- Listen to understand- To connect with your audience and engage on a deeper level, it is important to listen to them attentively and then tailor your message effectively. Listen to what people have to say, not with the intent of solving or answering but with the intent to understand. It shows you value their opinions and views. This connection builds relationships and trust making your audience more receptive towards you. You can identify your audience queries and questions an address them appropriately when you listen to understand. Also pay attention to non verbal cues such as facial expression and body language to emphasize on key points. A more interactive experience require spontaneity and adaptability. Thus pick up real-time cues and be responsive to your audience needs and adapt the pace and style of your speech on the spot. Use examples, stories to make your message more revelant. Overall effectiveness and refinement of a speaker in public speaking can be continuously improved only by actively listening.
- Be relatable- When you address your audience step in their shoes and try to understand what they might be experiencing. Respond to people as if you are them. Try to think what they might be going through. By doing so you are audience feel more comfortable and open fostering a positive environment. When you resonate with your audience life you grab their attention and can easily become memorable. You can inspire and motivate your audience by representing them in your narrative and make them feel empowered to take actions. It creates a sense of possibility. To create an inclusive learning environment your audience needs to feel connected with the speaker. Participation of audience by asking questions or sharing thoughts promotes quality learning experience for all. Don’t tell your way of doing things rather give them the idea of how they can learn from your experience and do better. When they hear relatable stories or perspectives, it encourages them to see things from different points of view. This can lead to greater acceptance and unity among the public.
- Abort being judgemental- Establishing a connection with the audience is crucial for effective public speaking. If you want to be listened, listen to people without any judgement. Being judgmental can cause the audience to feel disconnected by the speaker’s attitude. Public speaker should be considerate and open-minded, respecting diverse perspective among the audience. A judgemental behavior reflects poor character and professionalism of the speaker. Judgemental character hinders audience to seek clarification and ask questions, creating a barrier to the learning process. Judgemental opinions divert the audience from the main essence of the speech and shifts the main message to personal biases leading to loss of impact. A judgemental speaker is often regarded as a closed minded and biased person lacking obejectivity, thus undermining his credibility as a speaker. Be non-judgemental to foster empathy, it allows audience to feel valued and understood. Inclusivity of audience in a positive non-judgemental environment builds trust to receive the speaker’s idea without criticism.
- Don’t complain- Complaining create negative impression of the speaker, instead of motivating the audience. Don’t come up with excuses, it makes the speaker pessimistic and unprofessional. Complain and excuses are not what the reality is, they are just the figmentation of our brain. When complaining the audience lose interest in the presentation of the speaker as no one wants to listen to negative things. It overshadows the purpose of the presentation and impact the audience perception, making the speaker self-centered lacking emotional control. Instead of complaining or making excuses the speaker should use public speaking as an opportunity to constructively address the issue and propose positive actions. This positive communication is more likely resonate with the audience. Thus to create a more memorable experience with the audience never complain which cause a barrier between the audience and the speaker.
‘XOX’
-TriGr