Module 5: Skill Training

Public Speaking
The act or process of making speeches in public. The art of effective oral communication
with an audience. Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More About public speaking.
A presentation is the culmination of the five p's of presentation; planning, preparation,
consistency, practise and then performance of the finished piece.

Social Workers are called upon to make group presentations and engage in public speaking
on a wide range of issues and in a variety of settings including: legislative hearings, case
presentations, staff in-services, community meetings, staff meetings, educational forums,
classroom lectures, awards ceremonies, and fund-
Public speaking is about connecting with your audience (PSTN, 2010). Eye contact with a
few people in the audience can garner comforting smiles. It can also help the audience feel
more linked to you as the speaker.
Check out these crowd-pleasing careers.
● Spokesperson. You'll get plenty of time in front of cameras and crowds as a
spokesperson or press secretary.
● Professor. Enjoy the privilege of public speaking on a daily basis as a college
professor.
● Speech Writer.
● 4. News Anchor.
● Politician.
● Religious Leader.
● Motivational Speaker.
Personal relationships, social interactions and work situations require you to communicate
ideas to other people. Public speaking focuses on communicating ideas. You can learn to
calmly take up an opposing view, to present your ideas in an organized and coherent manner,
and to defend your views to others.
Developing your presentation skills can increase opportunities for you to share your
expertise, enhance your leadership ability, and increase the positive influence you can have
on others. The following tips will help you prepare for a great presentation and give you more
confidence in the process.
● 4 Types Of Public Speaking.
● Ceremonial Speaking. Ceremonial speaking is when you give a speech on a special
occasion.
● Demonstrative Speaking. If you are a manager or aspire to be one, demonstrative
speaking is a skill you will want to cultivate.
● Informative Speaking.
● Persuasive Speaking.

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Meeting
Meeting or plural form “Meetings” can be defined as; “A gathering of people; as for a
business, social, or religious purpose.”
In a meeting two or more people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a
formel setting
Official meeting means a meeting, assembly, or gathering together at any time or place or the
simultaneous communication by conference telephone or other electronic means of a majority
of the members of a public body for the purpose of conducting hearings, participating in
deliberations, or voting upon or otherwise
A meeting is a gathering of two or more people that has been convened for the purpose of
achieving a common goal through verbal interaction., such as sharing information or reaching
agreement . meeting may occur face to face or virtually , as mediated by communications
technology, such as a telephone conference call, a skaped conference call or a video
conference

The 12 most common types of meetings

You’re about to organise a work meeting but you’re wondering what would be the best type
of meeting? Here is a short list of the different types of meetings that are most common in
companies, based on the results they can offer.

1. Information meetings

The most common type of meeting in companies, it is used to provide teams with top-down
information and to pass on important messages. But make sure it doesn’t go on for too long –
after 30 minutes you’ll lose your participants’ interest.

2. Problem-solving meetings

To clear roadblocks and solve problems, it’s better to hold a meeting rather than letting issues
build up. The meeting leader brings together all those concerned and leads the discussion
until decisions are made.

3. Collaborative meetings

The meeting that encourages participation. The leader brings the work group together to drive
a specific subject forward. Debates, exchanges, discussions… everyone is called to take part
to ensure topics move along successfully.

4. Department meetings

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Weekly meetings, daily meetings… department meetings are a regular rendezvous with all
the members of a team. The aim is to bring all the employees together to take stock of
ongoing projects, possible issues and the general mood.

5. Brainstorming

A popular meeting technique to find new ideas and encourage active reflection,
brainstorming promotes creativity and encourages each employee to take part – even the less
creative members!

6. Project meetings

The project manager’s favourite, the aim is to review a project. Kick-off meeting, progress
report, work meeting, closing and review meeting, these meetings are planned out
methodically by the project manager.

7. Sales meetings

Fundamental for every sales team, this meeting provides an opportunity to review each
individual’s business objectives and performance.

8. Training

These meetings are essential to help employees gain new skills within the company or to
welcome new employees with onboarding. Training should be seen as a type of meeting that
can be conducted by a manager or a trainer.

9. One-to-ones

One-to-ones are the ultimate way for managers to exchange with each of their employees.
Held at least once a year, some managers even opt for recurring monthly meetings to build a
relationship based on trust.

10. Seminars

Seminars, conferences and general meetings are all corporate events on a particular topic that
bring together several dozen participants with one or more facilitators.

11. Stand-up meetings

More than just a particular type of meeting, stand-up meetings, just like walking meetings,
are a meeting technique to help get away from the daily grind and focus on efficiency.

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12. Remote meetings

More than a meeting type, remote meetings are a contemporary topic. With telework, mobile
workers and globalisation, companies must get organised to facilitate remote collaboration.

Other Types of meetings are;

formal meetings,
annual general meetings (AGM),
statutory meetings,
board meetings, and
informal meetings.

Conference
A conference is a gathering of many people who talk about a specific subject or topic. People
meet to confer about a theme. All the people who attend have a common interest. It is not the
same as a convention, which is typically much bigger and consists of delegates who represent
various different groups.
Different types of conference
Conferences can include a variety of events such as roundtables, workshops, lectures, etc.
Depending on what you want to achieve with your conference, you might find it useful to
familiarize yourself with the different types of conferences:

Type Definition Examples

Conference The most general term to indicate a meeting Annual Conference of the
for discussion - most commonly adopted by Society for French Studies
associations and organizations for their regular
meetings. It is usually associated with the most
traditional type of presentation, that is, papers Biennial Conference of the
followed by questions. Society for Italian Studies

Symposium Nowadays, this describes a meeting to discuss Spanish and Portuguese

a particular subject, but its original meaning Studies Postgraduate
defines it as a drinking party devoted to Symposium
conversation and following a banquet. A
symposium thus has a slightly more informal
character than a conference.

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 Seminar The first meaning of this term refers to a group IGRS: From Textual to
of students studying under a professor with Visual
each doing research and all exchanging results
through reports and discussions. Its second
definition: 'debating special issues' preserves Departmental Research
the conversational character of the term Seminar (Italian, UCL)
'seminar'.

Colloquium This term indicates both a traditional Colloquium for Police

conference and a conversational seminar. History (SSEES)
Colloquia tend to privilege the aspect of
debate.

Workshop Taken from the language of manufacturing, the Mutual Perceptions in

term workshop indicates a brief intensive Travel Literature (SOAS)
educational program for a small group of
people that focuses on techniques and skills in
a particular field. In academia, it is adopted to
describe meetings reserved for small groups of
specialists who come together for concerted
activities or discussion.

Roundtable The roundness of the table clearly symbolizes Berkeley Germanic

the equality of all participants. Each of them Linguistics Roundtable
will have the same right to take the floor.
Roundtables commonly bring together
academics who usually are invited as key-note Urban Environmental
speakers. Discussion nevertheless plays the History
leading role in this kind of meeting.

Effective written communication

Conciseness - Good written communication sticks to the point and doesn't meander around or
include lots of extraneous information. Correctness - To be effective, the written
communication should use the correct tone, inoffensive language, and appropriate grammar.
The seven C's of communication is a list of principles for written and spoken
communications to ensure that they are effective. The seven C's are: clear, correct, complete,
concrete, concise, considered and courteous.
Written communication is more precise and explicit. Effective written communication
develops and enhances an organization's image. It provides ready records and references.
Legal defenses can depend upon written communication as it provides valid records.

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What is written communication?

Written communication is any written message that two or more people exchange. Written
communication is typically more formal but less efficient than oral communication.
Examples of written communication include:

● Emails
● Text messages
● Blog posts
● Business letters
● Reports
● Proposals
● Contracts
● Job descriptions
● Employee manuals
● Memos
● Bulletins
● Instant messages
● Postcards
● Faxes
● Advertisements
● Brochures
● News releases

Most businesses require and depend on written communication to function and share
information.

Qualities of effective written communication

All effective forms of written communication have these qualities:

● Comprehensive: Includes all the relevant details

● Accurate: All details are correct
● Appropriate: Has the right tone and level of formality
● Composition: Has correct spelling and grammar
● Clear: Is understandable

Ways to communicate clearly with written communication

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Effective writing allows the reader to understand everything you are saying. Here are a few
ways you can communicate clearly and easily:

1. Identify and clearly state your goal

Effective written communication has an obvious goal that you convey to the reader. Describe
in clear words what you want the reader to do or know.

2. Use the right tone

Tone can help your writing be more effective. Some forms of communication, such as
memorandums, require a formal tone. Writing to a friend, however, requires an informal tone.
The tone you use depends on the purpose of the writing and the audience.

3. Keep it simple

Avoid jargon, expressions or big or complex words. You want to make it easy for the reader
to understand what you are saying, regardless of their familiarity with your company or
industry.

4. Stay on topic

Avoid irrelevant information. Clarity is essential. Keep paragraphs and sentences short, as
complicated and lengthy statements slow the reader down. Only include words that add value
to the reader and focus on your main goal.

5. Use active voice

Active voice strengthens your writing and makes your statements easier to understand. Active
voice also engages the reader and keeps their attention. An example of passive voice is, "The
letter was sent by me." You can communicate this statement more clearly and concisely if
you rewrite it in active voice: "I sent the letter."

6. Have someone proofread your writing

Correct punctuation, spelling and grammar are crucial. Have someone read your writing
before you send or share it. If no one is available, then read it out loud to yourself.

7. Make it easy to read and scan

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Emails, memos, letters and webpages with brief text and plenty of white space are easier to
read than text-heavy communications. Break your content into easy-to-read and understand
paragraphs or sections. This is particularly important when viewers are reading on a screen,
such as web content and emails. Use bullet points, headers and short paragraphs to make your
text easier to understand.

8. Be professional

When writing for work, keep the content professional. Avoid making jokes or discussing
sensitive topics that the reader might interpret differently than you intended. A professional
tone, particularly in formal communications, gets the reader to trust and respect you.

9. Practice

The more you write, the stronger your written communication skills get. Practice
writing a variety of communication types frequently, including:

● Emails
● Letters
● Press releases
● Blog posts
● Memos
● Reports
● Website content

Consider writing hypothetical press releases and advertisement copy, for example, rather than
documents your organization plans to send or publish. Have a friend or colleague read your
writing and give you feedback so you know what to improve when your manager does ask
you to write a professional communication.

The importance of written communication in business

Companies use written communication in nearly everything they do. Here are several reasons
this form of communication is important for business:

Economical and Efficient

Written communication is cost-effective. A letter, for instance, costs less to make than a long-
distance phone call but can communicate the same thing. Letters are also accommodating.

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Professionals can write letters at their convenience, and recipients can read the letter at their
convenience. Alternatively, you might receive an important phone call any time of day,
including times when you are busy.

Written communication is ideal for sending messages that are not urgent. You can send
a simple postcard or letter, for example, to thank a client or inform customers about
order updates.

Accuracy

Many business communications are long and complex. Carefully written letters help ensure
even complicated communications are accurate. Miscommunications are more likely to occur
with verbal communications such as phone conversations.

Record-keeping

Written communication, particularly when signed by one or more parties, is more official
than verbal communication. It serves as a permanent record of an agreement, conversation or
deal, and you can refer to it in the future.

Goodwill and branding

The best way to convey communications such as invitations, seasonal greetings, thank-you
letters, congratulatory messages and condolences is in writing. Personalized written messages
help develop positive and respectful professional relationships. You can also use letters to
promote customer relationships, create a positive impression and build goodwill. You might
send a professional contact a written letter, for example, for their birthday, when their son or
daughter gets married or when they receive a promotion. Written business letters make these
situations more personal and promote a feeling of friendship.

For this reason, they are indirect business promotion tools.

Besides communicating information and building goodwill, letters also help create a positive
image of the company that sends them. Every letter a company sends is a goodwill
ambassador that speaks for the organization's values and quality.

Street Theatre

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What does street theatre mean?

Street theatre is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces
without a specific paying audience. These spaces can be anywhere, including shopping
centres, car parks, recreational reserves, college or university campus and street corners.
Who started street theatre?
Utpal Dutt and Habib Tanvir used street theatre as political catalyst during 1940s and 1950s.
It was revived in the 1970s and now the movement has spread all over the country.
What are the elements of street theatre?
Street theatre can involve juggling, stilt walking, magic, physical theatre, mime, mask work,
circus skills, clowning, work with fire, slapstick comedy, busking, riding bicycles or
unicycles, using simple costumes and props. It normally involves little or no set and no
amplification of sound
Street theatre can be used to convey simple messages. It also can be used to demonstrate and
practice skills; and at its most skilful can also provoke debate and dialogue between the
players and the audience. Scripts can be useful and many voter education packages include
short sketches.
What is done in a street play?
The primary goal of a street play is taking a social message to a large group of people. This
helps to create a sense of awareness in the society in which we live. Every street play has a
specific public social theme and the actor who performs should posses the skill to exhibit and
portrays the theme well.

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