Skip to main content

How can a Public Speaker Handle Audience Resistance

It is usually the speaker who needs the audience more than the audience needs the speaker. Therefore, anticipating and overcoming potential audience resistance by considering their perspectives can make it easier to influence them. This approach can disarm the audience, making them more receptive to the message.

It is better to be humble in your approach and build in the desires, goals, frustrations, and anxieties of the audience in whatever you present. This proactivity can play a vital role in reducing the potential resistance to what you are going to present. The effort and sincerity in an attempt to see the world through their eyes are reflected in your speech. By doing so, the speaker sounds more authentic while addressing the concerns of the audience. But it must be kept in mind that however hard you try, there still might be some resistance, which can be classified under three distinct types and might require different approaches to handle it as discussed below:

Three Common Types of Resistance and Strategies to Handle them (Nancy Duarte, 2018)

Type of Resistance

Rationale behind it

Strategy to Deal with it

Logical resistance

There might be a differing or an opposing logic against your argument

While you prepare your presentation, consider formulating counterarguments to your perspective. Research various sources to understand alternative lines of reasoning that challenge your stance. This will equip you to handle skeptical questions and comments, enhancing your comprehension of the topic and fostering a more nuanced viewpoint.

Emotional resistance

There may be biases, dogmas, or moral codes that your ideas might be challenging, which could emotionally affect the audience

As a speaker, it's essential to consider the audience's perspective and proceed with caution.

Practical resistance

The audience may find it challenging to follow your request.

Acknowledge any sacrifices they are making and demonstrate that you are also taking on some of the burden.

How to Identify Potential Resistance

§  You may be so deeply connected to your own perspective that you are having a tough time anticipating other points of view. You can share your ideas with others before you present and ask them to pressure-test the content.

§  You can use your boss or colleagues as a sounding board for a reality check before presenting to other managers or the senior authorities.

How can a Speaker Handle Resistance

Handling resistance as a speaker can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can navigate it effectively. Here are some strategies to handle resistance:

1. Listen Actively: When faced with resistance, listen attentively to the concerns or objections raised by your audience. Show empathy and understanding of their perspective.

2. Acknowledge and Validate: Acknowledge the concerns raised by the audience and validate their feelings. Let them know that their perspectives are being heard and respected.

3. Provide Context: Offer additional context or information to address any misunderstandings or misconceptions that may be contributing to the resistance.

4. Clarify Misunderstandings: If there are any misunderstandings or misinterpretations, take the time to clarify them. Provide clear explanations and examples to help the audience better understand your message.

5. Address Concerns Directly: Address the specific concerns or objections raised by the audience directly. Provide evidence, facts, or data to support your position and alleviate their concerns.

6. Engage in Dialogue: Encourage open dialogue and discussion to explore different perspectives and find common ground. Foster a collaborative environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their views.

7. Stay Calm and Composed: Maintain a calm and composed demeanor, even in the face of resistance. Avoid becoming defensive or argumentative, as this can escalate tensions and further alienate the audience.

8. Focus on Benefits: Emphasize the benefits or positive outcomes of your message to help overcome resistance. Highlight how your message aligns with the audience's interests or values.

9. Offer Solutions: If possible, offer practical solutions or alternatives to address the concerns raised by the audience. Collaborate with them to find mutually acceptable solutions.

By employing these strategies, you can effectively handle resistance as a speaker and maintain a positive and productive dialogue with your audience.

Dr. Karminder Ghuman, Head of MBA Department, LM Thapar School of Management,          Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (Deemed to be University), Patiala

This blog is based on contents from the book: "The Art and Science of Effective and Impactful Business Communication for Managers" 

https://rb.gy/t1fnup

This book has a compilation of research-based proven tools and strategies to guide professionals regarding the following aspects of business, corporate, and managerial communication:

Employability Skills and Communication

  • Cover Letter and Resume Writing
  • Group Discussion (GD)
  • Personal Interview

Writing Skills

  • Business Writing Strategy
  • E-mail Etiquettes
  • Letter writing
  • Agenda and Minutes of Meeting
  • Office Memo, Notice, and Circular Writing
  • Business Report Writing
  • Writing a Compelling Press Release
  • Business Proposal Writing 

Organizational Communication

  • Bureaucratic Communication
  • Satisfying Customer Care
  • Intercultural Communication
  • Leveraging Grapevine Communication
  • Dealing with Ego, Power, and Organizational Politics
  • Dealing with Aggression or Negative Emotions of a Senior at Workplace
  • Communication Dilemmas at Workplace
  • Communicating in Diverse and Hybrid Organizational Environment

Managerial Communication

  • Making and Delivering an Impactful Presentation
  • Probing and Confrontation Skills
  • Problem Solving: Creativity and Innovation – Role of Communication
  • Selling Skills
  • Effective Meetings
  • Conveying a Difficult Message
  • Negotiation Skills
  • Team Building, Group Communication and Inspiring Collaboration
  • Providing Feedback and Criticism
  • Conflict Management
  • Personality Type of Leaders/Managers and Communication Style
  • Communication Strategy and Decision-making Heuristics

Networking

  • Networking
  • Greetings, Introducing, and Rapport Building

Technology and Communication

  • Technology and Communication
  • Generative AI and Communication
  • Social Media Communication

Leadership Communication

  • Leadership Style and Communication
  • Communication Strategies for Corporate Leaders
  • Public Speaking
  • Persuasive, Confident and Decisive Communication
  • Increasing Productivity

Entrepreneurial Communication

  • Story Telling
  • Startup Pitching
  • Persuasive Techniques: The Language of Persuasion
  • Visual Content Creation: Blogs, Vlogs, Reels, Videos, Webinars, Tags, and Hashtags
  • Content Writing and Career Opportunities

Monitoring and Measuring: Effectiveness of Communication

  • Communication Audit: Monitoring and Measuring Effectiveness of Communication

  

Location: India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Ace your Interview: Expert Tips for Tackling Commonly Asked Questions

                                                               https://youtu.be/IimFFnyLZbA 1.     Tell me something about yourself? Approach : Provide a brief overview of your professional background, relevant experiences, skills, and achievements. Tailor your response to highlight aspects of your career that are most relevant to the position you're applying for. 2.     What are your strengths? Approach : Highlight strengths that are relevant to the job you're applying for. Provide specific examples or anecdotes that demonstrate how you've used these strengths to achieve success in your previous roles. 3.     What are your weaknesses? Approach : Be honest but strategic when discussing weaknesses. Choose weaknesses that are not critical to the job you're applying for and disc...
Post a Comment
Read more

Group Discussion (GD): Tips to Prepare and Effective Participation

Group discussion (GD) is a test of interactive skills in a group setting. It is a tool usually employed for elimination rather than selection. Organizations make use of this tool to assess the group dynamics of a candidate based on his communication and interpersonal interaction and to reduce the pool of candidates lined up for personal interviews. The strength of a group for a GD usually varies between eight and twelve, and the atmosphere ranges from feigned teamwork and forced camaraderie to unbridled warfare and uncivilized mayhem. While participating in a GD, the candidates are expected to be able to not only articulate their viewpoint effectively but also to understand the other person's point of view while making their point and ensuring that the team as a whole reaches a win-win situation, a solution/agreement that is both feasible and accepted by all members of the team. Thus, a GD is a simulated managerial setting, and its evaluation parameters can be categorized into tw...
Post a Comment
Read more

Group Discussion (GD): Tips, Tactics, Dos and Don’ts, and Common Mistakes

Tips for Group Discussion (GD) §     Be patient ; Keep your cool if anyone says anything you object to. §     The key is to stay objective: Don't take the discussion personally. §   Remember the Seven Cs of effective communication: Clarity, Completeness, Conciseness, Confidence, Correctness, and Courtesy. §     Be responsive to ideas from other people and very receptive and open -minded. §     Don't allow others to change your viewpoint. Evaluators are looking for a range of different skills. You may think leadership is key and want to demonstrate this in a discussion, but you need to be careful not to dominate the discussion, as this may come across as aggressive. §     Often, participants think that success in GD depends on their decibel levels, i.e., how much they speak and how loud they speak. Ironically, It's the opposite. §     Only Quality pays. §    Rounding the discussion off when ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Make an Impactful Presentation: Unique Structure, Requirements, and Approaches of Different Types of Presentations

“It takes one hour of preparation for each minute of presentation time.”  -  Wayne Burgraff Research suggests that humans can categorize others in less than 150 milliseconds. Within 30 minutes, they’ve made lasting judgements about your character. Psychologists Nancy Cantor and Walter Moschel demonstrated that we all use a set of stereotypes-what they called “person prototypes” – to categorize strangers in the the first moments of interaction. (Kimberly D. Elsbach, 2003)  Real Goal of a  Presentation   The real goal of a presentation is to effectively communicate information, ideas, or arguments to the audience in a way that is engaging, clear, and persuasive. This involves: 1.   Engaging : Capturing and maintaining the audience's attention throughout the presentation. 2.   Informing : Providing the audience with valuable information or knowledge on a specific topic. 3.   Persuading : Convincing the audience ...
Post a Comment
Read more

7 Tips to Succeed in a Job Interview

Attaining success in a job interview involves a combination of preparation, practice, and self-awareness.  Here are 7 tips that you can enhance your chances to emerge successful in a  job interview:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWihmoWGkUM 1.   Research the company and the role : Familiarize yourself with the company's mission, values, products/services, and recent news. Understand the job requirements, responsibilities, and expectations for the role you're interviewing for. This knowledge will help you tailor your communication to align with the company's culture and demonstrate your genuine interest in the opportunity. 2.   Practice common interview questions : Anticipate and practice responses to common interview questions such as "Tell me about yourself," "Why are you interested in this position/company," and "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"    Practice articulating your experiences, skills, and achievements in a clear, conc...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Prepare for Interview Questions: 10 Important Tips

While preparing answers for the  questions that are  frequently asked in a personal interview, it's essential to prepare thoughtful and strategic responses that can effectively showcase your experiences and suitability for the role.  The following 10 important tips can help you prepare in advance high-quality answers for the interview questions:                                         https://youtu.be/GlQs0nRZz2E 1.   Structure your response : Organize your response in a clear and structured manner to ensure coherence and effectiveness.       -  Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioural questions:  Situation: Set the context by describing the situation or challenge you faced. Task: Explain your responsibility or role in that situation. Action : Detail the steps you took to address the challenge or complete t...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Make an Impactful Persuasive Presentation: Guidelines on Making a Data-Heavy Presentation and MECE Framework

Communication skills play a crucial role in making a presentation at every stage of the process, from planning and preparation to final creation. Creating a visually appealing presentation involves careful consideration of design elements such as templates, backgrounds, colours, fonts, and transitions. Here are some guidelines to help you create a professional and engaging presentation: 1.   Audience Understanding : Communication skills allow presenters to understand their audience's needs, interests, and preferences, enabling them to tailor the content to resonate with the audience. This involves conducting audience analysis, anticipating questions or concerns, and adapting communication strategies to engage and connect with diverse audience members. 2.   Choose a Clean and Simple Template : Start with a clean and simple template that provides a consistent layout and design for your slides. Avoid overly complex or cluttered templates that can distract from your content. ...
Post a Comment
Read more