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Inputs and Verbal Reports


What is in this guide?

  1. What do you use inputs and verbal reports for
  2. Important things to know about inputs and reports
  3. How to structure an input or verbal report
  1. Example of a three minute report
  2. Example of a one minute input

  1. What do you use inputs and verbal reports for

In your work for your organisation you will often have to speak in meetings and either make a short input or a verbal report on a particular issue. For example, you may give your view on an issue that is being discussed, report from a conference to your organisation, or make an input to a workshop on a particular issue you have investigated or present a report to a community meeting on some local developments. (This guide does not cover organisational or work reports that are usually done in writing).

In every large or small meeting you participate in you will have to give your views and participate in debates. You should take short inputs you have to make very seriously and make sure that they have the maximum impact. You can only get your information and message across if you can make clear and powerful presentations that take your audience along with you. It does not matter whether you are speaking for ten minutes during a formal presentation or just saying something in a meeting for one minute – you should always make sure that your input or report is structured and presented in such a way that you persuade your audience to agree with you.

See Guide on Public Speaking for more on presentation style

  1. Important things to know about inputs and verbal reports

  1. How to structure your report or input

If you want your reports and inputs to be effective you must ensure that you cover all the most important information in a logical way that people find easy to follow. The same recipe that was used for public speeches can be used:

Keep all reports and inputs as short as possible.

Example of a three minute report by a local councillor

(Issue)
This report deals with the proposals from the Community Policing Forum on what the council can do to combat crime in the area.

(Facts)
Our town has one of the highest crime rates in the area with more than 1000 rapes and almost 200 murders reported last year. Housebreaking, theft and assaults have also increased dramatically and almost every family in our area has been affected in some way. The youth are organised into two strong and competing gangs that rule the township through terror. Unemployment is on the increase and most young people have little to occupy them or give them hope for the future. Crime is killing our town and the CPF has appealed to all stakeholders to unite in the battle against crime. Our three police stations are understaffed and have only five vehicles between them. The police alone cannot solve the problem. The business community has agreed to support the police by hiring private security for the CBD and sponsoring two extra police vans. The civic and youth organisations are recruiting volunteers to become police reservists so that the police can be freed from administrative duties. The churches have agreed to use their facilities to set up youth clubs especially over weekends. This is a small but important beginning and the council has been asked to support these initiatives in any way possible.

(Options)
At present we have little additional funds available for any new work but I believe it is vital that we show our commitment and that we do what we can within the present budget. There are a number of options. We can support the development of youth facilities by making council venues available at a lower than normal rate, we can add to the vehicle fund. We can improve the street lighting around the taxi-rank. We can support the rape counselling centre. We can supply direct support to the police by deploying council security staff to work in partnership with them. What is clear is that we cannot afford to do all of the above. We therefore have to choose options that are cost effective, have impact and show that the council cares.

(Proposals)
I propose that we do two things immediately. Firstly, we should fix the soccer-field since we already budgeted for it, and form a partnership with the churches to set up a proper soccer league in the area. Secondly, we should offer part of the old rent office next to the police station in town to Rape Crisis to use as a counselling facility. This would also enable the police to use the facility as a victim-friendly interview room for abuse cases. In the long-term our Exco has to take the issue of crime and employment as absolute priorities and put them high on next year’s budget.

Example of a one minute input by a councillor during a council meeting

(Issue)
I strongly disagree with Councillor Jabavu’s proposal that the old soccer clubhouse should be given to the Junior Pirate’s soccer club.

(Facts)
The clubhouse is the only council facility in the informal settlement and it should not be used by young men only. There are 4 choirs, 2 sewing groups and a pensioner’s social group that are all looking for venues. Whilst we are committed to provide facilities for the youth we should not forget the needs of other groups in our community.

(Options)
The council can make a decision on the matter today or we can take a more careful route and consult the community directly about their needs and preferences and be seen to practice openness, transparency and gender-sensitivity.

(Proposals)
I strongly propose that together with the civic and community organisations we call a meeting in the informal settlement to discuss the use of the facility. Together we may find a way to share this one facility in a way that will benefit a number of different groups.


Index

Meeting skills   |   Inputs and verbal reports   |   Executive portfolios   |   Conflict management
Planning   |   Understanding your constituency   |   Recruiting membersGuide to Constitutions
Guide to the Nonprofit Organisations Act  |  Legal structures commonly used   
Education & Training guide


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