TALKING POINTS
Rules for the Audience
MICHAEL FLYNN
Landscaping
BY FRED MILLER
• • • • •
Spring Cleanup • Mulching • Irrigation Weekly Lawn Mowing & Gardening Natural Stone Walls, Walks & Patios Paver Walks, Patios & Driveways Retaining Walls, Accent Boulders
For all your Landscaping & Lawn Care Needs
314-243-6784
A Family Law Team You Want On Your Side.
F
OR MANY, SPEAKING BEFORE AN AUDIENCE IS A challenge. That difficult task can be made tougher by those seated in front of the presenter. They are sometimes inattentive, or talk among themselves or do worse. Attendees can make the most confident and experienced presenter deliver less than their best. The speaker doesn’t like this, and the audience does not benefit as they should. It is a two-way street. There are specific things the presenter must do to make the event a success, and things the audience should do. The goal of this article is to develop better audiences that will help a speaker do their best. People coming to see and hear a speaker have expectations. They are spending time and money to learn something. It may be the 100th time the presenter has given their talk, but it is the first time for this audience. The speaker should have prepared and practiced for the occasion: They must know their subject well and customize it, as much as possible, to the audience. It should be delivered in a manner that educates and entertains the audience, while explaining it in words they understand. The audience can make or break a presentation. A good, enthusiastic group gives the speaker responses and energy that lead to a better presentation. To help the speaker and the audience, I’ve compiled a set of Audience Rules. 1. Be certain to arrive well before the scheduled event. You want the program to start when advertised and should be in your seat prior to it beginning. Arriving after an event has started and finding a seat is disruptive to attendees and the speaker. 2. Meeting the speaker before the presentation will help the speaker perform better and increase your takeaway. Be friendly and say, I’m looking forward to your presentation! That short sentence will give the speaker added incentive and energy for their upcoming talk. It also benefits those attending the event. Having the presenter shake your hand and thank you for coming to their talk, makes people feel the speaker genuinely cares about the audience. The attention on the presentation will be more focused Continued on page 50
{LadueNews.com} April 25, 2014
49