Guest Post: Adhvitheey Gouri Shankar

Adhvitheey is one of Chris' Summer 2010 Professional Speaking students. Here he writes about oral communication.

Did you know that the term “infant” derives from the Latin word “in-fans,” meaning “unable to speak”? Research suggests that 55% of the information we trust is visual and only 45% is vocal and verbal [1]. However, it is interesting to note that our first form of communication is still vocal. This interaction, albeit unintelligible, suggests the importance of oral communication as a means of expression for humans.

Communicating orally firstly involves gathering thoughts. This can prove to be quite a challenge with the constantly increasing clutter and distractions in this digital age we live in. We then organize these thoughts into a form that the receiver understands. With globalization and ever-increasing cultural interaction, understanding the receiver’s perspective entails significant interaction. Finally, we use intonation, pronunciation, inflection, pitch, volume and tone to express the thought. Although we are programmed to perform these tasks genetically and improve on our skills with increased interaction and time, there are specific cases where our ability to orally communicate is pushed to its limits.

Persuasion, preaching, teaching and negotiation involve significant oral communication prowess. It requires a deep understanding of the audience and the communication medium. This depth could well be the difference between harmony and discord or a deal and a standoff. I have noticed how a major part of being a good leader involves convincing people to accept orders rather than forcing them to serve a cause. I believe that using oral communication to convince and cause action is a skill of paramount importance for any leader.

We can classify effective speakers into those who use reasoning to appeal and those who speak from the heart. A speaker who uses reasoning uses the first part of communication, “gathering thoughts,” effectively, explains ideas, and presents facts & figures. With adequate understanding of the audience, he/she speaks in a way such that listeners automatically draw the correct conclusions. In comparison, a speaker who speaks from the heart focuses on the second part, “understanding the audience”. He/she relates to the audience and their feelings and convinces them to act a certain way. In summary, I believe that the best oral communicators use a combination of both. They understand their audience, use reasoning & facts as tools to strengthen their credibility, and present information in a form that empowers listeners to act.