentations or “pitches” are also common in workplace contexts.
A. A pitch is a type of persuasive presentation that is used to obtain the
endorsement of your peers.
1. Some persuasive presentations are made in person or via video or video
conferencing.
2. Other pitches are brief, 5 to 10 seconds in length.
3. All of these persuasive presentations require research to determine how
to involve and connect with the audience.
B. These persuasive presentations possess a unique organizational structure:
i. Identification of a need
ii. Stating the proposal clearly
iii. Explaining the rationale (the needs and benefits that are fulfilled) and
strategy
iv. Communicate your USP (unique selling proposition)
v. Engage with your audience
vi. Discussing the timeline, costs, and challenges
vii. Integrate presentation aids to make your vision come alive
viii. Summarizing the benefits of the proposal by linking them with the
goals of the decision-makers. An appeal to proceed with the idea is also
included in the conclusion.
Student Resource
Gamble, The Public Speaking Playbook, 2nd Edition
SAGE Publishing, 2018
IV. Briefings and reports are informative presentations that are presented in the
workplace.
A. A briefing is a short talk that provides a knowledgeable and interested
audience with information to complete a task.
1. Some briefings bring members of the audience up to date in terms of
what was accomplished and others are future oriented.
2. Briefings are usually short (one to three minutes long), organized
topically or chronologically, contain a concise summary, and utilize
conversational delivery.
B. A report is a summary of what was learned or accomplished.
1. Reports begin with an overview or summary of the project’s purpose
and then describe the current status of the project.
2. Reports should be open and direct even when identifying obstacles or
hurdles.
3. Reports conclude with a realistic assessment of the project’s future.
4. Reports may request potential questions and provide the corresponding
responses.
5. Lastly, a report will thank the audience for listening.
6. Reports and persuasive presentations may be presented individually or
as a team.
V. Training sessions are another formal speaking context that may occur within a
workplace.
A. Trainers provide workshops on varying subjects and are conducted formally or
informally.
1. Trainers most often interact with new hires, veteran employees in need
of new or improved skills and “others” who are seeking new skills.
2. When instructing adults, trainers should:
a. Demonstrate the relevance or importance of the training session
to the actual audience.
b. Create activities to ensure that the audience is actively involved.
Lectures should be avoided.
c. Identify what the audience knows and what it does not know and
then tailor the discussion appropriately.
i. Using a needs analysis, trainers identify the rationale and
content for the target audience’s skill level, outcomes, and
interests.
d. Follow an appropriate pace that allows the audience to engage in
learn and apply sequences.
Student Resource
Gamble, The Public Speaking Playbook, 2nd Edition
SAGE Publishing, 2018
