1. 1 Seminar "Back to schools" Some "communication skills" for speakers Some "communication skills" for speakers at action"Back to schools" at action"Back to schools" Wolfgang Streitenberger Conseiller, DG INFSO

2. 2 What is an Ambassador? What is an Ambassador? Representative of the Commission as a whole, not only the DG Representative of the Commission as a whole, not only the DG Representative of the interests of the Commission Representative of the interests of the Commission –Personification of EC/EU –Source of information –Interlocutor in dialogue –Opinion shaper –Image creator

3. 3 How to be an excellent Ambassador? … and enjoying public relations enjoying public relations persuasive, enjoying advocacy persuasive, enjoying advocacy enthusiastic, self-motivating enthusiastic, self-motivating good discussion partner good discussion partner

4. 4 Planning of speaking event Clarify your task with host (=teacher) Clarify your task with host (=teacher) –Type of contribution (statement; kick-off statement; factual information; historic look back; forecast or perspectives; opinion; quiz; role-play;questions in advance; "voting"…) (statement; kick-off statement; factual information; historic look back; forecast or perspectives; opinion; quiz; role-play;questions in advance; "voting"…) –Length of contribution –Elements of content –Expectations concerning style

5. 5 Planning of speech/Q&A Planning of speech/Q&A Preparation of content of speech: Preparation of content of speech: Four pure types of presentations: Your speech: should be appropriate mixture Think of informing entertaining motivating/inspiring persuading Substance (research …) Structure (follow audience interest Whats in it for me?) Style (verbal and non-verbal language, word choice, adaptation to audience)

6. 6 Planning of speech/Q&A Planning of speech/Q&A Preparation of content of speech: Preparation of content of speech: Structure backwards! Not Introduction, Body, Body, Conclusion Conclusion BUT + + BUT + + = your objective merged with audiences problems, interests, concerns = your objective merged with audiences problems, interests, concerns

7. 7 Presenting/public speaking Some special kick off elements for youngsters: Some special kick off elements for youngsters: EU-Quiz (look DG COMM Ambassadors homepage!) Compare sizes of populations, countries...ask for associate members...candidate countries....Euro member states...etc EU-Quiz (look DG COMM Ambassadors homepage!) Compare sizes of populations, countries...ask for associate members...candidate countries....Euro member states...etc Adapt EU-Quiz to country you are speaking in Adapt EU-Quiz to country you are speaking in (whats the name of "our" Commissioner, how many MEP do "we" have? How many km is our capital from Brussels? How many % is our population of EU population? (whats the name of "our" Commissioner, how many MEP do "we" have? How many km is our capital from Brussels? How many % is our population of EU population? Role play (e.g. Commission meeting; EP debate; Council debate;...) Role play (e.g. Commission meeting; EP debate; Council debate;...)

8. Presenting/public speaking Some special kick off elements for youngsters: Some special kick off elements for youngsters: Collect written questions (if you are afraid that they are too shy...) Collect written questions (if you are afraid that they are too shy...) Play a short video (look DG COMM Ambassadors homepage; "Europe by Satellite" on PC...) Play a short video (look DG COMM Ambassadors homepage; "Europe by Satellite" on PC...) Show them "latest EU news" from Intracomm- Newsroom Show them "latest EU news" from Intracomm- Newsroom Allow, invite interruptive questions Allow, invite interruptive questions Ask rhetoric questions (what would have happened IF....we would have had no Euro in the crisis? No Schengen-Agreement? No Enlargement to the east?) Ask rhetoric questions (what would have happened IF....we would have had no Euro in the crisis? No Schengen-Agreement? No Enlargement to the east?)

9. 9 Presenting/public speaking Your success depends on credibility Your success depends on credibility Consisting of Expertise Believability (= no spin, no propaganda) Likeability (= the medium is the message) Authenticity

10. 10 Presenting/public speaking Smile sometimes Use personal experience and anecdotes Be yourself No lying Speak at audience level Selected tips … Selected tips …

11. 11 Presenting/public speaking Presenting/public speaking Some other tips Some other tips –Prepare well, but do not over-prepare –Do not try: to control behaviour of audience to emulate other good speakers to please everybody

12. 12 Presenting/public speaking Presenting/public speaking Dealing with difficult audiences Dealing with difficult audiences Selected extreme types: 1.super pro-Europeans 2.obligatory participation (sometimes school classes) 3.super anti-Europeans

13. 13 Presenting/public speaking Presenting/public speaking Dealing with difficult audiences Dealing with difficult audiences 1. super pro-Europeans wake them up fuel new ideas/thoughts/information dare some speculation, forecast thought-provoking content motivate by we need you

14. 14 Presenting/public speaking Presenting/public speaking Dealing with difficult audiences Dealing with difficult audiences 2. obligatory participation link your subject with its main interests/issues show advantages of EU integration in general show personal benefits of EU integration

15. 15 Presenting/public speaking Presenting/public speaking Some general tips: develop rapport establish common ground tell about what the EU meant for you in schooltime tell your development from school to EU-official describe a typical working day, Brussels life tell anecdotes (work, private) tell about your links to your homecountry describe career opportunities for youngsters in EU

16. 16 Presenting/public speaking Dealing with difficult questions Dealing with difficult questions If you react to difficult questions by being this will be regarded as rather negatively by the audience evasive defensive contentious

17. 17 Presenting/public speaking Dealing with difficult questions Dealing with difficult questions Some general tips for answers: Find a way to agree at least partly Answer briefly, simply and directl Dissolve bundle of unclear question and pick out the main issue Treat two questions from the same person as two questions (take notes!)

18. 18 Presenting/public speaking Presenting/public speaking Accept interruptive questions or not? If no Q&A round announced you have to … Otherwise, refer to Q&A part at the end For school audiences invite interruptive questions in anyway!

19. 19 Presenting/public speaking Presenting/public speaking Dealing with difficult questions Dealing with difficult questions Negative questions: Turn them into positive! (otherwise inviting further negative questions) Example: Q: Why arent you stopping with enlargement? Your A: Why we ARE continuing with enlargement …

20. 20 Presenting/public speaking Dealing with difficult questions Dealing with difficult questions Irrelevant questions: Also to be answered > with humour … > with humour … Disparate multiple questions: Take notes, do not say What was your other question? (signals you were not listening) (signals you were not listening) Statements: In any way – converting them into questions questions

21. 21 Presenting/public speaking Dealing with difficult questions Dealing with difficult questions If you do not know the answer: Reply to a part at least generally Reply to a part at least generally Explain why you cannot reply fully/in detail Explain why you cannot reply fully/in detail Create sympathy for your position Create sympathy for your position Take note - promise contact to expert or Take note - promise contact to expert or - promise direct reply - promise direct reply - possibly offer reply to all audience members by email or - possibly offer reply to all audience members by email or - refer to after-event conversation - refer to after-event conversation