What Listeners Deserve


Content: Listeners deserve a clear, concise presentation. They deserve for the speaker to very selective about what content to cover.

If something in a written message isn’t clear, or is particularly challenging or lengthy, or is boring, a reader can return to it to “try, try again.” Not so for the listener. The speaker has one shot to inform or persuade successfully. Use humor and jargon only if you know your audience really well and even then with great caution. 


Structure: Listeners deserve a preview, or roadmap, of the presentation and lots of signposts throughout.

Listeners, being human, have fairly short attention spans. Readers do, too, of course, but a reader can take a break, reread a few lines, and be engaged again. If listeners get distracted, hungry, bored, confused – you name it – the speaker needs to make it easy for them to plug back in again by providing good transition both within and between points, and even reinforcing the structure of a presentation visually as well as orally.


Visual aids: Listeners deserve the opportunity to understand a presentation more easily through the strategic use of well designed visual aids.

While visual aids are certainly helpful in a written document, they’re integral to the success of a presentation. They can keep listeners engaged and focused. Speakers need to keep their visuals clean and simple. Follow the 6 by 6 guideline when you can – no more than 6 bulleted items per slide or transparency, no more than 6 words per line. 


If you’re using PowerPoint, remember that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Use only a couple of colors and then only colors with good contrast, can the clip art and cutesy stuff. And again, limit the text. Remember that if a listener has to choose between focusing on you or on what’s behind you, what’s behind you will always win.


Delivery: Listeners deserve a presentation that has been practiced out loud.

Speakers really have the advantage over even writers in this area, but only if they rehearse out loud. Speakers can use tone, pace, gestures, and body language to convey their ideas. But it’s just not enough to make note cards or to “say” your presentation in your head as you walk from Broughton to Tompkins. For one thing, you’ll be a lot more comfortable if you’ve practiced. You’ll also maintain better eye contact with us. When you practice out loud, you create “muscle memory” and will find it easier to express yourself articulately. 


Build on your natural style. Don’t worry about accents; just make sure you project so that we can hear you and so that you add energy to your voice. Be careful to avoid fillers and nervous pacing, scratching, and thumping. Again, if you’re not worried about what you’re going to say, you can free up part of your brain to focus on how you’re going to say it.


Dress in a way that enhances your credibility and gives you confidence.


Feedback: Listeners deserve a speaker who is aware of their response to the presentation.

Here, too, the speaker can have a great advantage over the writer. For better or worse, feedback from listeners is both immediate and honest. Obviously, a writer can’t see if a reader needs for something to be explained in different terms, or if a reader has a question, or disagree. A good writer will try to anticipate a reader’s response but a speaker need only look out at the audience. Speakers can interact with their audience.


Think about your audience’s level of interest and expertise in your topic as you prepare your presentation, but don’t stop there. As you speak, be sensitive to facial expressions and body language as well as to responses and comments. 


Viimeksi muutettu: sunnuntaina 15. marraskuuta 2020, 23.26