Page 334 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Chapter 11 Delivery: Engaging Your Audience 301

this judgment are far-reaching for speakers. Research tells us that speakers per-
ceived as attractive by audience members also are perceived as smart, success-
ful, sociable, and self-confi dent. As a result, speakers who fall into this category
enjoy an audience whose initial impression of them is favorable.
Yet appearance infl uences more than an audience’s initial impression of a
speaker. Appearance also can have a very real effect on a speaker’s self-con-
fi dence. Research tells us that speakers who feel they appear attractive report
greater self-confi dence than those reporting otherwise. 12
Although some facets of your appearance and their impact on audience per-
ception are outside your control–for example, body type and height–you can
easily con trol one facet: your dress. Simply said, your dress should be appropri-
ate to the situation. Obvious as this advice may seem, it is frequently ignored by
students in public speaking classes. All too often they show up to speak dressed
as if they had thought little about the appropriateness of their attire. Their atti-
tude, as refl ected in their dress, seems to be saying, “It’s just a speech class.”
Consider an analogy. Good students know what the research suggests about
the relationship between the appearance of a term paper and the mark it re-
ceives. Frequently, it’s the difference between a minus or a plus in their grade.
Good students, therefore, go to some length to make sure that their papers not
only conform to the requirements but “look” impressive as well.
The same relationship may exist between appearance and the marks stu-
dents receive on their speeches. Although an Armani suit may not turn a me-
diocre speech into an outstanding one, it certainly won’t cause the speaker to
lose points. Inappropriate attire or careless grooming will never add points to
a speech; moreover, there is a chance they will unnecessarily detract from such
things as the speaker’s perceived competence. Although we do not recommend
formal business attire for most classroom speeches, we urge you to consider a
form of attire often called “business casual.” For both men and women, busi-
ness casual could include a polo shirt or sweater, slacks, and shoes you would
normally wear in an offi ce. Appropriate dress confers status on you and shows
respect for your audience.

The Eyes

Although today’s technology makes it possible to actually see our online com-
munication partner using a Web cam, many e-mail and Internet chat room users
still use emoticons (or symbols) such as a smiley face to add emotion to their
messages. Such symbols are designed to approximate what would be communi-
cated through the eyes and face in normal conversation.
The eyes have been called the windows to the soul. Perhaps, then, it is only
fi tting that many people also believe eye contact is the single most important
variable in delivering a speech. The eyes connect speaker and audience. The
eyes also tell the speaker and the audience much about each other.
To repeat, in the North American culture, people use eye contact to make
judgments about:
• Whether a person is competent
• Whether a person can be trusted
• Whether a person is approachable