330 15.4 speaKinG to inForM
Present Information That Relates to Your Listeners
Throughout this book, we have encouraged you to develop an audience-
centered approach to public speaking. Being an audience-centered informative
speaker means being aware of information that your audience can use. If, for
example, you are going to teach your audience pointers about recycling, be sure
to talk about specific recycling efforts on your campus or in your community.
Adapt your message to the people who will be in your audience.Use the Unexpected
On a flight from Dallas, Texas, to San Diego, California, flight attendant Karen
Wood made the following announcement:
If I could have your attention for a few moments, we sure would love to
point out our safety features. If you haven’t been in an automobile since
1965, the proper way to fasten your seat belt is to slide the flat end into
the buckle. To unfasten, lift up on the buckle and it will release.
As the song goes, there might be fifty ways to leave your lover, but
there are only six ways to leave this aircraft: two forward exit doors, two
over-wing removable window exits, and two aft exit doors. The location
of each exit is clearly marked with signs overhead, as well as red and
white disco lights along the floor of the aisle.
Made ya look!^14Tell a Good Story
• Identify a conflict. Stories that pit one side against another and that include descriptions of
opposing ideas and forces in government, religion, or personal relationships foster attention.
Conflict is often the obstacle that keeps people in the story from finding “home.”
• Pay attention to plot. Good stories have a beginning that sets the stage, a middle that moves
toward a conclusion, and an ending that ties up all the loose ends.
• Include some action. An audience is more likely to listen to an action-packed message than to
one that listlessly lingers on an idea.
• Keep listeners in suspense. Suspense is created when characters in the story may do one of
several things. Tell a story in which the outcome is in doubt. Keeping people on the edge
of their seats because they don’t know what will happen next is another element in good
storytelling.
• Consider using appropriate humor. A fisherman went into a sporting-goods store where the
salesperson showed him a wonderful lure. The fisherman asked, “Do fish really like this thing?”
“I don’t know,” admitted the salesperson, “I don’t sell to fish.”
We could have simply said, “It’s important to be audience-centered.” But using a bit of
humor makes the point while holding the listener’s attention. Not all stories have to be funny.
Stories may be sad or dramatic without humor. But adding humor at appropriate times usually
helps to maintain interest and attention while you make your point.HOW TO