| When giving a presentation or speech, there is | | | | speaking skills. |
| nothing more distracting than an unresponsive | | | | Dealing with a Restless Audience |
| audience, a restless audience or an angry audience. | | | | It is inevitable that during a presentation or speech, |
| But by remaining calm, you can speak to these types | | | | people will show up late or leave early. Not only is this |
| of audiences and still get your message across. Keep | | | | disrespectful to the speaker, it's also disrespectful to |
| in mind that it's probably not you - it may be the | | | | the audience. When giving a presentation to your |
| subject matter, the issues you're trying to inform | | | | audience, ask the person organizing it before you |
| others about or it might be something unrelated like | | | | begin if they anticipate more people to show up. This |
| uncomfortable seating or a bad meal. | | | | will reduce the stress of having to pause and resume |
| Dealing with an Unresponsive Audience | | | | the presentation after they've found a place to sit. If |
| If you notice the audience is not responding the way | | | | you're interrupted during a presentation, pause and |
| you expected them to respond after telling a story | | | | take a deep breath. Resume the presentation so |
| or a joke, the best way to handle the situation is to | | | | those who arrived on time can benefit from the |
| continue speaking. Common reasons why audience | | | | entire speech. |
| members may be unresponsive include the following: | | | | Dealing with an Angry Audience |
| 1. The Speaker is speaking too fast and the audience | | | | Depending on the topic of your speech, you may |
| is missing vital pieces of the speech; | | | | have to deal with angry audience members who |
| 2. The audience has sat through more than one | | | | have a different opinion on the topic than you do. |
| speech already; | | | | While debate is necessary for the formation of new |
| 3. The topic is a serious one and the audience is | | | | ideas, you should try your best to get through the |
| trying to understand it; | | | | speech before answering questions or engaging in a |
| 4.Speech is too long; | | | | debate. If this is not possible, you may have to alter |
| 5.Many times, slowing the speech down can cause a | | | | the format and turn your speech into a question and |
| response in the audience. | | | | answer session. While you may not have time to |
| If you notice that people in the first few rows are | | | | cover all of the points within your speech, you may |
| leaning forward, you may need to speak louder or | | | | be able to turn a potentially bad situation into an |
| slow down the speech so everyone will be able to | | | | educational one for those attending. For most public |
| hear you. If the audience remains unresponsive, you | | | | speakers, audience disturbances like these are |
| should continue with your speech and ask people in | | | | minimal. Unless you're running for public office or you |
| the audience you trust for their opinion. Feedback is | | | | work in academia, you won't find much hostility in the |
| important if you want to improve your public | | | | audiences you speak to. |