Power Speaking Dynamics

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Power Speaking Dynamics

Getting my Audience to like Me

GETTING MY AUDIENCE TO LIKE ME

One understandable source of anxiety in many speakers is how the audience is going to respond to them. There is fear of rejection, of sounding foolish or that they cannot successfully connect with their audience.

The answer to that is to first think positively and the basic approach to this is to believe:

– that no audience is there to see you fail.

– they are there with the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) frame of mind.

If you are focused on this and have prepared to deliver what they want, there is no more room for anxiety or concern. Now add LIKEABILITY.

Here are some useful tips to get your audience to like and accept you.

  • Start with the attitude of being a ‘People – person’ and like others. There is a simple logic to this-by seeking to like others, we ourselves become likeable in the process. Greet early-comers to your workshop or course with a warm smile and a handshake. Engage them in a simple communication like where they are from, which department, whether they have direct reports, what they like about their work or what they think about this morning’s news headlines.
  • Remember names and use them in the course of the session. You could say “Earlier on I was discussing with John about the challenges leaders face with millennials.” This creates a sense of inclusion and affects the rest of them.
  • Say that you appreciate their presence, that you feel privileged they are here to listen to you.
  • Make them feel valued. I often assure my audience that we are going to embark on a journey of learning, in which we are going to learn from and add value to each other. There is a saying that your audience may not remember much of what you said, but they will never forget the way you made them feel.
  • Avoid the “I”, use more of “We” and “Us”. Bring in the “You” when complimenting.

  • Never apologize by saying you regret you did not have much time or that it has been a hectic week and you had to rush through your preparation. It’s a clear signal to your audience that they are going to be ‘short-changed’.
  • Enjoy what you are doing-it helps you relax and show the audience that you feel good about what you are doing. When you relax, your audience can too.
  • Speak to express, never to impress. Be your authentic self and remind yourself that you are there to be of service to them.

A closing thought:

Likeability is the Golden Bullet of Communication