• Part 1 symbol pink circle
    getting started
  • Part 2 symbol blue triangle
    fundamentals
  • Part 3 symbol green square
    content
  • Part 4 symbol purple triangle
    delivery
  • Part 5 symbol three blue circles
    engaging your audience
  • Part 6 symbol orange asterisk
    speaking to inform
  • Part 7 symbol pink diamond
    speaking to persuade
  • Part 8 symbol green star
    speaking occasions

The Speaker’s Listening Responsibilities

Listening to members of your audience goes beyond hearing and seeing their reactions before and after your presentation. As a speaker, effective listening also requires you to ask for and adapt to audience feedback and to honor the Audience Bill of Rights.

ASK FOR AND ADAPT TO AUDIENCE FEEDBACK

In face-to-face presentations, whether in-person or online, speakers can usually see, hear, and adapt to audience feedback, the verbal and nonverbal responses made by audience members as they interpret and evaluate the meaning and delivery of a presentation. Ask yourself, “Are audience members actively listening to me, or do I seem to be talking to a blank wall? Do they seem to understand what I am saying, or do they appear confused by my remarks?”

If audience reactions are difficult to see, hear, or interpret, ask them questions, such as “Let me make sure I’m explaining the different features in our new accounting system clearly. How could these features benefit your department or office?” Not only do questions help you ADAPT TO YOUR AUDIENCE Part 2 symbol blue triangle (102–5), they also tell listeners that you are interested in their reactions.

You can also adapt to unforeseen problems—and pleasures—during your presentation. If you hear audience members whispering to each other rather than listening to you, pause briefly—the silence might help them refocus. If that doesn’t work, ask members if they need clarification or more examples. If audience members are squirming in their seats, perhaps it’s time to shorten your presentation or move on to a more interesting section. And if audience members are leaning forward and are highly focused, you may delight in how well you are doing—and carry on with more confidence.

ONLINE PRESENTATIONS Part 4 symbol purple triangle (282–301) present unique considerations for adapting to audience feedback—you may or may not be able to see or hear your audience. If you can see them, there is a wealth of nonverbal behavior to observe, much as you would during an in-person talk. But if you can’t see them, or you want another way to gauge their reactions to your speech, most virtual presentation platforms—such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams—include features that can help. For example, most platforms offer a chat feature where audience members can communicate with one another (and with you), allowing listeners to ASK QUESTIONS Part 5 symbol three blue circles (350–61) and respond during your presentation. If possible, recruit a peer to monitor these messages for useful feedback. In other cases, you may be able to use a platform’s live polling feature to solicit specific types of information from your audience. As with any presentation technology, you’ll want to practice using these tools ahead of time.

In the case of televised, recorded, or time-delayed presentations, you cannot adapt to audience feedback in the moment and may have to wait until afterward to learn how people reacted. Your best option in these situations is to remember the central importance of your AUDIENCE Part 2 symbol blue triangle (88–105) as you are preparing, practicing, and recording your presentation.

HONOR THE AUDIENCE BILL OF RIGHTS

Every audience member has the right to understand and evaluate a speaker’s presentations. This right depends, in large part, on the speaker’s ability to honor the audience’s right to listen. In the following table, we present this Audience Bill of Rights in the context of the six elements of the RHETORICAL SITUATION Part 1 symbol pink circle (6–11), and we provide advice for honoring each right as a speaker.

THE AUDIENCE BILL OF RIGHTS10

Audience Right

Speaker Responsibility

OCCASION Part 2 symbol blue triangle (61–68)

Listeners have the right to know why the speaker and topic have been chosen for this particular occasion. They also have the right to know, in advance, how long the presentation or session will last.

Briefly explain why you are speaking on this occasion. Provide the audience with a brief description of the presentation, including the length of time.

SPEAKER Part 2 symbol blue triangle (72–85)

Listeners have the right to know enough information about the speaker’s background, experiences, and expertise to decide whether the speaker is competent and credible.

Review what makes you a credible speaker. Provide the audience with a short biography ahead of time or discuss your credentials at the appropriate time during the presentation.

AUDIENCE Part 2 symbol blue triangle (88–105)

Listeners have the right to be spoken to with civility and informed how the presentation speaks to their experiences, background, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and culture. They also have the right to ask questions and expect substantive answers.

Follow the guidelines for adapting your message to your audience. Demonstrate civility by showing empathy, respect, courtesy, maturity, and fairness, especially if your audience disagrees with you. Consider the best way to invite your audience to ask QUESTIONS Part 5 symbol three blue circles(350–61).

PURPOSE Part 2 symbol blue triangle (109–18)

Listeners have the right to know the speaker’s purpose—what the speaker wants them to think or do as a result of a presentation. They also have a right to know the reasons why the speaker has chosen this purpose and how they can benefit from its achievement.

Offer a clear PURPOSE STATEMENT Part 2 symbol blue triangle (115–17) in the introduction of your presentation and/or propose a VALUE STEP Part 6 symbol orange asterisk (367–69).

CONTENT Part 3 symbol green square (123–207)

Listeners have the right to understand and evaluate the ideas and information used to support the speaker’s message. They also have the right to expect a clear, well-organized presentation.

Be intentional about selecting an ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERN Part 3 symbol green square (157–66) that makes sense for the message content. Provide clear TRANSITIONS Part 3 symbol green square (168–69) when moving from one major point to another.

DELIVERY Part 4 symbol purple triangle (209–301)

Listeners have the right to see and hear a speaker and to be able to see every presentation aid used by the speaker, no matter where the aids are located.

Use well-practiced vocal and physical delivery to enhance and clarify the intended meaning of your message. Provide accommodation for audience members who may need closed captions or auditory explanations of PRESENTATION AIDS Part 4 symbol purple triangle (260–78).

Glossary

feedback
The verbal and nonverbal responses made by AUDIENCE members as they interpret and evaluate the meaning and DELIVERY of a presentation.

Endnotes

  • Inspired by the Audience’s Bill of Rights, in Gene Zalazny, Say It with Presentations, rev. and expanded ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006), 4–6.Return to reference 10