Verbal Signposts

Most people know signposts as “a written sign that gives you an indication or a direction”. Verbal signposts in an oral presentation are in essence the same thing, only it’s verbal as opposed to a written sign.

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Therefore, in an effective presentation you must give your audience signs:

  • Make it clear during the presentation when you have reached the end of a paragraph or start a new sentence. Make clear statements such as "let me recap before I move onto my final point".
  • Indicate when you are previewing something to come
  • Indicate when you are switching directions and moving toward something else with key phases : "now let's look at another aspect...", " this being said we will move on to the next..."
  • Indicate when you are summarizing


These verbal messages will allow your audience to better follow and keep up with your presentation.