While preparing for a listening skills workshop last week, I went back over a number of good books on listening from my bookshelves and the local library, as well as re-read some excellent resources online - including a few of my earlier posts on the topic. (Check the Listening category for the entire group of posts.)
But, when I was actually facilitating the workshop – watching how some people were listening, some others not so much – I was reminded that there’s some important tasks that the presenter should do to help the audience listen better too.
The list below is not necessarily my own, but a collective project between me and all of the 3,500 people who’ve attended my workshops over the years.
Here’s the list. Click on any point below to jump to more detail.
2. Know your audience (part 1). What type of audience do you have?
2. Know your audience (part 2). What is the Little Voice in the back of their heads telling them?
3. Break the presentation into chunks.
5. Break up the presentation between lecture and discussion.
6. Use eye contact, voice and gestures effectively.
7. Minimise distractions, both yours and theirs.
8. Summarize.
9. Ask for feedback, and ask questions of the audience.
10. End early.
