Communication Track

Members who wish to focus on communication skills begin with the Competent Communication manual that’s included in the New Member Kit. Once they have completed this manual, they can progress to the Advanced Communication Series. 

 

Competent Communication manual 

 

The 10 speech projects in this manual will help you develop your speaking skills one step at a time. Each of the ten projects in this basic manual focuses on a certain aspect of speech making, from organization to language and delivery.

 

The chart below lists the ten projects in the Communication and Leadership Program manual:

#

Project Title

Time (Minutes)

Objectives

1

The Ice Breaker

4 - 6
  • To begin speaking before an audience.
  • To discover speaking skills you already have and skills that need some attention.

2

Organize Your Speech

5 - 7
  • 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.

3

Get to the Point

5 - 7
  • Select a speech topic and determine its general and specific purposes.
  • Organize 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.

4

How to Say It

5 - 7
  • Select the right words and sentence structure to communicate your ideas clearly, accurately, and vividly.
  • Use rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasize ideas.
  • Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words. Use correct grammar.

5

Your Body Speaks

5 - 7
  • 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.

6

Vocal Variety

5 - 7
  • 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.

7

Research Your Topic

5 - 7
  • Collect information about your topic from numerous sources.
  • Carefully support your points and opinions with specific facts, examples and illustrations gathered through research.

8

Get Comfortable with Visual Aids

5 - 7
  • Select visual aids that are appropriate for your message and the audience.
  • Use visual aids correctly with ease and confidence.

9

Persuade with Power

5 - 7
  • 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.

10

Inspire Your Audience

8 - 10
  • 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.

 

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. 

 

Advanced Communication Series 

 

After receiving CC recognition, you can work in the Advanced Communication Series manuals, where you’ll refine and enhance your speaking skills and become eligible for Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB), Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) and Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) recognition. There are 15 manuals, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented. You choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to learn. Some manuals focus on "real life" situations such as public relations and technical briefings, while others help develop more widely applicable skills such as humour and storytelling.