13.1 Introduction

Dhavit is passionate about the environment and is planning on using his knowledge to develop a speech to help make his colleagues more aware of the impact people are having on the world in terms of pollution. As you read through this chapter, consider how Dhavit might adapt his planning and delivery to teach and inform his colleagues.

Storytelling is a basic part of human communication. With each story, you were sharing information, but is sharing the same as informing?

At some point in your career, you will be called upon to teach someone something. It may be a customer, coworker, or supervisor, and in each case, you are performing an informative speech. It is distinct from a sales speech, or persuasive speech, in that your goal is to communicate the information so that your listener understands. The informative speech is one performance you’ll give many times across your career, whether your audience is one person, a small group, or a large auditorium full of listeners. Once you master the art of the informative speech, you may mix and match it with other styles and techniques.

Watch the following 2-minute video from Commander Chris Hadfield: How Astronauts Wash Their Hands in Space

Video: “Chris Hadfield demonstrates how astronauts wash their hands in zero-g” by Canadian Space Agency [1:46] is licensed under the Standard YouTube License.Transcript and closed captions available on YouTube.