01 - WIIFM, or Why in the World Do I Have to Take This Class?
We are constantly asking you to consider the WIIFM (What’s in it for me?) of your audience. We thought it would be a good idea if we showed you the WIIFM of taking this course.
“Why do they make it mandatory to take a general education course in public speaking? I can speak. It’s a waste of my time. I have other classes I need to be taking.”
This public speaking course is THE most important course you will ever take in your college career. It is all well and good to be an engineer, to be a doctor, to be a teacher, to be an actor, to be a business owner, BUT if you are not able to communicate your ideas and thoughts in an organized manner for the best effect, then you will not be as likely to be successful. And that is why this course is the most important course in college—maybe in your entire career.
Some different ways you might use your newfound skills of communicating and speech giving are as follows.
In business:
Preparing and presenting a proposal for a new nonprofit idea.
“Selling” your manager on why you should be given a raise and a promotion.
Working with your clients to increase their business and, as a result, growing your own business.
Explaining to your current employees why the company is experiencing unprecedented growth.
Unveiling a new product for the first time to your shareholders.
Telling employees why they will not receive a raise for the fiscal year.
In the medical/health fields, as a doctor, dentist, nurse, or personal trainer:
Doctor: Explaining a procedure to your patient or to their family.
Trying to find out what is wrong with your patient in the 10-minute office visit you are allotted during the day.
Explaining to the nurse in the operating room what needs to be done to save your patient’s life.
Presenting to a congressional committee your thoughts on how health care can be provided for all citizens.
Accepting an award for your meritorious service to Doctors Without Borders.
Discussing with the pharmacist the medication you ordered for a patient.
Dentist: Explaining dental procedures to help a patient understand the best oral care required.
Explaining to the patient the process for the oral surgery the patient needs.
Nurse: Talking with patients to see where they hurt.
Speaking with patients about a wellness plan.
Speaking with a client about dietary restrictions.
Attending to patients to deliver the medication they need.
Trainer: Explaining the need for a physical fitness plan for the client.
Showing how to use the equipment in the gym to a client.
Explaining to a prospective client what the facilities of the gym offer to them as a member.
Other fields/areas:
Engineer: Talking with a large company about the drone prototype you have built and why they should purchase it.
Showing the project manager how you want the next phase of the building to be done.
Presenting to your superiors your drawings and how they expedite the process of building the item.
Talking with the news media about the bridge project you designed.
Showing the area customers your idea for how the continual flooding of their homes can be eliminated.
Scientist: Articulating to the public how climate change is affecting our atmosphere.
Expressing your concerns about how the destruction of artifacts affects history.
Showing a third grade class penguins and explaining the different types.
Computer Systems Analyst: Providing solutions as to why the computer network at your company is not working correctly.
Attorney: Arguing your case before the state supreme court.
Asking a client to remember the accident in detail for your case.
Successfully defending your client in a court of law.
Asking the paralegal for research to be done on other cases similar to the one you are defending.
