The Competent Communication Manual
The 10 speech projects in this manual will help you develop your speaking skills one step at a time. When you finish all of the projects, you are eligible for Competent Communicator (CC) recognition. Complete the CC application in the manual and ask your vice president education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You’ll receive a CC certificate and, if this is your first CC award, two Advanced Communication Series manuals free of charge.
Project 1: The Ice Breaker (4 – 6 Minutes)
- To begin speaking before an audience. Just tell us something about yourself.
- To discover speaking skills you already have and skills that need some attention.
Project 2: Organise your Speech (5 – 7 Minutes)
- Select an appropriate outline which allows listeners to easily follow and understand your speech.
- Make your message clear, with supporting material directly contributing to that message
- Use appropriate transitions when moving from one idea to another
- Create a strong opening and conclusion
Project 3: Get to the Point (5 – 7 Minutes)
- Select a speech topic and determine its general and specific purposes
- Organise the speech in a manner that best achieves those purposes
- Ensure the beginning, body and conclusion reinforce the purposes
- Project sincerity and conviction and control any nervousness you may feel
- Strive not to use notes
Project 4: How to Say it (5 – 7 Minutes)
- Select the right words and sentence structure to communicate your ideas clearly, accurately and vividly
- Use rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasise ideas
- Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words.
- Use correct grammar
Project 5: Your Body Speaks (5 – 7 Minutes)
- Use stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact to express your message and achieve your speech’s purpose
- Make your body language smooth and natural
Project 6: Vocal Variety (5 – 7 Minutes)
- Use voice volume, pitch, rate and quality to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message
- Use pauses to enhance your message
- Use vocal variety smoothly and naturally
Project 7: Research your Topic (5 – 7 Minutes)
- Collect information about your topic from numerous sources
- Carefully support your paints and opinions with specific facts, examples and illustrations gathered through research
Project 8: Get Comfortable with Visual Aids (5 – 7 Minutes)
- Select visual aids that are appropriate for your message and the audience
- Use visual aids correctly with ease and confidence
Project 9: Persuade with Power (5-7 Minutes)
- Persuade listeners to adopt your viewpoint or ideas or to take some action
- Appeal to the audience’s interests
- Use logic and emotion to support your position
- Avoid using notes
Project 10: Inspire your Audience (8-10 Minutes)
- To inspire the audience by appealing to noble motives and challenging the audience to achieve a higher level of beliefs or – achievement
- Appeal to the audience’s needs and emotions using stories, anecdotes and quotes to add drama
- Avoid using notes
The Advanced Manuals
After you have gained your competent communicator award, you can work through one or more of the following manuals:
- The Entertaining Speaker (226-A)
- Speaking to Inform (226-B)
- Public Relations (226-C)
- The Discussion Leader (226-D)
- Speciality Speeches (226-E)
- Speeches by Management (226-F)
- The Professional Speaker (226-G)
- Technical Presentations (226-H)
- Persuasive Speaking (226-I)
- Communicating on Television (226-J)
- Storytelling (226-K)
- Interpretative Reading (226-L)
- Interpersonal Communication (226-M
- Special Occasion Speeches (226-N)
- Humorous Speeches (226-O)