truth is that very few people have learned how to practice active listening skills. As a matter of fact, very few people want to listen! You, as a speaker, will have to learn to crash through a myriad of roadblocks so that the audience listens and understands your message. This book will help you overcome most listener- and speaker-induced roadblocks:
Listener-induced Roadblocks
•I don’t need to go to this meeting, but I have to.
•What does the speaker know that I do not know?
•The old ways are fine; I don’t want to learn new ways.
•I have no interest in this subject.
•I wonder what John/Mary is doing right now.
•I hope the repair bill is not too high.
Add your own roadblocks here - there are many, many more!
Speaker-induced Roadblocks
•Distracting habits
•Poor delivery; no eye contact
•Argumentative; talk down to audience
•Unsuitable humour (sexist, racist, political, religious)
•Manner of speech
•Unsuitable clothes or jewellery worn by the speaker
•Speaker too serious; no excitement nor enthusiasm
•Use of jargon, unsuitable vocabulary, bad grammar, slang or
profanity
•Voice too high, too low, too loud or too soft; monotonous tone
•No logical construction.
Add your own roadblocks here - there are many, many more!
The Five Great Rules of “Selling”
It is clear that speakers have to learn appropriate presentation skills to overcome prejudices, as well as those listener- and speaker-induced roadblocks. Speakers have to learn to get the attention of the audience, to capture their interest (‘what’s in it for me?’), to convince the audience about the merits of the points raised in the speech, to create a desire to act in the manner the speaker intended and to close the presentation in an appropriate manner.
Interestingly, Percy Whiting who worked with Dale Carnegie almost fifty years ago, advocated these same five points in his book “The 5 Great Rules of Selling”. As you study “Powerful Presentations” you will learn that the underlying principles of a good speech incorporate those same five rules.
1.Attention
2.Interest
3.Conviction
4.Desire
5.Close
Audiences
For the purpose of this book, we will not delve into the different types of audiences that a professional speaker may face. We assume that you are speaking to a mixed audience or an audience that is basically made up of people whose interests are favourably disposed to your subject, that you are aware of their knowledge or ignorance on the subject and that the information contained in your speech, at the time of your speech, can add to their knowledge and be of benefit to them. Ask yourself: “Why this message, at this time, to this audience.” If the answers make sense, go for it!
However, to ensure that your speech will fit a particular audience, you might still have to make some cosmetic changes to your basic speech. The emphasis of some of your points might have to change ... your anecdotes or stories might not relate to a particular group. At this particular time, as we are writing our first speech and learning the skills to deliver it, the previous remarks in this paragraph are of little importance. However, they become of utmost importance, later on, when we know where, when and to whom we are going to deliver this speech again. I have developed a check list which should help you to identify and overcome eventual problems when speaking to any type of audience.. Make a photocopy of the following and use this speech, venue and audience analysis to tailor your speech to each audience, each time you present it.
“Why this message, at this time, to this audience?”
In the beginning of my speaking career, I volunteered to speak to a junior soccer league at their annual banquet. Management wanted a speech, I volunteered and wrote a speech specifically geared to an audience of kids and adults! However during the banquet it became very clear that the audience wanted to celebrate, make noise and fool around. Had I asked the three questions found at the beginning of this paragraph, just before going on to speak, I would have saved myself much humiliation! I would not have attempted to speak to this group during this particular occasion!
In general, and to please most audiences, ensure that you use some visuals, that you have hand-outs available and that you get some audience participation. In this way, you will have involved the three different ways people use their senses to remember and you will have addressed each of the three main groups of people during your speech: the readers, the listeners and the doers. The audience will appreciate that and you will make your speech more memorable. We’ll talk about visuals, hand outs and audience participation in the third chapter.
Now, let’s get started on our first speech. Find some pencils, paper, a typewriter or set-up your computer. You’ll have your first speech ready in a couple of hours.
Remember it is not the goal but the voyage towards it, which brings most enjoyment. So let’s enjoy the trip.
SPEECH, VENUE AND AUDIENCE ANALYSIS
Speech
•Title
•Time required without Q. & A.
•Subject
•Purpose
•Time required for Q. & A.
Venue
•Occasion
•Place, date, time
•Group name
•Chairperson
•Introducer
•Other speakers
Audience
•General type of audience
•Specific type of audience
•Sex
•Background, occupation, education
