Page 332 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Chapter 11 Delivery: Engaging Your Audience 299
Speaking of . . .

Seating Arrangements

Can the physical seating arrangement have an impact on audience members to make eye contact with each other.
both your speech and the manner in which it is perceived? And speaking at the head of a conference table not only
A very dramatic one. As a result, you should think about narrows the zone of interaction but also puts a physical
your goals as a speaker and the physical layout of the room barrier between you and your audience. Which of these ar-
in which you speak. Traditional rows will focus attention ex- rangements do you think would most likely encourage audi-
clusively on you. A horseshoe arrangement, however, allows ence feedback and participation? Why?

Traditional rows Horseshoe Conference table

Appearance

Appearance often has a disproportionately signifi cant effect on audience percep-
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tions of a speaker’s message and delivery. Speakers never get a second chance
to make a fi rst impression with an audience. First impressions are based largely
on appearance, including body type and height, skin and hair color, and cloth-
ing and accessories.
The signifi cance of appearance to public speaking can be measured in at least
two ways. The fi rst involves audience members’ fi rst impressions. The second
involves how people perceive themselves as a result of their appearance and the
impact this perception has on their self-confi dence and delivery.
According to communication expert Dale Leathers, “Our visible self func-
tions to communicate a constellation of meanings which defi ne who we are and
what we are apt to become in the eyes of others.” These “others” are the people
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with whom we come into contact, including the members of our audiences.
Audience members use appearance initially to make judgments about a
speaker’s level of attractiveness and degree of similarity. The consequences of
299