The Development of Skills 1. Effective Professional Presentations The primary modes of contemporary business and professional presentations are explored in theory and practice. The goals are to increase knowledge of the principles of effective communication in the professional business setting and to provide the opportunity to increase skill in preparing, analyzing and presenting effective business presentations. A. The Instructional Presentation An instructional presentation is designed to acquaint other members of your organization with necessary knowledge about a procedure, technique, concept, function, process or policy. Their knowledge of this information is considered requisite for their effective participation in the organization. This is an internal presentation, the purpose of which is to increase the skill, professionalism, and organizational intelligence of members of the organization. B. The Program Change Presentation Program change presentations are designed to elicit a desired response (belief or action) on the part of the decision-makers. In contemporary business organizations, such presentations can be either "internal" or "external." Internal: Internal persuasive presentations call for decision-makers to either authorize actions (e.g., project development) or disburse funds/allocate resources for the implementation of a project (e.g., new product, etc.). External: External persuasive presentations are directed towards individuals who are not members of your organization. External audiences can be divided into three (3) general groups: consumers (sales), regulators or legislators (government agencies) or the general public (public relations). C. The Team Report Presentation The reporting function in the contemporary organization is an integral part of decision-making. This is an internal presentation directed towards decision-makers in the organization. Report presentations are designed to present information and analysis directly related to the goal-achievement status of the organization. The presentation should focus upon key, critical issues in such a manner as to better prepare decision-makers to make the implement rational, humane, and future-oriented decisions. These presentations emphasize goals, performance compared to goals, and suggested corrective action. Presenters are not in the position to advocate a specific course of action, only to emphasize what options are available. D. Speech Anxiety Management Presentation Anxiety (or 'reticence') occurs when a person lacks the communication skills and is therefore reluctant to speak with others (Phillips). Using this definition, this reluctance to speak is operationally manifest by: 1) having a low verbal output, 2) existing cross-situationally (including in an organizational setting), and 3) being concerned about it. The solution is teach the communication skills which will make the presenters feel more at ease--because they possess the "tools". 2. Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills You are involved in critical analysis of communication every day. Critical thinking and problem solving play an important role in almost all aspects of personal and professional lives - from infusing rationality into our relationships to intelligently arguing a business proposal for key decision-makers. This program will focus on three dimensions of critical analysis of communication: 1) information-processing and analysis in organizational discourse; 2) argument generation and logical reasoning from critical analysis and 3) argument construction and presentation in the various contexts of organizational communication. The objectives would be to examine and develop critical skills specifically, argument organization and structuring, modes of analysis and criticism, active listening, test of logic, fallacies, etc. and to examine, compare and contrast various types of logical reasoning as it inheres in organizational discourse. Rob Tucker Consulting, Ph.D, J.D. Organizational Communication 2400 86th St., Suite 35 Des Moines, Iowa 50322 Tel: (515) 276-8282 Fax: (515) 276-4001 E-Mail: rob@robtucker.net About Rob Tucker Organizational Communication Consultant Tucker Law Office | Program Offerings | Program Agendas Development of Skills | E-mail Rob Tucker | Trial Consulting | Main Page