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Informative vs Persuasive
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Informative vs Persuasive

Informative versus Persuasive Speaking

In this video, Alex Lyon discusses the differences between informative and persuasive speaking. He explains that as a professional, you will constantly have to make choices about how you present and what your focus is.

What is Informative Speaking?

  • Informative speaking involves informing people about something they need to know or showing them how to do something.
  • Examples of informative speaking include teaching, training, coaching, mentoring, and orientation talks.
  • Supporting materials such as data, statistics, facts, examples, quotations and stories are used in informative speaking to convey information.

Structuring an Informative Message

  • The way your message is structured can indicate whether you are informing or persuading your audience.
  • When informing people, the main points in the body of your presentation usually follow a chronological or sequence order.
  • Spatial arrangement can also be used when structuring an informative message. For example dividing a presentation by region.

Conclusion

Informative speaking is important for leaders who want to train their employees or teach others about a particular topic. By using supporting materials and structuring messages effectively it's possible to inform audiences in an engaging way.

Persuasive vs Informative Speaking

In this section, the speaker discusses the difference between persuasive and informative speaking. He explains that while informative speaking is about providing information, persuasive speaking is about changing people's minds or behavior by building an argument with supporting materials.

Persuasive Speaking

  • Persuasive speaking involves using statistics, facts, examples, quotations, stories to support a point of view.
  • Any topic can be approached in multiple ways when it comes to persuasive speaking.
  • The main body points of a presentation are structured on some type of problem-solution order in persuasive speaking.
  • Salespeople and politicians use problem-solution order to persuade their audience.

Overlap between Persuasive and Informative Speaking

  • In professional settings, speakers almost always do both informative and persuasive speaking at the same time.
  • Even in sales presentations, good information needs to be provided along with persuasion.
  • Orientation or training for new employees may sound like straight information but really what the speaker wants them to do is take this information and put it into practice.

Organizing Your Presentation

In this section, the speaker talks about how to organize your presentation effectively.

Introduction

  • Start with an attention-grabbing opening statement or question.
  • Provide background information on your topic.

Body

Main Points

  • Use 2 - 5 main points depending on the length of your presentation.
  • Each main point should have supporting evidence such as statistics, examples, and quotations.

Transitions

  • Use transitions to move smoothly from one point to another.
  • Transitions can be a summary of the previous point or a preview of the next point.

Conclusion

  • Summarize your main points.
  • End with a memorable closing statement or call to action.

Delivery Techniques

In this section, the speaker discusses delivery techniques that can help make your presentation more effective.

Eye Contact

  • Make eye contact with different people in your audience.
  • Avoid looking at notes or slides too much.

Gestures and Body Language

  • Use gestures to emphasize key points.
  • Stand up straight and use good posture.

Vocal Variety

  • Vary your tone, pitch, and volume to keep your audience engaged.

Visual Aids

  • Use visual aids such as slides or props to enhance your presentation.

Q&A Session

In this section, the speaker talks about how to handle questions during a Q&A session.

Listening Carefully

  • Listen carefully to each question before answering it.

Answering Clearly

  • Repeat the question for clarity if necessary.
  • Answer the question clearly and concisely.

Handling Difficult Questions

  • Stay calm and composed when answering difficult questions.
  • If you don't know the answer, admit it and offer to follow up later.

Customizing Your Message for Different Audiences

In this section, the speaker discusses how to customize your message for different audiences and occasions.

Understanding Your Audience and Occasion

  • To make effective decisions about your message, you need to understand your audience and occasion.
  • Consider who your audience is, what they want out of the presentation or meeting, and what your goals are as a speaker or leader.
  • Customize your message to fit the needs of the situation rather than trying to decide ahead of time whether you will persuade or inform.

Conclusion

  • The best way to drive an effective message is by customizing it according to the needs of the audience and occasion.
Video description

Choices about an Informative vs Persuasive speech or presentation are important because your goals for a presentation will vary depending upon the audience, your goals, and the occasion. Free download for 7 Tips for more Confident Speaking: https://www.alexanderlyon.com/ free-resources Speaking to Inform: - Teaching about something - Showing how to do something - Speeches about people, places, things, processes, etc. Speaking to Persuade: - Interested in changing your listener's mind or behavior (or both) - You're building an argument to convince your audience - You still use lots of information but you use it as evidence to win over your listeners. Videos Mentioned: Monroe's Motivated Sequence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMb65w9nLyo&t=10s How to Organize a Persuasive Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnfoFN7TBhw&t=4s . Communication Coach, this channel, helps rising leaders like you increase your impact and lead your teams with more excellence. The channel focuses on communication skills for leaders, presentation skills, group and team skills, and conversation skills. If you're looking for self-paced communication skills training, this is the channel for you.