Engineered to Speak

Engineered to Speak: Helping You Create and Deliver Engaging Technical Presentations

Technical expertise alone is not enough to ensure professional success. Twenty-first century engineers and technical professionals must master making the complex simple and the simple interesting. This book helps engineers do what they love most: take a complicated system and create a stronger solution. You will learn tips and strategies that help you answer one essential question, “How can I get better at sharing my ideas with a variety of audiences?”

In Engineered to Speak, Alexa Chilcutt and Adam Brooks combine their expertise in messaging and public speaking with research that illustrates how effective communication contributes to career advancement. Each chapter contains inspiring stories from practicing engineers around the world as well as useful examples, exercises and repeatable processes for creating compelling messages.

This book helps technical talent become better speakers, better communicators, and ultimately better leaders. This helpful guide demystifies the art of oral communication by breaking it down into ten easy-to-follow-processes that can improve the ability of professionals at any level. By the end of Engineered to Speak, you’ll understand how to gain buy-in, identify and expand your Sphere of Influence, amplify your message, deliver compelling presentations, and learn from those who’ve embrace these skills and enjoyed professional success.

Table of Contents

PART I: RECOGNIZE COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITIES

1 WHY THIS BOOK?

2 DEMYSTIFYING COMMUNICATION AND ENGINEERING

3 RECOGNIZING COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITIES

4 ASKING THE QUESTIONS

PART II: APPLY THE PROCESS

5 ORGANIZING AND OUTLINING YOUR PRESENTATION

6 PERFECTING YOUR PITCH

7 VISUALIZING YOUR MESSAGE

PART III: COMMIT TO IMPROVEMENT

9 PRACTICE, FEEDBACK, AND ANXIETY REDUCTION TECHNIQUES

10 PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Self-Assessments from Chapter 1

Appendix B: Sphere of Influence/Active listening from Chapter 3

Appendix C: Asking the Questions from Chapter 4

Appendix D: Organizing and Outline Your Presentation

from Chapter 5

Appendix E: Perfecting Your Pitch from Chapter 6

Appendix F: Visualizing Your Message from Chapter 7

Appendix G: Creating Charisma from Chapter 8

Appendix H: Practice, Feedback, and Anxiety Reduction Techniques from Chapter 9

Appendix I: Ten Session Communication Curriculum

About the Authors

Alexa S. Chilcutt, is an Associate Professor and Director of the Public Speaking Program at the University of Alabama and an Executive Education faculty member for Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. She has served as the Communication Instructor and developed curriculum for The University of Alabama’s NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates program, “Fluid Mechanics with Analysis Using Computations and Experiments” (FM-ACE), from 2011-Present. Alexa and Adam provide professional development training for corporations.

Adam J. Brooks, is an Assistant Professor and Director of The Speaking Studio at the University of Alabama, Department of Communication Studies. He is also a two-time national champion speaker who has helped coach numerous presenters to national acclaim. His work has been recognized by the National Speech and Debate Association, and The National Forensic Association.