We know that when you don’t have rapport with an audience, you have no effective communication. I was recently reminded, and very forcefully, how true that is.
I was in a presentation where the first speaker was skilful, relaxed, upbeat and enthusiastic, had no need of notes and was known and respected by many people in the group. His rapport with the audience was perfect. People hung on his words.
Enter speaker two. Low key and a little dry, he spoke without energy or enthusiasm in his gestures or voice, talked as much to his notes as to the audience and was unknown to virtually everyone.
The change in the audience was inevitable and almost instantaneous. It took about 30 seconds of the second speaker starting his presentation before people began to fidget, check their mobiles, their watches and their notebooks. Someone left. So did the energy in the room. Time started to drag.
Did the second speaker have interesting things to say? We weren’t listening. Was he competent in his subject matter? We didn’t care. That’s how audiences are.
When you don’t have rapport with your audience, you don’t have a connection. Where there’s no connection, there’s no communication.
That’s not something any of us should ever forget!