Page 155 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Speaking of . . .

Listening to Feedback from the Audience

Of course, as a speaker, you need to know how to receive prove your speaking skills. Don’t let yourself get emotional
the feedback given by your classmates and instructor. Once or defensive; it will only make the situation worse. Ultimately,
a speech is over, you become a listener or a reader of written however, you have to be true to yourself. Take the comments
evaluations. The most important suggestion we can make as what they are—opinions, albeit educated ones. Use the
for this role is to avoid the very traps that befall poor lis- feedback to improve your speaking, but don’t allow your-
teners. Avoid deciding that the feedback is uninteresting or self to become so obsessed with it that you become overly
biased. Hear out your critics, even if you disagree with their anxious about speaking. Keep in mind the techniques we
judgment. Focus on the main points; don’t get distracted discussed in Chapter 3 for dealing with public speaking anx-
by nitpicking. Take notes on what is said. Be genuinely in- iety. The same principles apply to the anxiety that occurs
terested—after all, the reason for taking the class is to im- when we know we are going to be evaluated.

• Did the speaker connect with the audience?
• Did the speaker organize the speech in a manner that was easy to follow?
• Were the main points previewed in the introduction and summarized in the
conclusion?
• Did the speaker use good evidence to support claims? Were the sources of
evidence disclosed and were they of high quality? Did the evidence justify the
claims being made?
• Did the speaker use understandable and appropriate language? Were unfa-
miliar terms defi ned?
• Did the speaker deliver the speech effectively? Was it easy to hear the
speaker’s voice? Were the gestures and movement of the speaker effective or
distracting?
• Overall, how effective was the speech in informing, persuading, or entertain-
ing you as an audience member?

Rules of the Road:

Improving Specifi c Listening Skills

Regardless of type and goal, there are some specifi c rules of the road for listen-
ing. These tried and true techniques can help any listener do a better job. Many
of these techniques will work in both public speaking and face-to-face interper-
sonal settings. Keep these rules in mind whatever your listening situation:
mindfulness • Be mindful. Mindfulness involves conscious awareness of the speech
The conscious aware- transaction including the people involved, their purpose for gathering,
ness of the speech and the context in which they fi nd themselves. Mindful listeners live in
transaction including the the present and are attuned to what is taking place as it happens. Effective
people involved, their
listening demands mindfulness.
purpose for gathering,
• Choose to selectively attend to the speech transaction. We live in a world where
and the context in which
they fi nd themselves. many sources are competing for our attention throughout our day. Because
we cannot possibly attend to all of these sources and their messages, we
122 select relatively few, usually because they are potential sources of reward.