If You Want Your Audience to “Get It!”,
EVERYTHING Must Deliver the
Same Message.
Otherwise, you’re sending mixed messages.
The audience will be confused, and they won’t receive the information you’re presenting the way you intended.
If there is a disconnect between the words spoken and the way the speech is delivered, it will be the message delivered via verbal and non-verbal communications rather than the words, that will be received and acknowledged by the audience.
If there is a dis-connect between verbal and non-verbal communication in the delivery of your talk, it will be the non-verbal element that will be believed by your audience.
Example: If I say to an audience, “I’m really glad to here today!” but I’m yawning, have poor posture, and talk in a monotone voice – what message am I sending?
Or, the person who gets stopped by a policeman,says he has no contraband in the vehicle, but is sweating bullets, twitching, and generally nervous. Will the police officer believe his words or the message his body is sending?
The entire message; words, verbal and non-verbal communications, must be in sync. It’s also important the speaker is dressed appropriately for presenting the subject and their mannerisms (non-verbal communication) reinforce the message.
This must be considered when first developing the speech. The subject, title of the talk, and body of the speech must all present the same message.
This doesn’t mean you can’t inject humor in an otherwise serious subject, but it does mean the humor must be appropriate to the topic and not misunderstood. This means taking into account who the audience will be.
Some of the ‘Gallows Humor” doctors and nurses use in operating rooms would not be appropriate to present to people not familiar with that ‘venue’. They might have personal, sometimes very personal experiences that would make jokes during an operation completely inappropriate.
Take away from this post:
Deliver the same message through your words, appearance and delivery. Keep everything in sync and your audience will ‘Get It!’
About the Author:
Fred E. Miller coaches, speaks and writes about Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
314-517-8772
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
https://nosweatpublicspeaking.com
2 Comments
I used to have a horrible time with this when I was younger — when I would get into trouble with my mother and I would go to apologize, for some reason I would smile.
In reality I was nervous and scared and sincere in my apology — she could only believe my smiling face. To this day, I don’t know why I would do that — and sometimes I still do it with my wife.
Russ:
Thanks for the visit and comment.
You’re really a smart guy! (Smile!)
Fred