Communication Training Glossary
Shared definitions for core speaking and coaching terminology used in Speech.net product documentation. This glossary improves consistency across training, evaluation, and team communication standards. Definitions are informed by The Speech Improvement Company's published research, including 13 books on communication, and refined through six decades of coaching over one million professionals since 1964.
Core Terms
Audience Awareness
The speaker's ability to adapt message structure and tone to listener context, priorities, and comprehension level.
Call to Action
A clear statement that tells the audience exactly what action to take after the message ends.
Clarity
The degree to which a message is understood quickly without ambiguity, jargon overload, or excessive complexity.
Delivery
The combined effect of pace, tone, emphasis, posture, and verbal confidence in spoken communication.
Filler Words
Low-value verbal placeholders such as "um" and "uh" that can reduce perceived confidence and precision.
Message Structure
The logical organization of opening, transitions, supporting points, and close for listener comprehension.
Pacing
The speed and rhythm of speech delivery, including strategic pauses for emphasis and processing time.
Persuasion
The ability to influence audience belief or action through credibility, relevance, and compelling reasoning.
Speaking Baseline
The initial measured performance state used to compare future sessions and verify communication improvement.
Transcript Review
Analyzing spoken text after a session to identify language patterns, weak transitions, and improvement opportunities.