UNITED INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED SCIENCES &

HUMANITIES

Lecture Notes On

Technical Communication (BAS-301)

B.Tech. / 2nd Year / 3RDSem.

AKTU

ABHAY AGARWAL ASSISTANT

PROFESSOR

ABHAY AGARWAL , ASSISTANT PROFESSOR , UIT , NAINI , PRAYAGRAJ

 UNITED INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Technical Report:
The word report is derived from the Latin word ‘Reportare’ which means to
‘bring back’. It is a description of past event carrying factual details to someonewho was not
present in the scene. A technical report is a formal written document for a specific purpose. In
other words it is piece of factual writing based on evidence in an organized form about a
particular topic.

*Style & features of Technical Report:

a. Purpose
b. Factual details
c. Clarity
d. properly structured
e. Illustration
f. Reader Oriented

Types of Report:
According to the appearance length & degree reports can be of three types :
a. Informational Report (Presents the situation as it is not as it should be )
b. Analytical Report ( Includes evaluation & analysis of data along with
recommendation)
c. Routine Report ( Based on accurate and continuous observation)
Significance of Report:
Reports bear a lot of significance both to the organization in which they arise & tothe organization
they are submitted to. It is having the following significance:
a. These are the important means of communication within or outside theorganization.
b. It enables one for decision making and solving problems in an organization.
c. It helps the authorities to plan or implement new ideas.
d. It serves as a measure of growth, progress of an organization.
e. It can be kept as a record for future reference.

Technical Proposal: The word proposal is from the verb propose which means“to offer “or
put forward ideas for one’s consideration .In other words a

ABHAY AGARWAL , ASSISTANT PROFESSOR , UIT , NAINI , PRAYAGRAJ

 UNITED INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

proposal is a special type of analytical document designed to get product

,project from others.

Types of proposal:
Proposal can be classified into two broad categories:
A. Internal proposal
B. External proposal
A. Internal Proposal: When the employee prepares a proposal about a problem or
product and puts it forward to the higher authority for consideration within the
organization, is known as internal proposal.

B. External Proposal: When a proposal is prepared in order to win the contractfrom

other organization, known as external proposal.

These two types can be further divided in to two parts:

I. Sales Proposal: A proposal dealing with the aspect of business or trade or
commerce or promoting the sales of a particular product is known as sales proposal.
II. Research Proposal: A proposal which contains a project, requiring scientific and
systematic investigation, is known as research proposal.

These two parts can be further divided into two sections:

1) Solicited Proposal: when a proposal is prepared in response of invitation (maybe
through advertisement) known as solicited proposal.
2) Unsolicited Proposal: When a proposal is developed by an individual withoutbeing
asked or any external encouragement or request, known as Unsolicited Proposal.

Characteristic of proposal:
I. It must demonstrate solution.
II. Structure should be appropriate.
III. It must have a space for creativity.
IV. It must use simple dialect (word) in an unbiased way.

ABHAY AGARWAL , ASSISTANT PROFESSOR , UIT , NAINI , PRAYAGRAJ

Project / Thesis Writing:-

Project Report:- A project report is prepared at the completion of a project hence it includes the
findings or the conclusion on which a researcher arrives at after completing his research work.
As project report includes findings or conclusion which effectively conveys it's message to the
person concerned. In order to achieve perfection, a project should be prepared systematically and
should contain all elements of formal report. These projects may be external as well as internal.

Thesis:- A Thesis is a formal report which a professional prepares on the basis of the data
collected on a problem. It provides a detailed written account of the data procured after
conducting some survey or research in a particular field.

Thesis Structure:-

1) Title Page:- It is the first page of thesis which includes Title ( including subtitle), author,
institution, department, date of delivery research mentor and advisor, their institution and email
address.

2) Abstract:- A good abstract explains why paper is important. It is concise, readable and
qualitative. It includes the most important details/gist of the paper. An abstract may have the
following features:-

a) Length should be 1-2 paragraphs, approx. 400 words

b) It does not include citation

c) It uses numbers where appropriate

d) It should be explicit

e) An abstract should answer following questions:

i) What did you do?

ii) Why did you do it?

iii) How did you do it?

iv) What did you learn?

v) Why does it matter?

3) Table of content:-

a) List all headings and subheadings with page numbers

b) Indent subheadings
 For eg:- Page

List of figures xi

List of table xii

Introduction 1

Methods 6

List of figures:- Enlist page numbers of all figures used in that this. It should include a short title
for each figure not the whole caption.

List of Tables:- Enlist page numbers of the table used to support information.

Introduction:- This section introduces the topic in such a way that reader finds it interesting and
motivating to read the rest of the paper. It is an important/interesting scientific problem that this
paper either solves or address. The next paragraphs in the introduction should cite previous
research in this area, who had the idea first and also present who have done the most recent and
relevant work. It also presents why more work was necessary.

An introduction section should include the following points:-

a) A statement of the goal of the paper

b) Information allow the reader to understand the context and importance of the question

c) Proper acknowledgement of previous work

d) Focus on thesis question

e) Explain the scope of the work

Methods:- This section deals with the way the research was performed, it includes:

a) Description of material, procedure, theory

b) Calculation, technique, equipment

c) Limitations, assumption

d) Description of analytical methods

Results:- The results are actual statements of observations including statistics, tables and graphs.

 Mention negative, as well as positive results

 Do not interpret results
 Divide the result section into logical segments by using subheadings.
  Key results should be stated in clear sentences at the beginning of
paragraph.

Discussion:- The discussion section should be a brief essay in itself and provides the answer of
the following questions:-

a) What is the major pattern in the observation?

b) What are the exceptions to this pattern?

c) What are the likely causes?

d) Multiple hypothesis

Conclusion:- It is the strongest and most important statement that one can make from
observations. These statements allow the reader to revisit the idea discussed in the paper and
make them remember the result for the long time. It refers back to problem posed, summarizes
new observations, new interpretation and new insights.

Recommendations:- It is the suggestion made by writer to improve the situation on the basis of
his observation and work. It includes:

 Remedial action to solve the problem

 Further possibility of research
 Direction for future investigation

Acknowledgement:- Recognizing the effort of advisor and anyone who helped during the
process of this work:-

 Technically (materials, supplies)

 Intellectually (advice, assistance)
 Financially (travel grants, departmental support)

Reference:- Enlisting the source from where one has collected the data

 Cite all ideas, concept, text, data that are not your
 All references cited in the text
 Cite single author reference by surname of author [followed by dateof publication
in ( ) ]
 Cite double author by their surname
What is a Pitch?
A pitch is a short, compelling presentation that answers the questions:
What do you have to offer?
Why should a customer buy your product or service?
Why should an investor or business owner take a chance on you?
A successful pitch is like your verbal business card—it says what you have to offer in a nutshell and
is appealing to listeners. Pitches are inherently persuasive but shouldn’t feel pushy, sleazy, or
desperate. Instead, pitchers can use their charisma and enthusiasm to make a stellar case for why
their idea is better than the rest.

Pitches come in many forms:

The Sales Pitch: The most common pitch type is a shortened sales presentation where a salesperson
convinces a customer to buy their product or service. Think of a consultant, an insurance salesman,
or a grocery store sampler trying to get you to make a purchase.
The Business Pitch: A business pitch is a presentation of a startup idea or existing business to
investors who may invest capital in improving or fundraising the business. The TV Show Shark
Tank features aspiring entrepreneurs’ most notable business pitches.
The Idea Pitch: This generic pitch can be as formal as a business pitch or as casual as a meeting
presentation. Essentially, someone convinces an audience to buy into or implement their idea. For
example, a marketing employee may present an idea for improving their social media strategy to
their colleagues.
The Elevator Pitch: You can shorten any pitch to a 20-30 second speech you can communicate
during an elevator ride. An elevator pitch is designed to be as short and sweet as possible. It could
explain what you do, what business you are starting, or how you plan to save the world. A good
elevator pitch should be so compelling that a person wants to hear more after the figurative elevator
ride.
What Makes a Successful Pitch?
A successful pitch grabs the attention of your listener, gives them a crystal clear picture of your idea
or concept, and leaves them with a call to action that they cannot resist. This is about persuasion—
why should this person choose your solution to a problem compared to others?

NOTE: There is a common myth that entrepreneurs and salespeople are born with a natural talent
for selling. In reality, selling is a people skill, just like telling a story or starting a conversation. With
the right tools and practice, anyone can learn it!
The perfect pitch uses concise language and juicy details to explain a problem, present your
solution, and offer an irresistible call to action. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Start with a problem or story

Scientists found that people make a snap judgment of you within 1/10 of a second. Thankfully, you
can take a bit more time to grab your prospect’s attention and make them eager to hear more. Think
of these first thirty seconds as your pitch’s first impression. Instead of going in for a handshake,
your magnetic opening lines should make the audience’s ears perk up.

A great pitch starts by addressing a pain point. A pain point is a persistent customer problem or an
unmet need that needs to be satisfied.

The world is full of problems. The most impactful and successful people are on a mission to solve
them. When thinking of your pain point, ask yourself:
What problem does your product/service/idea solve?
Who feels this pain point?
Why does this pain point matter to your audience?
There are two main ways you can make this opening: create a pain point statement or tell a story
that reveals the problem.

Option 1: Write a pain point statement.

The simplest way to open a pitch is with a 1-3 sentence statement highlighting the pain point.
Marketers and copywriters use the P-A-S formula to describe a pain point briefly:

Problem: Present the issue in the customer’s or audience’s language, so they know you understand
them. For example, developers need to know the common coding terms, while a security brand
should use up-to-date security lingo that their customer understands.
Agitate: Use emotion to remind the audience just how bad the pain point is.
Solution: Paint a picture of how your solution (product, service, or idea) can solve the problem and
improve their lives.
For example, consider you are a personal development or life coach. Instead of a lackluster
statement like “I am a life coach that helps people improve themselves,” you can pitch your
coaching services with the P-A-S formula:

Problem: “When you’re feeling like you’re lacking purpose, motivation, or direction, it can be hard
to enjoy life and reach your goals.”
Agitate: “You might feel completely stuck or lost and unsure how to get where you want to be.”
Solution: “My life coaching services help inspire and motivate people to get back on track so they
can create the life of their dreams.”
Action Step: Write your opening lines using one of these templates and the P-A-S formula.
Remember to phrase your pain point to make it relatable and relevant to your audience. Use a
highlighter to point out your Problem, Agitation, and Solution.

“For years, [customer demographic] has struggled with [pain point]. Our product fixes that by [how
it solves the problem].”
“If you’re tired of [pain point], it’s time to level up and [solve pain point]. We help people [core
offering].”
“Finding the perfect [product/service] can be stressful. Hunting down all the options and reading
reviews takes forever, and you have to pay a steep price tag. Our [solution] streamlines the process,
so you get the quickest, best deal possible.”
Option 2: Tell a story that demonstrates the problem

If a direct pain point statement isn’t your thing, another way to present a problem is with a story or
anecdote. Most of the 495 Shark Tank pitches we analyzed included an inspirational story about the
company or the entrepreneur.

The human brain is naturally intrigued by stories. Stories create a culture and a sense of belonging.
Most importantly, scientists have found that stories build human connections.

A relevant personal anecdote is a powerful opportunity to make you more authentic and relatable.
This can help your audience feel connected to your product or idea. When including a story,
remember to:

Highlight the pain points: The key purpose of an anecdote is to emphasize how your idea solves the
pain point in real life. Use language that aggravates the target customer’s problem. For example, “It
was frustrating to have all my to-do lists scattered around on different papers and apps. I couldn’t
keep it organized! That’s why I finally invented this all-in-one productivity system for busy
people.”
Keep it relevant: Your pitch story can be somewhat personal, but keep it on track. It’s most
important for it to be relatable so that it builds the connection you’re seeking with the audience. The
story must be relevant to the business when pitching to potential investors. Write it out and trim any
details that aren’t specifically relevant to the pain point and the business solution.
Keep it brief: A pitch story should be short enough to tell in 2 minutes or less. It may be longer than
a pain point statement, but it should still be fast-paced enough to keep your audience’s attention.
Don’t tell your whole life story. Summarize the big picture and get straight to the main point.
For example, this Shark Tank pitch from entrepreneur Dave Vasen includes a powerful storytelling
element. His app, Bright wheel, solves the problem that parents don’t know how their kids spend
their days at daycare. Are they learning? Are they behaving? His presentation features cute videos
of kids from the app and a relatable story about why parents want to figure out what their kids do all
day.
He makes it personal by showing how he can see what his little girl Serena is doing throughout the
day thanks to the app. In the end, Vasen got a double Shark deal with Mark Cuban and Chris Sacca,
investing a total of $600,000 for 6.67% equity. Obviously, that personal story worked!

Pro Tip: As you introduce your pain point, use this opportunity to showcase your awesome first
impression. People with the body language of a winner tend to be more likable and competent right
off the bat. Remember to:

Make eye contact

Show your hands
Give a wave
Genuinely smile
Stand up straight
Slightly expand your chest

Step 2: Share a concise and clear value proposition

Your value proposition is the make-or-break point of your pitch! Once you’ve hooked them, it’s
time to share an outcome-focused statement highlighting your offer’s benefits. This is often called a
UVP or unique value proposition.

A unique value proposition is a 1-2 sentence statement that explains what differentiates your
business from the competition and makes your product or service the absolute best option.

A value proposition summarizes why they should choose you. Ask yourself:

What value does your offering add to their lives?

Why is your idea/product/service better than competitors?
What specific pain relievers does your idea offer to solve the pain points?
What would the prospects gain from your offering?
For example, this fifteen-year-old entrepreneur and his dad on Shark Tank wow the sharks with
their unique value proposition for Touch Up Cup. They knock the entire pitch out of the park, but
the value statement sticks out most initially. Notice how their pitch merges parts one and two so that
the pain point threads straight into the value proposition.
“Does your paint closet look anything like this?” [He pulls the blanket off of a messy paint can
demo] *Presents the customer problem*
“If so, you have half a dozen gallon cans with just this much [small hand gesture] paint. We went to
open just a few cans, and Oh! The rust, the clumps, and smell.” *Agitates the problem*
“We looked at each other and said, ‘There has to be a better way!’ So that’s why I invented the
patented Touch Up Cup for paint: the most innovative solution to all your pain storage problems.”
*Solution and unique value proposition*
“It even has a stainless steel blending sphere for mixing. Just shake and paint, baby!” [They demo
the product] “Say goodbye to rusted clumps forever. Touch Up cup has extra threads and an airtight
silicone seal to keep paint fresh for over ten years.” *Unique product details that differentiate from
anything else on the market, plus more agitation of the problem*
They present the sharks with a demo and highlight their slogan, “Shake n’ paint with us.” This pitch
inevitably ended in an awesome deal with Blake Mycoskie for $150,000 for a 17.5% stake. Their
website now includes a crystal-clear value statement at the very top of the page:
“With Touch Up Cup, eliminate rust, clumps, and store paint for 10 years. When it’s time for a
touch-up, just Shake n’ Paint, BABY!” *Two-sentence value proposition explains precisely what
the product does and how it solves the customer problem*
Notice how the slogan is part of the value proposition. If you already have a slogan or tagline for
your pitch idea, you can use that to formulate a UVP. However, while a slogan can be catchy, it may
need to be more comprehensive to get the point across. Ask yourself:
For these companies, the answer is “Yes!” Here are a few more well-known value proposition
examples that tell you exactly what they offer in the fewest words possible:

Uber: The Smartest Way to Get Around

FedEx: Manage Your Home Deliveries
LG: State-of-the-art Living Experience

Action Step: You can write a value statement without being a professional marketer. Write a few
sample value propositions with these templates:

“We help [target customer] do [problem] by providing [solution].”

“For a [target customer] who needs/wants [solution or outcome], our [product/service] transforms
their experience by [how it works].”
“The [industry] is filled with [common quality], but customers want/need [new solution]. What
makes our [idea/product/service] different is [key differentiator].”
Pro Tip: If you want more buy-in from your prospects, deliver your value statement with passion
and pizazz! Say it as you believe in the idea with every cell of your being!

Confidence is key for giving a value statement with a punch. If you want to speak more confidently,
remember to:

Dress to impress: Wear an industry-appropriate outfit that makes you look and feel your best.
Speak slightly faster: A 2011 University of Michigan study found that a moderately rapid speech
rate (about 210 words per minute) is the most effective way to get people to listen.
Hydrate: Research shows that hydration directly affects vocal performance. Drink plenty of water in
the hours leading up to your pitch.
Do a vocal warm-up: Toning your vocal cords isn’t just for singers. Vocal warm-up exercises such
as tongue twisters, chants, and tongue trills can help you sound more confident in your pitch.
Step 3: Explain what your idea will do with a pitch deck or demo
Now that you have presented a problem and offered a unique valuable solution, it’s time to dig into
the specifics with a visual element. Show your audience your idea or product in action. You can use
a:

Pitch Deck: A pitch deck is a collection of digital slides that overview key points using enticing
design elements. You can design one with an application like PowerPoint, Keynote, or Prezi.
Demonstration: A visual demonstration is great for presenting the capabilities of a new idea,
technique, or product. For example, it is far easier to demonstrate a workout machine in use than to
describe it with words. In this case, you can use a video demo since the product is too large to bring
to the presentation.
The first part of your pitch gives a high-level view of what you have to offer to potential customers
or investors. This step is the “meat” in the middle. It explains exactly what your idea does and how
it does it.

For example, pretend that you are pitching an idea to your boss and officemates about why you
should integrate standing desks into your workplace. You can start with a quick pitch deck that
outlines the current science of standing desks and the benefits of spending more time standing
(better circulation, better posture, and less back pain, anyone?)

You may have statistics about why sitting for too long is bad for your back and hips. There can be a
spinal diagram showing the alignment of your spine in a sitting versus standing position. Lastly, you
can show a video of different standing desks in action or bring a standing desk to demonstrate your
standing workflow.

Action Step: Make a digital or handheld slide deck that outlines your idea. If you want to present
with a screen, create a presentation with diverse slides. Pictures, diagrams, colors, and bold words
are key! If you prefer to keep it verbal, consider using index cards to outline what you want to say
as you visually demonstrate the product or idea. Either way, you must have a rehearsed and
memorized script to guide your presentation and explain your idea.

Step 4: Use proof points, real examples, and successes

Anyone can develop a figurative idea, but how many people provide evidence that their concept
works IRL? This is the research portion of your idea or product pitch. You need robust evidence to
convince your prospects that this is an idea or product that actually solves the pain point! Try
introducing your:

Financials and numbers

Data points and stats
Testimonials from existing clients
Case studies from customers
Personal or company milestones
For a product or service pitch, memorize your key numbers and optionally highlight them in bold
text on your slide deck.

Significant numbers include:

Gross sales
Net sales
Profit margin
Wholesale price
Retail price
Customer acquisition cost
Current valuation of your company
Percent equity stake for angel investors
For other types of pitches, like a new idea for your family or workplace, focus on proof points
like:

Scientific evidence supporting your argument

Specific ways that this idea transformed your life
Social media views or stats
Experiences of other people who have implemented the technique
Celebrity endorsements
Book, movie, or online references
Quotes from a customer or someone who has used the idea
Even though this is a data-driven and numerical part of the pitch, it can be fresh and exciting.
Staying fast-paced and upbeat will make you seem excited and proud of your evidence. Just be
sure that your numbers are accurate and communicated.

In this innovative one-minute idea pitch at TEDx Brisbane, you will notice how quickly the pitchers
dig into the evidence. With such a condensed amount of time to get their point across, pitchers must
present their proof immediately.

The results showed that the most successful pitchers had ten traits in common:

Credible
Agreeable
Interactive
Captivating
Relevant
Entertaining
Confident
Powerful
Funny
Inspirational

Step 5: Learn the Art of Stage Presence

Did you know that public speaking is actually a skill? Many people struggle with stage anxiety
because they feel they ‘missed the memo’ on public speaking or they are lacking because they do
not have a natural stage presence. Not true!

Stage presence and public speaking are skills you need to be taught—very few people have them
naturally.
Here are all the aspects of public speaking you can master.

How to make a first impression with an audience

How to have stage presence
Powerful body language
How to speak with a commanding voice
What to do with your hands while speaking
For every speaking skill you add to your toolbox, the less speaking anxiety you will feel.
If you want help really diving into your presentation skills, be sure to sign-up for our course…

Step 6: Close with a clear call to action

The secret sauce to a fantastic pitch is the ending. The serial-position effect explains why people are
psychologically wired to remember the beginning and end of a presentation more than the middle.
The call to action (CTA) will stick in their minds long after you finish!

he call to action answers your audience’s question, “What do I do with all this information?”

However, you may want to sound less salesy in your idea pitch. Instead, use these techniques to
evoke an emotional response and propel your audience into motion:

Use numbers: Piggyback on the last section by re-emphasizing numbers that promote your cause.
For example, “Invest now for 10% equity in a company that has doubled net profits every year for
the past three years.”
Emphasize action words: People like to know precisely what you want them to do and where their
money or efforts will be channeled. Action words are powerful verbs like “buy, download, donate,
invest, call, write, vote, or eat.” They signal the mind to “go!” For example, “Donate $25 today to
provide a shelter animal with food, toys, and medical care for a full month.”
Be specific: Instead of a general request, make it very clear what you would like your audience to
do. For example, “I am requesting a recommendation to the board to move this proposal forward by
the end of the month.”
Include timing: A sense of urgency or timeliness compels people to act more quickly. Stores do this
with limited-time sales and expirations on their promotions. For an idea pitch, you could say, “I
suggest we schedule a team meeting to vote on this idea by the end of the week.”

Key Takeaways: The Best Pitches Solve Problems and Compel Action
Whether you’re a startup looking for funding or trying to convince your office to implement a new
protocol, pitching ideas is a social superpower that will help you in both professional and personal
scenarios. In a formal setting, the best pitches include several or all of these elements:

Clear pain point: Whether you write a pain point statement or tell a personal anecdote, the core aim
of any entrepreneur or thought leader is to solve someone’s problem. Concisely present a pain point
with the P-A-S framework—problem, agitate, solution.
Powerful UVP: A unique value proposition explains why your idea is different and better than the
rest. Think of a slogan or 1-3 line explanation that could stand alone to explain your concept.
Proof to back up the idea: Money talks! If you’re presenting to potential investors, remember to
know your numbers. If making a different pitch, have your research and data points in line to
explain why people should act on your idea. Including evidence in your pitch can make you seem
more reputable, prepared, and knowledgeable.
Juicy call to action: Tell your audience what to do before ending any idea pitch! Instead of being
salesy or demanding, close with an enticing and actionable statement that lets them know how they
can support your idea or bring it to life.
If you want to learn to be more concise and memorable in your professional and personal
interactions, use these 9 Steps to the Perfect Elevator Pitch to masterfully answer questions like
“What do you do?” or “What does your company do?”
There are 3 fundamental pillars to an effective startup pitch structure:

1. The contents you include (what you say and what you don’t say)
2. The order you present the contents (what you say first)
3. The design that brings the contents to life

Preparing your pitch

You have to prepare carefully your pitch, here are some recommendations:
Identify your audience
Identify those present. What is their role, their history, look what motivates them, their values ...
With Internet you can find lots of information: in which projects did they invested? What type of
entrepreneurs do they attend to deal with? When was it? What are their expectations and criteria?

Prepare a story that create desire

Introduce your project and its importance. Highlighting the obstacles, trials that must go over while
demonstrating your ability to overcome them. Put highlight on the innovative and original solutions
you found. You can even point out that others have tried without success, while you, you found the
right answer. Your audience must appropriate your story; make connections with their own
experience and goals. Talk about you, without boasting: your personality, shaped by your personal
story.... If people find that your speech get sense, they will be more inclined to support you. Show
the steps to conquer large markets with significant sizes, on short and medium term. Your audience
expects that you show them how you will build Market entry barriers where you want to play.

Train yourself to convince

Talk to an investor, to interlocutors is a work resulting from a long preparation, already when you
wrote your business plan ... You must look for an impactful and relevant presentation. Focus
particularly, on your executive summary, that is to say, the introductory summary of your business
plan, which will be the cornerstone for attention. To learn more, I remind you that we talk about it,
in the chapter regarding the business plan template.

Stimulate your audience

You are there to sell your project to develop your idea as something unique. You will need to stand
out of the lot, give a sense to your audience that they will miss something if they do not follow you,
and that they should be actors in your project.

Focus on the goals of your pitch

Why are you doing this presentation? Looking for an authorization? To find a partnership
agreement? To negotiate an outsourcing contract? To raise funds? Do not lose your view of
objectives, when preparing your presentation and the way you tell your story. Ask questions at the
end of your presentation to make sure your audience, understands the story you offer them.
Elements of Speech delivery: Poise, Presence, Passion & Illustration

“How can I be more confident” and “How can I be more effective” when I am speaking to a
group of people. While other themes around, body language, structure, use of story, being
influential and persuasive is always there, the big two are confidence and effectiveness.

I have 3 Ps that I teach to help people be more confident and effective and these Ps are less
about the skills, tools and techniques and more about mindset and attitude. The 3 Ps are
Poise, Presence, and Passion.

Passion: Infusing your speech with genuine enthusiasm and emotion about your topic can captivate
your audience and make your message more compelling.
Passionate speakers look confident and passion helps you to build trust and connect with your
audience. Passion is not just about raising your voice and having animated gestures. Passion is having
that absolute conviction in, and alignment with your message and your purpose. Passionate people
come across as authentic and genuine and their focus is on helping their audience in one way or
another.
The passion will drive your presentation and it will help hold the nerves at bay, or at least
allow you to go about your presentation and public speaking, because you are passionate
about your message. Passionate people place the importance of their message above their
nerves and any fear of public speaking. The passion drives them.

If confidence and effectiveness are two of your goals in public speaking and you are clear on
your message and why it matters, then Poise, Presence and Passion will go a long way to
helping you get there.

Poise: Maintaining composure, confidence, and control while speaking enhances your credibility
and helps engage your audience.
Earl Wilson described poise as “the ability to be ill at ease inconspicuously.” So as public speakers we
will feel nervous and nerves are an important part of public speaking. So if we can feel uncomfortable
while public speaking but look in control and look confident then we will do a great job. Poise is about
keeping calm and in control while under fire or under pressure. Poise comes from being focused on the
audience and being of service to your audience. If you focus on why you are there and how you are
going to help your audience and focus on the issues that you will solve for your audience, then they are
going to be appreciative and receptive of your message. All of this can be done confidently and
effectively, even with your nerves, if you can display poise.

Presence
Presence is that air of confidence that you have when you walk into a room and you walk on
stage. It is your smile, your posture, your slow and steady breathing, your eye contact and
your open and congruent nonverbal communication. Amy Cuddy in her TED talk, explains
how we can fake confidence by simply displaying confident body language. The metaphor I
like to use is that of the beautiful and majestic black swans that glide effortlessly across Lake
Monger. Often in groups of 3 or more and they form that perfect V pattern and a gentle wave
emanates from their wake. Simply it is poetry in motion. But, as we know under the water the
legs are going at 100 miles an hour. This is presence. Standing up, smiling looking confident
even when you may be very nervous. Our presence can be practiced, and it will hide our
nerves and make us look confident.

Illustration: Using anecdotes, examples, and visual aids can make your speech more vivid and
relatable, helping the audience better understand and connect with your message.