Public Speaking for Engineers: Communicating Effectively with Clients, the Public, and Local Government

This introduction overviews the key concepts discussed in this book. The book’s purpose is to give engineers insight and skills for creating and delivering effective public presentations. While most people struggle with public speaking, engineers have a particular burden because their subjects are often technical, complicated, and even topics that others do not want to think about. Yet the expertise and perspective that engineers bring to various problems is critical if local government groups (made up mostly of nonengineers) are to make sound decisions that protect public safety and improve public welfare. So to create better results for engineers and their audiences, the book helps engineers prepare and deliver more effective presentations.

Effective communication with the audience begins with a clear vision of what speakers want their listeners to hear and understand. This chapter sets the stage for information about preparing a public presentation and includes three case studies. The first is on presentation planning and how it affects delivery. It describes a situation wherein two presentations were given back to back, one done well and the other done poorly. The second describes a meeting that went badly because the speaker had not prepared to reach his audience. The third case study describes a presentation with a potential client that did not go well because the speaker made no effort to develop a back-up plan in case things went wrong.

This chapter covers the components of a well-designed speech and presents the importance of creating an outline that matches the speech objectives developed during preparation. The chapter discusses the advantages of preparing a word-for-word speech draft versus using a simpler talking-points presentation. It explains how to plan for visual aids, including tips for that all-important slide deck. Three case studies illustrate how to put speech design into practice. One shows how to outline a TEDx speech and provides a template for structuring a presentation. A second case study demonstrates how to transform an outline into a three-minute speech. The third is a cautionary tale of a great engineer who used his visual aids ineffectively and ended up inflicting death by PowerPoint on his audience.

This chapter explains how to assess engineers’ public speaking skills, presents strategies for making a presentation stand out to the audience, and describes the habits of great public speakers. Three case studies provide awareness about dealing with speaking anxiety, explain the attributes others look for in an engineer, and describe an opportunity a couple of engineers had to improve their public speaking and promote the profession. One case study provides an interesting take on how anxiety can be useful to speakers. The second examines the important role communication skills play during interaction with clients. The final case study illustrates how engineers often drop the ball when they have an opportunity to make a good impression for the engineering profession.

This chapter overviews the structure of local government, how it works, and who the key players are. It introduces the funding mechanisms local governments use to pay for infrastructure projects. The chapter’s three case studies delve into the role of city council members and engineers, allowing engineers to become familiar with the people who play important roles in local government. The first offers insight into what local elected officials work on during their tenure. The second covers what can happen at a local government meeting when an engineer relies on technical knowledge rather than presentation skills. The third shows how the local government process can go awry. An appendix to the chapter lists resources for more information on local governments.