Comments on: The myth of the tough crowd? http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/the-myth-of-the-tough-crowd/ A book of true tales from a veteran public speaker Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:40:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Kathleen Moynahan http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/the-myth-of-the-tough-crowd/#comment-71 Kathleen Moynahan Thu, 07 May 2009 17:29:21 +0000 http://www.speakerconfessions.com/?p=105#comment-71 I gave a two day seminar a few weeks back, and the first day was really rough. My colleague and I were both thrown by the crowd - unresponsive, eye rolling, disinterested. I was totally unnerved by the experience, and that night I spent some time figuring out how to get more engaged with the group. I decided to ask a few questions about their experiences with design, and everyone seemed much more relaxed (including me)! Getting to know the group with some informal questions goes a long way to making everyone a human being. I gave a two day seminar a few weeks back, and the first day was really rough. My colleague and I were both thrown by the crowd – unresponsive, eye rolling, disinterested. I was totally unnerved by the experience, and that night I spent some time figuring out how to get more engaged with the group. I decided to ask a few questions about their experiences with design, and everyone seemed much more relaxed (including me)! Getting to know the group with some informal questions goes a long way to making everyone a human being.

]]> By: Stephen Lead http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/the-myth-of-the-tough-crowd/#comment-62 Stephen Lead Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:01:24 +0000 http://www.speakerconfessions.com/?p=105#comment-62 I've heard it described as "the curse of knowledge" (not sure by whom). You're wearing headphones and can clearly hear the song. You start clicking your fingers to the beat, expecting the audience to sing along - but they have no idea what the song is. PS I went back to the same audience (police officers) a few weeks later and gave the same presentation in the form of a story, with examples which were meaningful to the police. They weren't that tough at all! I’ve heard it described as “the curse of knowledge” (not sure by whom).

You’re wearing headphones and can clearly hear the song. You start clicking your fingers to the beat, expecting the audience to sing along – but they have no idea what the song is.

PS I went back to the same audience (police officers) a few weeks later and gave the same presentation in the form of a story, with examples which were meaningful to the police. They weren’t that tough at all!

]]> By: Scott http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/the-myth-of-the-tough-crowd/#comment-59 Scott Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:06:59 +0000 http://www.speakerconfessions.com/?p=105#comment-59 Stephen: I wish there was a name for what you describe, because i think it happens all the time. If the speaker creates a mismatch between what he's saying and what they can understand, the crowd will always seem tough - they can't follow. It's a good trick to check in with a crowd, especially if the talk is longer than 30 minutes, for a show of hands as to who understood the last example or story, and who doesn't get it. Then at least there's a chance the speaker can make adjustments. Any suggestions for a name for this? Where the speaker creates the toughness? Stephen: I wish there was a name for what you describe, because i think it happens all the time. If the speaker creates a mismatch between what he’s saying and what they can understand, the crowd will always seem tough – they can’t follow.

It’s a good trick to check in with a crowd, especially if the talk is longer than 30 minutes, for a show of hands as to who understood the last example or story, and who doesn’t get it. Then at least there’s a chance the speaker can make adjustments.

Any suggestions for a name for this? Where the speaker creates the toughness?

]]> By: Stephen Lead http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/the-myth-of-the-tough-crowd/#comment-53 Stephen Lead Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:29:58 +0000 http://www.speakerconfessions.com/?p=105#comment-53 Scott, this is spot on. Some managers at work recently gave a highly detailed technical presentation to a group of users, who had stated beforehand that they weren't technical. Afterwards my colleagues complained about the "tough crowd". Unfortunately I wasn't in a position to tell them that the audience were "tough" because the presenters totally failed to engage them. Scott, this is spot on.

Some managers at work recently gave a highly detailed technical presentation to a group of users, who had stated beforehand that they weren’t technical.

Afterwards my colleagues complained about the “tough crowd”. Unfortunately I wasn’t in a position to tell them that the audience were “tough” because the presenters totally failed to engage them.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/the-myth-of-the-tough-crowd/#comment-52 Andrew Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:01:29 +0000 http://www.speakerconfessions.com/?p=105#comment-52 Crowds with widely varying skill sets are always a challenge from a technical presentation perspective. The only way out of that is to target the middle, drop advanced nuggets for the faster ones, and do your best to qualify the audience before walking in the door. Crowds with widely varying skill sets are always a challenge from a technical presentation perspective. The only way out of that is to target the middle, drop advanced nuggets for the faster ones, and do your best to qualify the audience before walking in the door.

]]> By: Phil Simon http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/the-myth-of-the-tough-crowd/#comment-50 Phil Simon Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:13:41 +0000 http://www.speakerconfessions.com/?p=105#comment-50 There's quite a bit of truth in this: <b>There is always someone in the crowd who hates you the least. Find the people who seem most positive or active and give them as much of your attention and eye contact. Rewarding their positive responses will encourage them to keep doing it, and possibly help others in the audience follow along.</b> I gave a talk last night and, while I wouldn't consider the crowd "tough", the word "unenthusiastic" came to mind. I engaged the two who seem most interested at first and, before I knew it, five or six people were participating. There’s quite a bit of truth in this:

There is always someone in the crowd who hates you the least. Find the people who seem most positive or active and give them as much of your attention and eye contact. Rewarding their positive responses will encourage them to keep doing it, and possibly help others in the audience follow along.

I gave a talk last night and, while I wouldn’t consider the crowd “tough”, the word “unenthusiastic” came to mind. I engaged the two who seem most interested at first and, before I knew it, five or six people were participating.

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