Public Speaking

For many nuclear professionals, the challenge is speaking in comprehensible and jargon-free ways. Preparation offers the solution whether a spokesperson is delivering a statement from a press release to a TV camera, or the president of a nuclear organisation is testifying before parliament.

Nuclear professionals who must select potential speakers look for several qualities including: articulate representatives of different areas of technical knowledge, enthusiastic experts capable of explaining issues in plain language and approachable authorities who embrace the challenge of communicating.

On that basis, designated speakers can begin to be trained – in how to frame their messages and how to deliver them effectively. Some nuclear communicators – many of whom have backgrounds in media – may be able to train their colleagues. Public speaking can also be improved with external support. Effective communicators often offer media and presentation skills trainings to specialists. This helps experts become familiar with the technical terms that will not be well understood by audiences outside their profession.

The rules for oral communication are no different from any communication activity. There needs to be agreement on what is being said and why. If the subject is contentious, the nuclear communicator should prepare likely questions and answers to assist the speaker.

Oral communication can be highly effective for communicating nuclear information. There is a proposition that in the realm of communicating, 10 percent is content and 90 percent is appearance.

It should be noted that public speaking skills are especially important for media relations. Most journalists welcome the opportunity to speak to a specialist. They prefer not to rely on a spokesperson who may not have the competence to address technical issues. A technical specialist speaking to the media should have the support of communication specialists, not only in preparing what to say, but in providing corroboration from the interview. The general rule for technical specialists is they only address the areas in which they are competent. Sensitive information should only be discussed by the head of an organization or the spokesperson.

For more information, the Toolbox also offers details on the role of the spokesperson.