Speech Analysis and Assessment Communication

SPEECH ORGANIZATION

Speech Organization

Does the introduction include the speaker’s credibility and speech overview?

The speech selected is ’10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation’ by Celeste Headlee. Headlee does not introduce herself per se, but mentions that she is a professional interviewer and has had the opportunity to interview influential persons including Nobel Prize winners, billionaires, and heads of state. This creates speaker credibility and builds the audience’s belief in her ability to teach them how to have great conversations. She states in the instruction that she will teach the audience ten rules that will help them have great conversations without wasting time and offending others. With this, the audience can already tell that the speech will be focused on strategies that drive great conversations. Therefore, the introduction does include the speaker’s credibility and also provides the speech overview.

How is the speech organized?

The speech is arranged topically. The speaker breaks down the lesson into ten ideas for effective conversations and addresses each one as a different topic. The key topics include being present in the conversation devoid of distractions, allowing others to express their opinions, using open-ended questions, allowing ideas to flow in and out of one’s mind, acknowledging what one does not know, listening actively, and being brief.

What are the main points and are they clear?

The speaker clearly articulates her main points, citing relevant examples and famous quotes, both of which enhance comprehension. First, she emphasizes the importance of minimizing distractions and allowing oneself to be in the conversation. Secondly, she warns against pontification and emphasizes the need to allow others in a conversation to express their ideas and opinion freely, even when those ideas challenge one’s opinion or beliefs. She mentions that there is always something to learn in a conversation and pontification limits this and offends the other party. Thirdly, she proposes the use of open-ended questions as opposed to limiting closed-ended questions that prevent others from freely and accurately expressing what they feel. Fourth, the speaker mentions that a good communicator allows thoughts to flow into and out of their minds as the conversation progresses so that they can concentrate.

The fifth rule of great conversations is to acknowledge when one does not know and the sixth is to allow others to own the moment by avoiding the urge to equate one’s situation with theirs or show one’s hero moments. Moreover, the speaker advises the audience to refrain from repeating themselves in conversations because this creates monotony and to avoid struggling with complex details such as dates and names because people will often not care about these as much as what they have in common. Finally, the speaker calls on the audience to always be brief, cultivate a culture of listening and avoid the tendency to always talk because by listening, one learns. She cautions against listening with the intent to respond and urges the audience to listen with the intent to understand as Steven Covey suggests in his famous quote. According to the author, brevity indicates that the speaker is mindful of their listeners.

How does the speech end?

At the end of her speech, the author reiterates the idea that an effective conservation involves acknowledging that everyone has something to learn, and approaching others with the intent to listen and understand. In the speaker’s view, the audience will be amazed at how great their conversation will be if they practice this.