Let's Talk: Tips to Build Effective Oral Communicators

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In this episode of Mentoring Matters we share our tips for helping graduate students become awesome oral communicators.
Don't forget to give them opportunity to practice! Provide low stress opportunities to present such as giving presentations to your lab group.

Have discussions about core concepts of effective communication.

1. Always consider the audience, build from their knowledge. Meet them where they are at.
2. Ask yourself what you want the audience to do with the information you are providing.
3. Start with the big picture! Help the audience see why it matters.
4. Keep it simple-no more than three main points. Don’t include everything just because you can.
5. Break down a big story into bite-sized pieces so that audience can take it in.
6. Focus on the story, walk the audience through your thought process and why you did the work.
7. Use visual aids to supplement what is being verbally articulated. Make sure visuals don’t distract the audience.

Have lab members provide feedback to help them think critically about what effective communication looks like. Consider having the student also do a self-assessment. Then have a discussion after the presentation on what worked and what could be better.

A great book to get one thinking about effective science communication is Alan Alda’s book titled “If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look On My Face?”

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