Public Speaking Navigation
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Audience Complaints
Public speaking skills are vital when it comes to being a successful speaker. It is helpful to know what an audience likes and dislikes. There are some common complaints universal to many public speaking audiences. Think about avoiding the following audience complaints whenever you are speaking.
==> Hearing - The most common audience complaint about public speaking is the inability to hear or understand the person speaking. If using a sound system, do a sound check before the speech. If you do not have a sound system, speak to the last row of your audience. If your voice is projected to the back row of the audience, the entire audience will hear you.
==> Understanding - The audience needs to understand each word you say. Do not talk too fast when presenting your speech. It is easy to talk too fast when public speaking, especially if you have spent a lot of time practicing your speech. Keep in mind that the audience is hearing your speech for the first time. Do not rush through your speech. Make the effort to ensure each word is clear and understandable. Practice good diction and enunciate.
==> Monotone Voice - Boring, monotone voices can make an audience feel trapped and antsy. Audiences will tune out a monotone speaker while wishing for it to end. Even a speaker with an unbelievably good speech cannot overcome the damage a monotone voice can do. Speak with passion about your topic to overcome a monotone voice. Speak faster when you get to an exciting part in your speech. Speak at a slower pace to make a point or when explaining something in detail during your speech. Vary the pitch and inflection of your voice when you are public speaking. If you are passionate about your speech, let your audience in on it it by allowing it to come through in your voice.
==> Lack of Eye Contact - Eye contact gives your audience a connection to you while you are speaking. Your audience will pay closer attention if you look openly at them. Take the time during your speech to look directly at individual audience members. Do not look at a person for more than a few seconds before moving on to someone else.
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