A Positive Speaking Environment

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bluidkiti
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Age: 44
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Posts: 7079


Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:58 am Post subject: A Positive Speaking Environment


A Positive Speaking Environment
By Chris Joscelyne

Several years ago I was the guest speaker at a franchising industry breakfast at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre in Sydney. It was a typical Sydney winter's morning … fine and clear with a spectacular sunrise.

The room had been prepared with the speaker's lectern on the eastern side of the room in front of huge ceiling-to-floor windows overlooking the city. Yes, you guessed it. I had to stand in front of that spectacular view and compete with it for the attention of the audience. It was a tough task.

Ever since, I have paid very careful attention to room set-up. My goal is to create the most positive environment for the audience. Sometimes this requires rearrangement of the room, so I always discuss this with meeting organisers well before the event.

If you are organising a meeting, seminar or conference, you can apply some simple and logical ideas that will create a positive environment for your speakers and your audience.

Here are my suggestions:

* Place seats for least external distractions - visual and noise
* Locate the presentation area as close as you can to the audience
* For a small audience, use a semi-circular seating layout
* Avoid long narrow rooms - rear rows will feel isolated from the speaker
* Guide attendees towards front rows by placing "Reserved" signs on rear rows - these signs can be removed as the room fills
* Ensure sufficient isles so that audience members do not have to cross more than five others to get to a seat
* For a large audience, set isles wider closer to the exits.
* Keep room lights bright unless data projection or slides are to be used
* If room lights are dimmed for a slideshow, put a soft light on the presenter - don't leave the presenter in the dark.
* Ensure that windows can be covered if natural light must be reduced for screen presentations
* Test and ensure that the sound and audio-visual equipment is reliable
* Have backup equipment and a backup plan in case of equipment failure
* Provide cool water and a fresh drinking glass for each speaker - this is often forgotten
* Check room temperature for comfort - a hot or cold room kills concentration
* Ensure that food and beverage arrangements are appropriate
* Locate toilets - if they are some distance from the room post a direction sign
* Be aware of emergency exit locations
* Make sure there are signs displayed to direct attendees to your room.

By following this checklist you can create a positive environment for speaking, listening and learning. It works for me and I hope it works for you too.


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