How to Deal with a Negative Audience in Professional Speaking



At one time or another, you will have to deal with a negative audience member or group. How do should you handle that kind of situation and still keep a professional appearance? The first goal to keep in mind is that you have a message to communicate and that is your job! Your goal is to bring information to the rest of the group whether or not they want to receive your message. The mindset you should have is that you are well able to communicate that message and you're going to do it in a professional way. Here are some tips to keep you on track as you deal with a negative audience.

1. Know your stuff. Knowledge is power and so is preparation. Do you know your subject matter well enough to answer impromptu questions? If not, you should. Review the material and ask yourself potential questions that might come up. Look for inconsistencies in information within your presentation and then remove them. Prepare answers to potential questions.

2. Don't react to negative comments or questions. You are the professional and you are the "guru" of information concerning the topic you're speaking on. Reacting negatively destroys any positive images that your audience has of you. Believe it or not, your audience is not thinking "Oh poor speaker being heckled by audience member Joe!" Don't give in to emotion because that's not part of your equation. Stick to the topic at hand and take the stance that you are the information "guru" regarding the subject matter!

3. Always answer all questions. Avoiding difficult questions also questions you're validity as a subject matter expert. One of your goals as a speaker is to gain the support of your audience. You want them jumping on the bandwagon idea that you're pitching to them. In the process, you'll want to eliminate anything that will cause you to lose your credibility.

4. Maintain your control. Responding to your negative audience with the same negative emotion will cause you to lose control of your topic. Focus on the topic at hand. Train your mind to deliver the message you were hired to deliver instead of letting emotional antics get in the way. A developed speaker is one who has control over his/her emotions.

5. Be prepared for the next potential negative encounter. Having one negative speaking experience certainly prepares you for the next. Instead of focusing on the negative situation, take a step back and begin to learn from what happened. Perform a self-evaluation. What did you learn?

6. Engage your negative audience member or group. A negative audience or member is one who is disconnected with your presentation. It should be your goal to connect with as many people as possible and to make your subject come alive in their minds that what you present is possible.

Train yourself to react professionally. In doing so, you'll be establishing yourself as a leader and as a subject matter expert. Don't let negative questioning override what you have to communicate - look at it as being just a learning experience. When you do that, you'll be well on your way to becoming a top-notch professional speaker!


Kerry McNally is the author and creator of SUPADUPA Web Sites where you'll find free articles to use in your eZine or on your website or blog to help you generate massive traffic to your website. Get it now at: => http://supadupa.ws You are free to reproduce this article online or in your ezine as long as you leave this resource box intact.

Comments

*Name:
*Email:
Website URL:
Title / Subject:
Hide my email
*Comments:
*
 



Menu


Articles

6 Questions That Professional Speakers Answer
Using Humor In Your Professional Speaking Gig
What Does The First Year Of Professional Speaking Look Like?
Using Props In Your Professional Speaking Presentation
Professional Speakers Polish Their Message
Where To Find Professional Speaking Jobs
How To Market Yourself As A Professional Speaker
Organizing Your Professional Speaking Presentation
Ten Sources Of Income In Professional Speaking
Practice Makes Perfect!
The Real Message That Professional Speakers Send
Successful Transitions For Your Presentation
Do You Have The Ability To Draw People As A Professional Speaker?
Handling Questions And Answers In Your Professional Speaking Career
How To Deal With A Negative Audience In Professional Speaking
How Free Professional Speaking Gigs Help You
Achieving Success In Professional Speaking
What Makes A Great Professional Speaker?
How To Tell A Story In Your Professional Speaking Presentation
A Professional Speaker Sets The Tone For The Message
Create Your Professional Speaking Portfolio






Articles


Professional Speakers Polish Their Message One key to delivering a successful message is polishing the message you..


What Does The First Year Of Professional Speaking Look Like? Unless you're already a celebrity, you'll have to work..


Do You Have The Ability To Draw People As A Professional Speaker? A speaker's ability to motivate is the hidden treasure in any..


6 Questions That Professional Speakers Answer In any presentation, there are basic pieces of information that an..



Related Videos:

Related News:

 
Traffic impact assessment for Xewkija Lidl 'carried out by professionals' - Malta Independent Online

    

Traffic impact assessment for Xewkija Lidl 'carried out by professionals'
Malta Independent Online
... levelled by a group of environmental NGOs at the developers that the assessment was not carried out by a professional. Speaking with the newspaper in the wake of last week's report entitled “Is the Mepa reform working, environmentalists ask” (TMIS, ...




Govt committed to making NA democratic‚ responsible - Himalayan Times

    

Govt committed to making NA democratic‚ responsible
Himalayan Times
KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Bijay Kumar Gachhadar on Sunday said that the government was working actively in a positive way to make the national army more capable and professional. Speaking at a meeting of the State ...

and more »