Speaking Effectively: A Guide for Air Force Speakers

Dr. Kline’s book, “Speaking Effectively,” is an essential resource for anyone faces with any kind of speaking situation. It contains hints, anecdotal examples, and the accumulated wisdom of decades of speaking experience. Dr. Kline is highly regarded in government, religious, and corporate circles and widely in demand because he is a great speaker and because he can help anyone communicate more effectively. He brings that expertise forward in a way that both teaches and entertains. First published in 1989 and currently in its fourth printing, “Speaking Effectively” teaches speakers throughout the Air Force and in other federal agencies the art of captivating an audience. From preparation of your talk through delivery, this straightforward book takes you step-by-step through the stages of effectively developing and presenting briefings, lectures, and speeches. This book includes such essential principles of effective delivery as speaking clearly, at the fight pace for your audience and subject, and loud enough for all to hear, but not too loud. Yet, it also covers less obvious, but equally essential, principles such as a speaker’s nonverbal signs, which can make or break a presentation. The content is organized chronologically according to the steps a speaker would normally flow: preparing, organizing, choosing appropriate support material, deciding how to begin and end, and finally, presenting the actual talk. Although these basic steps apply to any kind of speaking, some important variations exist to accommodate different types of Air Force speaking. Therefore, the book consistently makes distinctions among the three types of Air Force speaking: briefing, teaching lecture, and formal speech. “Speaking Effectively” is written for the officers, enlisted personnel, and civilians who must speak in the course of performing their day-to-day Air Force business. However, the principles and techniques do not apply only to Air Force speaking. They work in all situations.