The following comes from TJ Walker’s upcoming book “The Wisdom of Your Audience”. Consistently, the worst advice speakers and presenters get, comes from everyone who is NOT your audience. The following gives examples of some of the WORST advice people are often given. It is followed by the advice of your audience. Listen to them. They are your true judge and jury.
How will I know if my speech “worked?”
Your Marketing director: “We will videotape the speech and conduct focus group surveys with housewives in a mall. In six week and $35,000 we will have an answer for you.”
Your speech coach: “Public speaking has a magical, elusive quality. You will know it when you feel it.”
You: “Who knows when my speeches work? It’s just a combination of luck, the mood of the audience and if I am feeling “on” that day.”
***
Your audience: “If you want to know if your speech is working, just ask us. We will tell you. Chances are that some of us will come up to you after your speech and tell you that you were great (we might mean it, we might not). This is your chance. Just asked us specifically what we remembered and took away from your speech. If you had compelling stories, memorable stories and slides that stuck in our brain, we will tell you. Then, you know your speech “worked.” If we simply say “Everything about your speech was great” that means nothing you said was memorable and your speech was a complete failure as a communications exercise.”
