For many people, talking to the public is a great challenge or even a serious endeavor or even life-threatening experience. At that, face-to-face interactions are mainly positively viewed, and many people enjoy talking to other people in person. One of the reasons for that is the psychological and physical distance that is difficult to overcome for some. In order to build a proper relationship with the audience, it can be beneficial to use some strategies that are naturally used in the face-to-face interaction.
First, the speaker should make sure he/she understands the audience. It is always easier to talk to a known person rather than a complete stranger. Thus, one of the barriers disappears when the speaker is acquainted with the audience. This knowledge helps choose the right words, gestures, arguments, emotions and so on. Another important peculiarity of interpersonal communication is the feedback.
Therefore, when giving speeches, the speaker should elicit the feedback of the audience. It is crucial to understand whether the audience is properly engaged or bored. The interaction will help the speaker communicate the message effectively. Finally, the speakers’ perspective is also important. Some people are afraid of speaking to the audience. Thus, it is possible to try making oneself believe that it is a simple conversation with a slightly greater number of people than in other occasions.
Response to a Classmate’s Post
J.K. Rowling’s speech is really remarkable as it can be viewed as a universal one. Thus, it is clear for everyone as all people have had similar experiences. Obviously, the speech seemed so inspirational as you encountered it at a specific period of your time. Your perspective can be regarded as a perfect illustration of the importance of the common ground between the speaker and the audience.
The Eastwood’s speech failed totally as the speaker had another perspective and was rather concerned with his message rather than his audience. This post provides important insights into effective public communication. The speaker should mind the audience as the inability to do so will create the barriers that will make the communication ineffective. Of course, the manner of speaking is also very important as sometimes it can make even a potentially good speech complete failure.
A Film
Legally Blonde (2001) can be regarded as a good example of effective public communication. The girl feels comfortable when speaking to one person or to dozens of people. Her character makes it easy for her to speak to a public as she does not feel any barriers. The protagonist of the movie has a very specific individual style (Legally Blonde). The student seems to be completely out of place, but her positive attitude and sincerity are her major tools.
At that, her individual style (the word choice, voice, sense of humor) make her such a successful speaker. The main character also uses a very specific method of audience adaptation. She does not change her manner of speaking, but she manages to speak to people’s hearts. She does not try to use smart words that are common for law students. However, she understands that her audience is constituted by young people who may feel confident or completely insecure, but they all have a similar hope to succeed in life. This message becomes central to the girl’s speech. She also appeals to common emotions and experiences the vast majority of people share in common, which make her speech so effective.
Bibliography
Legally Blonde. Dir. Robert Luketic. Beverly Hills: Metro Goldwyn Mayer. 2001. DVD.