Chapter 11:
Verbal and Visual Supports
Communicating in the Workplace, First Edition
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Verbal Supports
Function is to make your information
more:
Interesting
Understandable
Believable
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Verbal Supports
Explanations
Defines, analyzes or describes
Involves clarifying technical or complex
terms that may be unfamiliar to the
audience
Analyses: break down complex processes or
concepts into their component parts
Descriptions: provide detailed pictures for an
audience by explaining how something
looks, sounds, feels, smells or tastes
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Verbal Supports
Examples
Typical instances used to clarify a point
Work well when used in groups of two or
more
Aerobic exercise includes walking, biking
and dancing.
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Verbal Supports
Statistics
Numerical facts that show relationships
Can be highly convincing forms of evidence
Guidelines for using statistics:
Always cite the source, including the date
Display them visually if possible
Round off figures
Dont overwhelm your audience with statistics
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Verbal Supports
Stories
Short narratives or anecdotes
Factual or hypothetical
Factual stories: report incidents that have actually
occurred
Hypothetical stories: are imaginary but believable
Create an imaginary scenario for the audience
Highly effective form of captivating audience interest in
the introduction
Helps your audience pictures situations they have
not experienced
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Verbal Supports
Comparisons
Attempt to show similarities between
objects, ideas and concepts
Introduce new information by linking it to
something with which the audience is
already familiar
Figurative comparison: explains an unknown
concept in terms of a more familiar one
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Visual Supports
Objects or Models
Objects: real-life examples of your subject
Effective when/because:
Easily transported
Skillfully manipulated
Clearly seen by your entire audience
Models: scaled replicas, life-like
reproductions, miniature mock-ups if object
isnt available or too awkward for use
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Visual Supports
Charts or Graphs
Numerical or statistical data
Summarize numerical data, show
relationships and describe trends
Types of charts or graphs:
Bar
Pie
Line
Column
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Visual Supports
Lists or Tables
Lists: help to simplify the information
Tables: provide summary of information
Data is presented in rows and columns
Relationships, values and categories are easily
identified by your audience
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Visual Supports
Photographs or Diagrams
Pictures provide vivid, colorful, emotional
dimensions to your visual support
Easy to prepare and edit
Convenient to transport
Can be projected for your entire audience to
see
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Types of Visual Supports
Media can include:
Flip charts, poster boards, transparencies, videotapes,
computer-generated graphics, handouts, etc.
Decide on the type of visual and media
What is the nature of your subject?
What is the audiences level of sophistication?
Where will the presentation take place?
What purpose is the visual intended to serve?
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Guidelines for Effective
Visual Supports
Make sure the entire audience can see it.
Keep it simple; dont cram too much info.
Use colors, fonts, graphics, etc.
Have a purpose in mind.
Introduce the visual, explain it, put it away.
Make sure you have the equipment necessary.
Practice your speech using your visual.
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
Visual Supports and Technology
Avoid using technology as a substitute
for meaningful content.
Use technology to provide clarity and
interest.
More is not always better.
Make sure the equipment works.
Always have a back-up plan.
Cheesebro, OConnor, Rios: Communicating in the Workplace, 1e.
2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
All rights reserved
