Effective Communication - Emergency Management Institute ...

UNIT 8: COURSE SUMMARY
Effective Oral Presentations
One of your most important emergency management skills is oral
communication. In your role as emergency manager, planner, or responder,
you may be asked to communicate critical information in a variety of ways.
Each circumstance offers unique challenges and opportunities to match your
verbal and nonverbal communication to your message and audience.
Ensuring that your presentation matches your audience is critical to gaining the
desired response. Matching messages and audiences will help to ensure
communication success.
The news media can be a strong ally in alerting and informing the public. It is
important to establish credible and productive working relationships with
representatives of the media. To minimize misunderstandings, build strong
relationships with media representatives.
More than half of face-to-face communication is exchanged through nonverbal
cues. Because up to 65 percent of the meaning of your message is unspoken,
it is imperative to learn to read nonverbal communication. Eyes, tone of voice,
expression, volume, and gestures reflect attitudes, emotions, states of mind,
and related messages.
Nonverbal cues can have an impact equal to or stronger than the words that are
spoken. When the speaker’s body language is in sync with the verbal
message, the message is reinforced. Listeners are likely to respond to this
extra persuasion with increased respect, harmony, or trust.
Speech anxiety is the single most common social anxiety in the United States.
Whatever the source of your speech anxiety, taking these steps can help you
reduce nervousness and gain control of your presentation.
Preparation
Practice
Acceptance
Effective Communication Page 8.5