ORAL COMMUNICATION: DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO LEARN FOR AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

1. ORAL COMMUNICATION: DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO LEARN FOR AN EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION
Oral communication is a crucial skill that involves expressing ideas, thoughts, and information through spoken
language. It encompasses various aspects such as clarity, coherence, tone, and non-verbal cues like body
language and gestures. Effective oral communication is essential in both personal and professional settings,
enabling individuals to convey messages clearly, build relationships, persuade others, and collaborate
effectively.
Improving oral communication skills involves several strategies:
1. Practice active listening: Pay attention to what others are saying, ask clarifying questions, and
demonstrate that you understand by paraphrasing or summarizing their points.
2. Work on clarity and articulation: Speak clearly and confidently, enunciate words properly, and use
appropriate vocabulary for your audience.
3. Organize your thoughts: Structure your ideas logically, use transitions to connect key points, and
maintain coherence throughout your communication.
4. Develop non-verbal communication: Pay attention to your body language, facial expressions, and
gestures to enhance your message and convey confidence.
5. Adapt to your audience: Tailor your communication style, tone, and language to suit the preferences
and expectations of your listeners.
6. Seek feedback: Solicit constructive feedback from peers, mentors, or coaches to identify areas for
improvement and refine your oral communication skills.
7. Practice speaking in diverse situations: Engage in public speaking, presentations, group discussions,
and informal conversations to gain confidence and fluency in expressing yourself orally.
By consistently practicing and honing these skills, you can become a more effective and persuasive
communicator in both personal and professional contexts.
Active listening is paramount in oral communication for several reasons:
1. Understanding: Active listening allows you to fully grasp the message being communicated, including
the nuances, emotions, and underlying meanings. This understanding is crucial for responding
appropriately and engaging in meaningful dialogue.
2. Building Relationships: When you actively listen to others, you convey respect, empathy, and interest
in what they have to say. This fosters trust and strengthens relationships, whether in personal or
professional settings.
3. Conflict Resolution: Active listening is a key component of effective conflict resolution. By listening
attentively to different perspectives, you can identify common ground, clarify misunderstandings, and
find mutually acceptable solutions.

2. 4. Problem Solving: In collaborative environments, active listening facilitates problem-solving by
ensuring that all viewpoints are considered and relevant information is shared. It enables teams to
brainstorm ideas, evaluate options, and make informed decisions.
5. Improving Communication: Active listening promotes clearer and more concise communication by
reducing misunderstandings and misinterpretations. When you listen attentively, you can ask relevant
questions, seek clarification, and provide accurate feedback, leading to more effective communication
overall.
6. Enhancing Leadership: Effective leaders are skilled listeners who understand the needs and concerns
of their team members. By actively listening to their employees, leaders can address issues, provide
support, and inspire confidence, ultimately fostering a positive and productive work environment.
7. Learning and Growth: Active listening enables continuous learning and personal growth by allowing
you to absorb new ideas, perspectives, and information from others. It opens up opportunities for self-
reflection, adaptation, and improvement in both professional and personal capacities.
Overall, active listening is foundational to effective oral communication as it promotes understanding,
collaboration, and mutual respect, leading to better outcomes and stronger relationships.
Negotiation is a complex process that often involves oral communication to convey interests, explore options,
and reach agreements. Effective negotiation strategies in oral communication include:
1. Prepare Thoroughly: Before engaging in negotiation, research the relevant facts, understand your goals
and priorities, and anticipate potential objections or counterarguments. Preparation enhances your
confidence and ability to articulate your position effectively.
2. Active Listening: Listen attentively to the other party's concerns, interests, and goals. Pay attention to
verbal cues as well as non-verbal signals to understand their perspective fully. Demonstrating empathy
and understanding can build rapport and facilitate a more collaborative negotiation process.
3. Clarify and Confirm: Clarify any points of confusion or ambiguity by asking open-ended questions
and paraphrasing the other party's statements to ensure mutual understanding. Confirm agreements or
understandings reached throughout the negotiation to avoid misunderstandings later on.
4. Focus on Interests, Not Positions: Instead of fixating on specific demands or positions, focus on
underlying interests and needs. By understanding the motivations driving each party, you can explore
creative solutions that address both sides' interests and maximize mutual gains.
5. Maintain Flexibility: Be open to exploring different options and alternatives during the negotiation
process. Avoid rigid adherence to predetermined solutions and be willing to adapt your approach based
on new information or changing circumstances.
6. Frame Arguments Persuasively: Present your arguments and proposals in a clear, compelling manner,
highlighting their benefits and aligning them with the other party's interests where possible. Use
persuasive language and logic to build credibility and convince the other party of the merits of your
position.

3. 7. Manage Emotions: Keep emotions in check and maintain a professional demeanor throughout the
negotiation. Avoid reacting impulsively to provocations or setbacks and focus on maintaining a
constructive dialogue aimed at reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.
8. Generate Options for Mutual Gain: Collaborate with the other party to brainstorm creative solutions
that meet both sides' interests. Look for opportunities to expand the pie and create value through trade-
offs or concessions that benefit both parties.
9. Establish Trust: Foster trust and rapport by being honest, transparent, and reliable in your
communication. Trust is essential for building long-term relationships and facilitating successful
negotiations.
10. Know Your BATNA: Understand your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA) and use
it as a benchmark for evaluating potential outcomes. Having a strong BATNA provides leverage and
confidence during negotiations.
By employing these negotiation strategies in oral communication, you can navigate complex negotiations more
effectively, build constructive relationships, and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
SITUATION COMMON PHRASE
Seeking Permission "Excuse me, may I interject for a moment?"
"Do you mind if I jump in here?"
"Sorry to interrupt, but..."
"Could I add something to that?"
Acknowledging Speaker "I hear what you're saying, and..."
"I understand your point, however..."
"I'd like to build on what you said..."
"I agree with you, and..."
Offering Input "I'd like to offer a different perspective."
"Could I share my thoughts on this?"
"If I may, I think there's another aspect to consider."
"Could I suggest an alternative approach?"

4. Interruption "Sorry to interrupt,………….."
"Excuse me, I have a quick addition to make in…………………..
"May I jump in for a moment? I just wanted to provide some context
to this discussion……………
Remember to use these phrases respectfully and considerately, ensuring that you're not disrupting the flow of
the conversation unnecessarily.
Here are common phrases for presenting one's ideas and thoughts in agreement and disagreement during
communication, presented in tabulated form:
Agreement Disagreement
"I agree with you on that point." "I see where you're coming from, but..."
"I share the same perspective." "I'm not entirely convinced that..."
"That makes sense to me." "I respectfully disagree because..."
"I'm on board with that idea." "I have a different viewpoint on this."
"You make a valid point." "I understand your position, however..."
"I'm in favor of your proposal." "While I understand your reasoning, I think..."
"I'm inclined to agree with you." "I'm afraid I have to disagree with you here."
"I couldn't agree more." "I don't quite see it the same way."
"You've hit the nail on the head." "I respectfully have a different opinion."
"You're absolutely right about that." "I'm of a different mind on this matter."
"Exactly my thoughts." "I'm not sure I follow your reasoning."
Using these phrases appropriately can facilitate constructive dialogue while expressing agreement or
disagreement respectfully.
Here are common phrases used to present ideas with valid reasons and references, presented in tabulated form:
Phrase Example
"According to [source/reference],..." "According to the latest report by Smith et al.,..."
"Research has shown that..." "Research has shown that regular exercise reduces
stress."
"Studies have indicated that..." "Studies have indicated that there is a correlation

5. between..."
"It's widely accepted that..." "It's widely accepted that climate change is caused
by..."
"The evidence suggests that..." "The evidence suggests that implementing this policy
would..."
"Data from [source] reveals that..." "Data from the Department of Health reveals that..."
"As demonstrated by [study/findings]..." "As demonstrated by the landmark study by Johnson et
al.,..."
"Statistics show that..." "Statistics show that the unemployment rate has
decreased."
"According to the
[organization/authority]..."
"According to the World Health Organization,..."
"Based on [expertise/experience],..." "Based on my experience in the field,..."
"Citing [author/authority],..." "Citing John Doe's analysis,..."
Since…. Since it's raining outside, we decided to cancel the
picnic."
Due to…. "The flight was delayed due to bad weather
conditions."
Consequently……. "He missed the train, and consequently, he arrived late
to the meeting."
Therefore…. "She studied diligently, and therefore, she scored well
on the exam."
Using these phrases can lend credibility to your ideas and arguments by providing valid reasons and references
to support your points.
Here are common phrases used to support or modify one's opinion, presented in tabulated form:
Support Modification
"I firmly believe that..." "While I initially thought that,..."
"In my opinion,..." "Upon further reflection,..."
"From my perspective,..." "I'm beginning to see things differently now."
"I am of the opinion that..." "I'm starting to reconsider my stance on this."
"I am convinced that..." "However, upon closer examination,..."

6. "I strongly support the idea that..." "Although I originally thought..."
"My view is that..." "I've come to realize that..."
"It seems clear to me that..." "I'm open to changing my mind about..."
"I maintain that..." "I'm leaning towards a different perspective now."
"From where I stand,..." "Upon reevaluation, I'm inclined to think that..."
I think I support it…… consequently….. That's a good point. However, personally, I feel that
if……
From my perspective,…… I really apologize for the interruption but I have an
important question about it……
Exactly. So, I guess we both agree
that…..
Excuse me, I have a quick addition to make at this point
that………..
Agreed. I would say that it's
essential………….
I need to add more points into this….
In my opinion What I believe is that…….
Personally, I feel that…… To make it more specific, I would like to say ….
I would say that…………. To ensure that it is right, I would add more…..
Speaking personally………….. To be frank, my opinion regarding this is…..
I guess that…………. I fathom it right to say that…….
I assume that…………… No second thought to it that …………
These phrases can help you express your opinions with conviction or indicate openness to revising your stance
based on new information or insights.