Do we ever consider the image and impression we portray when presenting in front of an audience?
A final-year law student was introduced by the Master of Ceremonies, together with his role, at an evening event. He was to evaluate the use of the English language by everyone who spoke.
“Hi, my name is … I am your (role) this evening. I am a final-year law student.”
Those were his opening lines.
What is the significance and relevance? Why did he have to repeat his name and his role when the M.C. had done so? Was it to show off, seeking attention or was he narcissistic? Was he egoistic?
The impact in opening his presentation was lost. Then he continued, “I would like to share with you …” The sentence was unnecessary … redundant. Again, it was a no-brainer. Go ahead and share what you wish to share.
The opening lines of a speech or presentation are to “arouse, arrest and attract the attention of the audience”. ©
“Avoid the taboo word ‘good’, he advised us. He learnt that, directly or indirectly from the author, who has been discouraging the use of that ‘general’ word for the past 15 years at the various Toastmasters clubs he was invited to. A more specific word is recommended in place of the overworked and overused word ‘good’.
His credibility and authority as a speaker or presenter was lost, as he failed to acknowledge or give credit to the source or the person. He misled the audience into thinking that it was his idea, to replace the word ‘good’ with a better word.
To make matters worse, he was the biggest culprit that evening when he committed the crime numerous times, in the course of his feedback, uttering …
“good food, good website, good use of language, good usage of the language, good use of vocabulary, good use of voice, good and interesting”.
It is worth remembering the maxim: “Walk the talk” and lead by example.
The audience might be misled and misguided when he exhorted, “stick out your tongue” instead of “stick out the tip of your tongue slightly” when ‘th’ words are enunciated. (e.g. those, their, bother, weather, both, broth)
Unless one is trained in linguistics and phonetics, try not impose on the audience.
