We continue our Social Contribution Activities regardless of winter or summer.

The in-service training program titled “Public Speaking and Effective Public Speaking – Crisis Communication and Emergency Management” conducted in cooperation with the Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University (BAİBÜ) Faculty of Communication and the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate of the Republic of Turkey (AFAD) of Bolu Governorship has been successfully completed. This training, which is based on inter-institutional cooperation, aimed to strengthen the communication skills of public personnel who work especially in times of disaster and crisis.

The training was given by Prof. Dr. Emre Tandırlı, Faculty Member of the BAİBÜ Faculty of Communication. The program, enriched with interactive applications, mini-surveys, sample cases and short speaking exercises, covered a wide range from the strategic aspects of crisis communication to the skills of speaking confidently in front of the public.

“In times of crisis, not only information but also a calming and reassuring emotion should be conveyed.”

Addressing the participants at the opening of the training, Prof. Dr. Tandırlı emphasized that communication in times of crisis is not only a technical transfer but also a responsibility:

“The thing that is remembered most in times of crisis is the first sentence you say. Every word spoken in a panic environment either establishes trust or increases chaos. Therefore, not only accurate information but also trust and empathy should be conveyed.”

Tandırlı emphasized that public speaking does not only mean sharing information but also influencing, directing and mobilizing, and expressed the importance of public employees having the ability to speak in a simple, understandable and calm language, especially in times of emergency, with the following words:

“Public speaking is as much a service responsibility as it is an art of communication. Especially in disasters... In those moments, your voice is perceived as a guide, your words as a shelter. Therefore, we should consider speaking skills not only as an individual competence but also as a social duty.”

Keys to Effective Public Speaking in Crisis Times Explained

The following basic topics were detailed throughout the training:

5 basic principles of effective public speaking in crisis times
Speech types: Informative, persuasive, motivating and educational speeches
Use of tone of voice, rhythm, emphasis and body language
Empathy and openness principles for trustworthy communication
Planning the structure of the speech: Introduction, information, conclusion, thank you
Things to consider in press releases targeting the public
Examples of communication language within the scope of emergency protocols

Prof. Dr. Tandırlı stated that remaining silent or speaking late in crisis times will increase information pollution and said the following:
“Silence can be dangerous in crises. Social media fills the silence, speculations grow. Therefore, the moment when a communicator is needed the most is the most complicated moment.”

Interactive Activities Were Carried Out with Participants

The training started with interactive activities in which the participants were also involved in the process. Under the title of “Getting to Know Ourselves Activity”, a mini survey was conducted on the participants about their strengths in speaking, the situations they have the most difficulty with and their expectations from this training. The anonymous responses of the participants were evaluated by creating a chat environment in the first part of the training.

Then, short speaking exercises were conducted with volunteer participants; practical feedback was provided on elements such as body language, tone of voice, eye contact and posture. The participants took the stage to inform, guide and calm the public in special role-plays for the moment of crisis.

“Communication is not just about telling, it is about making people feel.”

Prof. Dr. Emre Tandırlı addressed the participants in the closing part of the training as follows:
“Speaking effectively is not just about saying words; your posture, voice and intention are a whole. The listener ‘hears’ you with your body language and ‘feels’ you with your tone of voice. When your speaking skills improve, you not only explain better, you also make a better impact.”

Inter-Institutional Cooperation with a Social Contribution Understanding

This in-service training event was planned and carried out by the Faculty of Communication as part of the university's social contribution responsibility. Such cooperation developed by the BAİBÜ Faculty of Communication with public institutions is important in line with the goals of transferring scientific knowledge to the field, increasing the professional capacity of public personnel and spreading a trust-oriented communication culture in society.
At the end of the training, the participants thanked Prof. Dr. Tandırlı and expressed their demand for such applied and field-oriented trainings to be made regular.
The event ended with a group photo and the presentation of certificates of appreciation.