70 5.2 Listening to speeches
were present in class and you did hear the professor’s lecture, but you’re not
sure what was said.
Your own thoughts are among the biggest competitors for your attention
when you are a member of an audience. Most of us would rather listen to our
own inner speech than to the message of a public speaker. As the psychology
professor with the gun discovered, sex, lunch, worries, and daydreams are ma-
jor distractions for the majority of listeners.WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A SPEAKER Focus on maintaining your audience’s
attention, using occasional “wake-up” messages such as “Now listen carefully,
because this will affect your future grade (or family, or employment).” Deliver
your message effectively by using good eye contact, speaking with appropriate
volume and vocal variation, and using appropriate gestures for emphasis.WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A LISTENER To stay focused you must stop the
mental conversation you are having with yourself about ideas that are unrelated
to the speaker’s message. First, be aware of thoughts, worries, and daydreams
that are competing for your attention. Then, once you are aware that you are off
task, return your attention to what the speaker is saying.Outside Distractions
While sitting in class, you notice that the person in front of you is surfing the
Internet on her tablet computer. Two classmates behind you are chatting about
their favorite soap opera plots. You feel your phone vibrate with an incoming
text message. As your history professor drones on about the Bay of Pigs inva-
sion, you find it difficult to focus on his lecture. Use the tips in the How To box
to help you reduce physical distractions that compete with the speaker.Prevent Information Overload
As a listener- Recognize when you are not being a good listener. Then try to improve your listening by look-
ing at the speaker, sitting up straight, and focusing on the message.
As a speaker - Pace the flow of new ideas and information. Communication expert Frank E. X. Dance recom-
mends a 30/70 balance: 30 percent of your speaking time should be spent presenting new
ideas and information, and 70 percent of your time should be spent supporting the ideas with
vivid examples and interesting stories.^6 - Build redundancy into your message. Repeating key ideas can be part of that 70 percent of
your message that extends the new information you present. If listeners miss the idea the first
time you present it, perhaps they will catch it during your concluding summary.
HOW TO
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