A great speaker doesn’t speak at an audience, but rather listens to the audience, and responds to the audience. What exactly is good listening on a public speaking level? Is it about simply mirroring the body language of the person (or persons) you are speaking to, as some communication coaches suggest? Or is it deeper than that? I would argue that good listening on the public speaking level is the same as good listening on the personal level; it is the ability to understand the meaning of a question or comment, not just the delivery. On the micro level, this means repeating questions that are posed by your audience, and asking directly if you are understanding them correctly. It means paying attention to the context of the question, and picking up important non-verbal clues.

On the macro level, listening to your audience means understanding what they are expecting of the speech, and what they want, even need, to hear. Do you make sports analogies at a film industry convention with an audience made of movie buffs? Start out an awards ceremony with edgy humor when the audience yearns for sincerity? Perhaps you aren’t listening. Try imagining what you would want to hear if you were in the audience… this is the first step to becoming a speaker who is truly attuned to the audience.

In your opinion, what great speakers listen well?

Click here for a great article on listening @ Huffington Post

Jeffrey Davis is the owner of Speak Clear Communications. He is an executive public speaking coachand accent reduction coachin New York City.

This entry was posted in Non-Verbal Communication
Tagged with executive coach , interview coach manhattan , interview coach new york city , presentation coach , presentation training , public speaking coach manhattan , public speaking coach new york city , public speaking lessons , public speaking tips , speech coach , speech lessons , voice coach
Bookmark this article Listening and Public Speaking