About Me
- Brendan
- I am a professional educator by trade, but by my definition, I am much more than that. I wear many hats; including, but not limited to, Father, Husband, Son, Step-Father, Ex-Husband, Entrepreneur, Public Speaker, Super Geek (love technology), Trainer, Coach, Student, Writer, Dreamer, and Leader. For fun I am an avid golfer and consider myself a blessed individual because I have the greatest wife in the world that loves to golf with me.
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Friday, August 26, 2011
Lesson 5 The Ethics of Public Speaking
Referring back to lesson 4 about active listening and critical thinking, you learned that as you increase in those abilities and skills you will be better at discerning credible speeches and those that are not.
As a public speaker you have the responsibility to make sure that the information you use and provide is credible. This is where Ethics comes into the picture.
Ethics in public speaking refers to the moral conduct and responsibility we have in what we do and say.
As an "ethical" speaker, you get to take responsibility for the information and the words you use in your speech.
REMEMBER: EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET IS NOT TRUE.
Often you will need to decide if information is credible or not by using critical thinking skills and logic. If something sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
Your ethical conduct is a direct reflection of your personal values. This holds true for all your audience as well so it is important to construct your speech with your and the audiences values in mind (see Lesson 2 in reference to understanding your audience).
There is a balance of free speech and there are responsibilities that accompany it. Ideas are to be challenged, inspected, dismantled and re-evaluated. People, on the other hand, are to be treated with respect, even when we disagree.
To understand more about values that are important to people, Milton Rokeach, a prominent psychologist, identified thirty-six values that are important to most people. You can link to it here:
http://www.mio-ecsde.org/protarea/Annex_4_3_values_lists.pdf
An ethical speaker will avoid speech that provokes people to violence, is hurtful to others reputation, or invades someone's privacy.
Believe me when I say that there are times that it would be satisfying at some level to be what I term as "brutally honest." This of course is in theory only, as I am sure I would feel bad when I tell the guy next to me at my daughters soccer game to shut up because he sounds like a bumbling idiot (well maybe I wouldn't feel that bad although I might get punched).
Sometimes you may have an urge to "exaggerate" or "distort" the truth some to make your speech more exciting. Don't do it. Just find a better, more creative way of expressing your point. A stretched, exaggerated, or half truth is nothing more than a lie. I compare that to someone saying they are "kind of pregnant" or "half pregnant." That doesn't work, you are either pregnant or you are not.
A good speech is one that contributes to the audience in a positive way. That's not to say that a speech must be exactly what the audience wants; it can allow the audience to question their assumptions or beliefs on a given topic, clarify a topic that has been misrepresented, or provide another view point.
The key in expressing these "alternative" positives is how you convey the message. Public speaking is learning to master the art of language.
Good ground rules for ethical speaking include what I learned from the Boy Scout law. I have added to each word with how it applies to public speaking.
A Scout/Public Speaker is:
trustworthy- speak the truth
loyal- be steadfast in doing what's right
helpful- helping your audience have a "meaningful" experience
friendly- smile be an enjoyable presenter
courteous- show respect for others beliefs, values, and opinions
kind- be friendly, generous, and considerate
obedient- do what you're going to say you're going to do
cheerful- be someone that makes others feel better
thrifty- Be resourceful
brave- It takes courage to speak in front of others
clean- Dress nice and always use clean language
and reverent- show respect for rights and responsibilities that come with Free Speech
Give credit where credit is due.
Just like much of my material comes from my experience, Toastmasters, a variety of books (see credit tab), much of your material will come from other resources.
When giving a speech, let the audience know where the information came from (if it did come from another source). Items to include would be:
Also let the audience know if it is a direct quote or if you are paraphrasing the information.
Any time you use a fact or statistic, it is important to cite where that information came from. Make sure the site is a credible site or source (not your Uncle Joe, unless your Uncle Joe is the head of the Bureau of Labor and Statistics).
Always check the copyright laws on material/information you are using.
The "doctrine of fair use" is a nice thing to know as it permits to the limited use of copyrighted works without permission for the purposes of scholarship, criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, and research.
For more information on copyright you can visit the U.S. Copyright Office.
Question
As a public speaker you have the responsibility to make sure that the information you use and provide is credible. This is where Ethics comes into the picture.
Ethics in public speaking refers to the moral conduct and responsibility we have in what we do and say.
As an "ethical" speaker, you get to take responsibility for the information and the words you use in your speech.
REMEMBER: EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET IS NOT TRUE.
Often you will need to decide if information is credible or not by using critical thinking skills and logic. If something sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
Your ethical conduct is a direct reflection of your personal values. This holds true for all your audience as well so it is important to construct your speech with your and the audiences values in mind (see Lesson 2 in reference to understanding your audience).
There is a balance of free speech and there are responsibilities that accompany it. Ideas are to be challenged, inspected, dismantled and re-evaluated. People, on the other hand, are to be treated with respect, even when we disagree.
To understand more about values that are important to people, Milton Rokeach, a prominent psychologist, identified thirty-six values that are important to most people. You can link to it here:
http://www.mio-ecsde.org/protarea/Annex_4_3_values_lists.pdf
An ethical speaker will avoid speech that provokes people to violence, is hurtful to others reputation, or invades someone's privacy.
Believe me when I say that there are times that it would be satisfying at some level to be what I term as "brutally honest." This of course is in theory only, as I am sure I would feel bad when I tell the guy next to me at my daughters soccer game to shut up because he sounds like a bumbling idiot (well maybe I wouldn't feel that bad although I might get punched).
Sometimes you may have an urge to "exaggerate" or "distort" the truth some to make your speech more exciting. Don't do it. Just find a better, more creative way of expressing your point. A stretched, exaggerated, or half truth is nothing more than a lie. I compare that to someone saying they are "kind of pregnant" or "half pregnant." That doesn't work, you are either pregnant or you are not.
A good speech is one that contributes to the audience in a positive way. That's not to say that a speech must be exactly what the audience wants; it can allow the audience to question their assumptions or beliefs on a given topic, clarify a topic that has been misrepresented, or provide another view point.
The key in expressing these "alternative" positives is how you convey the message. Public speaking is learning to master the art of language.
Good ground rules for ethical speaking include what I learned from the Boy Scout law. I have added to each word with how it applies to public speaking.
trustworthy- speak the truth
loyal- be steadfast in doing what's right
helpful- helping your audience have a "meaningful" experience
friendly- smile be an enjoyable presenter
courteous- show respect for others beliefs, values, and opinions
kind- be friendly, generous, and considerate
obedient- do what you're going to say you're going to do
cheerful- be someone that makes others feel better
thrifty- Be resourceful
brave- It takes courage to speak in front of others
clean- Dress nice and always use clean language
and reverent- show respect for rights and responsibilities that come with Free Speech
Give credit where credit is due.
Just like much of my material comes from my experience, Toastmasters, a variety of books (see credit tab), much of your material will come from other resources.
When giving a speech, let the audience know where the information came from (if it did come from another source). Items to include would be:
- Source type (magazine, Web site, interview)
- Author or origin of source
- Title or description of source
- Date of publication or interview
Also let the audience know if it is a direct quote or if you are paraphrasing the information.
Any time you use a fact or statistic, it is important to cite where that information came from. Make sure the site is a credible site or source (not your Uncle Joe, unless your Uncle Joe is the head of the Bureau of Labor and Statistics).
Always check the copyright laws on material/information you are using.
The "doctrine of fair use" is a nice thing to know as it permits to the limited use of copyrighted works without permission for the purposes of scholarship, criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, and research.
For more information on copyright you can visit the U.S. Copyright Office.
Question
- How does the use of cited material help bring credibility to your speech?
- Why would you want to make sure that what you are saying is true (not a half truth or exaggerated truth)? Is there ever a time that it is okay to lie while speaking to others? Think about this one. What if your wife/girlfriend/friend asks you if she looks fat in the dress she is wearing, and she does.
- What will (or does) make you a great public speaker? What "Boy Scout laws" are your strength and why?
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48 comments:
Citing the material that you used to create your speech is one of the greatest tools for being a credible speaker. An audience will not believe what you tell them unless they know where you got your information. You can use statistics and facts all day long, but until you cite your information, it is worthless. Even if you are giving a speech about a topic that you know a lot about, still include research in your preparation process. You might learn something new. Citing sources is not the only way to gain credibility. If you are giving a speech about golf, and you are a professional golfer, then tell the audience about your background. That is not a substitute for citing material, but it is another way to let your audience know that you know what you are talking about. By showing that you have done your research, your audience will take you seriously, and pay more attention to what you have to say.
There is nothing more annoying to be than having a conversation with someone and they throw out some crazy fact, and they cant tell me where they heard it from. Its very hard to believe them when they do not even have a source for it. Plus, it really doesn’t make you look very intelligent. So I think its very important to know the sources of your facts. When giving a speech it will make you look a lot better anyway. I am a hard one to be convinced if I don’t have some hard facts. So when you are researching for a speech its important to write down those resources., and include them in your speech. The audience will get more out of your speech than just throwing random facts out. Not only will it make you better by citing your material, but the audience will be more convinced to listen to your speech.
Why would you want to make sure that what you are saying is true (not a half truth or exaggerated truth)? Is there ever a time that it is okay to lie while speaking to others?
It is ethical to be sure that my statements are completely true, not just mostly true. Otherwise I am still being deceptive, and that is a form of lying. It is not what the audience wants or deserves. It is not correct. I think there are very few times in which it is okay to lie. Personally, I think that “Does this dress make me look fat?” example is silly and overused. It would do everyone-including the girl-good to tell the truth. Help her find a dress she looks good in! Otherwise you’re just embarrassing her because you don’t want to embarrass yourself. However, I do think that if a POW is being questioned on the location of his comrades, he is justified in withholding information. But let’s not go compromising our ethics for fashion.
There are many factors in what makes a great public speaker. Personally, I feel one thing that will help me to become a great public speaker rather than just a good public speaker is the time I take to research my topic and practice to be more comfortable with the material I use in my speech. If I just quickly research my topic and not take the time to really search and find information, I may not get all sides or different points of view, which will make my speech not as credible or effective. My strengths from the Boy Scout laws are that I am kind, courteous, clean, and brave. First off, I am brave because I don’t have to be forced to get up and speak in front of people. I stand up for what I believe to be right even when it’s not the easiest. I respect others beliefs and opinions, and I strive to always be considerate and friendly to all those I come in contact with. My biggest strength, though, is probably that I am clean. I try to dress nicely often, and I always use clean language.
What makes a good public speaker? I think that you have to be very confident with yourself and what you are talking about. But you could also be a good speaker by how you catch the audience you could go up on a stage and have no idea what you are going to say but entertain and keep the audience intrigued with what you are saying makes a really great speaker too. Kind of like improve, standing up and talking about something and keeping it interesting and fun. My favorite speakers are the ones that are comfortable in front of everyone, not afraid of making a fool out of himself or herself. I feel like I have a lot of the Boy Scout laws. In many ways to I carry all thoughts traits, maybe not all the time but at different points in my life I have those qualities and can portray them very well.
What will (or does) make you a great public speaker? What "Boy Scout laws" are your strength and why?
Making sure that you know your subject and also making sure you know your audience. Listeing to some speak and they seem unsure about what they are talking about or do not know where there information came from its hard to take them serious. If the person looks unaware of his audience, is always looking at his notes or the clock its hard to form a bond with the speaker. I believe I am very friendly public speaker. I try to make it look like I am having fun speak infront of the audience. If I go up infront of people and talk about a subject the last thing i want is the audience thinking i have no idea what I am talking about. Making sure my research is correct is huge because it gives me confidence in what i am talking about and also it limits my "ums and aws" because im not searching in my head on what to say next. Knowing my subject and being prepared allows the audience to see how serious I am and in the end they will take me seroius.
The dreaded question, “What do you think?” This question is usually the one that makes and breaks any situation. Being a female and asking the question before kind of makes me laugh because you know exactly what is going through their mind. Should I REALLY say what I think? Should I lie? Is it worth it? Not trying to sound cocky or conceited but personally I would never ask the question (to a male) unless I was sure of a positive reaction, but if I was with some of my girlfriends I would hope they would be honest with me and tell me the truth, even if it is negative. Using this question in public speaking is kind of a tricky thing, you have to be sure you know your audience well enough to exaggerate or to joke. If you do so, I think you need to make it apparent that you are stretching the truth a little… or a lot. If you are doing an informative speech I believe you should not give false information; just stick to facts, you still can have fun and find creative ways to deliver the facts.
1.
Citing sources makes me personally feel a lot more confident with the speaker or the papers I read. I am usually suspicious of certain subject and fun facts that people throw out there. citing sources is important, but what is more important is how credible that source is. If someone gets there source from wiki or something like that i will be suspicious about how hard they worked on there speech and how accurate there information in total is.
Question 2
Telling a lie or over exaggerating the truth in a speech is definitely a risky business and I don't that it's smart test that. Because if you're caught in that lie, you can loose credibility or trust from your audience. I think there can always be a way to expose the truth as long as you are thinking critically. For example, if your wife asks you if she looks fat in a dress, and she does, you don't have to be brutally honest but you can suggest another dress saying that you like how it compliments her body better. 'Honesty is the best policy' is a rule that I try and live by. Is it ever okay to lie in a speech? I don't think so. It may be difficult to give the truth, but when there's a will there's definitely a way. Plus although the truth can hurt to hear sometimes, in the long run your character is what matters and is what people will be drawn to. As long as you're presenting it in a respectful manor.
Giving credibility to the sources you’ve used is the most important aspect of public specking. I’ve learned citing information in your speech will help prevent others from questioning what you have said during your presentation. But again, you have to be cautions with the sources you use and information you’re restating. There will be people to re-evaluate your work so you don’t want your over exaggerations and facts you thought were legit too bight you in the butt. Honesty is a moral that I stand by and expect from myself and other people, the same while writing a paper and giving an informational speech. Giving credibility to the source you use will show what kind of person you are and it will keep you from getting into trouble. Also giving credit to the source that you got the information from shows that you know what you’re talking about and it make’s you look a lot smarter any way.
When speaking to anyone, privately or publicly, when you lie it will eventually catch up to you. It appears to me that the only time it is ok to lie to someone is if you work for the government and an alien crashed somewhere or the economy is collapsing and quickly get as bad as the great depression. But that’s only because we get dishonest people to run our country but if your not working for them you have to stick to the truth though with girls asking if they look fat that’s a different story, either way your in trouble that’s what we call a “loaded question.” In most situations you should never lie, you will just make a fool of yourself, those people expect an expert and someone they can trust not someone who knows a guy whose grandpa heard from a friend that gnomes steal our underwear at night.
Telling the truth in a speach is the best thing one can do. If you lie someone can be offended or go off with the wrong information and get in toruble for it later. As for if someone asks you if they look fat in something or if it does not look right save them the embarrassment of strutting around looking like they dressed in the closet or decided to get in to their little sisters clothes. Saying things like omg you look like a traffic cone or you need to be careful when backing up that wide load are not the way to go about it but just saying its a bit to tight or something else looks better. Lying is just going to get you in to trouble and make you less crediable as a speaker and a person.
Jenny campbell
Question 2
I believe that when giving a speech or any formal setting such as an interview or something where you informing people, you must always be 100 percent honest. When giving a speech or any formal thing you want to make sure that your being honest. I feel as if thats the best way to earn peoples credibility, when your honest, not being rude but its never a bad thing to state your opinion in a polite way. On the other hand you have the white lie, which is a touchy subject. A white lie is not something to be used when around a new group of friends and you want to make up stuff about someone just to fit in or look cool. But you may use white lies to not hurt someones feelings or to save someone some embarassment or such. I feel as if a white lie can somewhat be defined in a way that it is to not damage the dignity of the individual with also not hurting another outside source. So in many situations it comes down to morals and ethics when and where you may use a white lie or when it is considered a real lie. But for most situations I feel that if you are in a formal setting you must always be honest.
How does the use of cited material help bring credibility to your speech? People are very opinionated. When you use creditable information a lot more people will listen to you and believe you. The difference between “I think” and “a scientist said” is huge if a famous or smart person says something and you give them credit it makes you sound a lot more intelligent. Also it is so important to give people credit for their ideas. If someone famous said something you can’t claim it as your own or it’s kind of like lying. Lying is a very very bad idea. It’s never worth it to lie in a speech because people are very critical. They will know you are lying because its natural instinct to pick out the flaws in what others say, if they can find something they will point it out for sure. Lying is cheating. And when speaking you just can’t do it. Citing where you get your information is a good idea for your sake and others.
3. What will (or does) make you a great public speaker? What "Boy Scout laws" are your strength and why?
I feel that being comfortable and confident are the two biggest things when it comes to public speaking. You can speak clearly and when your not nervous you can think straight and present exactly how you planned. When something goes wrong, like a slip of the tongue you can easily recover and no one will think anything went wrong! Using the Boy Scout Laws can help you become confident and comfortable. Being trustworthy and obedient can really help when it comes to being relaxed in front of crowds. When you know exactly how to plan a speech and follow it, there's no need to worry! Also knowing you are speaking the truth can help you feel confident about your topic. I personally know a couple of the laws are strengths of mine. I'm great at being friendly and cheerful! My smile rarely leaves my face and I like having a positive outlook on everything. By being happy and friendly I feel I am relatable to my audience and I make them feel more comfortable, which in return helps me relax. My smile is my best quality and I use it to my advantage.
Question 1:
Citing the information you put into your speech is very important. If you do not cite every quote that you include you can be blamed for plagiarism. You are stealing the words out of peoples mouths without giving them any credit. If you want to be a credible speaker it is extremely important to cite your information. Another important reason to cite your work would be because it will make your speech more convincing. By having different quotes and excerpts from other people in your speech it shows others that you are not the only person that has something to say about the topic of which you are speaking. It also gives people different points of view of what is going on. If you choose to not cite your information, sometimes it can lead to unforgiving consequences. Not only consequences with your readers but also with the law. It is definitely not worth it to get into big trouble with the law just because you didn't cite your information correctly.
Cited sources are absolutely critical! If one person states something it is more of an opinion than anything else. As you get more and more people that confirm what is being said though, it starts to change from just a matter of opinion to fact. If i say i will get and A in this class i just have an opinion that i will, but once i have a valuable source, such as a teacher, that also says i have an A that's when it becomes more of a fact (hint hint). Quality and quantity also play factors in sources. If you have half a million people that say pepsi is going out of business then it might be true. But like wise if you have the owner of pepsi saying pepsi is going out of business it's most likely true. Although only one person said it in the second situation it was just as valuable as the half a million because of their status.
In my opinion making sure that you are telling the truth in a presentation is very important. When you are presenting information you are often viewed as an expert on the topic that you are presenting. If you present things that you do not know whether they are true or not, you risk losing credibility and the trust of your audience. Sticking to credible, cited resources will help you not only gain the trust of your audience, but will also help them gave more from your presentation. In my personal opinion there is a time where telling a small white lie is appropriate, but these moments occur very infrequently. When it comes to the example given in the question, I think that it would be best to tell her that the dress isn't good for her. I would never say she looked fat, but I would encourage her to find something better for her. At first reaction she would probably be upset with me but in the long run I think she would appreciate me saving her from possible embarrassment.
How does the use of cited material help bring credibility to your speech?
People tend to be skeptical; evidence is important in backing up anything credible, whether it be a speech, article, word by mouth, etc. They want to know the where, when, how, why something came about. It’s like an egg dropping from the sky; wouldn’t the question be, “why did the egg drop from the sky?” The same logic applies to different fields of study such as archaeology, historical findings, technological advancements, new discoveries, and so on. Citing a material to help bring credibility is presenting the facts, showing people that what you have to say is logical, something that has been researched and not pulled out of thin air. Backing up is an important aspect of becoming a great speaker, and the same concept can be applied to many other things in life. People want to trust others in what they have to say, do, and act. Credibility is important because it is the stepping stone to building a strong relationship, whether it is an audience, a friend, boss, family, the community, and so forth. Solid information is necessary to form any type of claim.
I think there is time it is okay to lie in a speech. It all depends on the context of the speech and what you are trying to accomplish with the lie. If you are stretching the truth to beef up a story and make your speech more interesting I think that is acceptable. However, if you are lying to try and persuade someone into an action then that is dishonest. There are lot of lies you could make up to help convince someone to buy your product or services but that is where I draw the line. This also plays into the fact why it is so important to have sources and credentials when giving a speech. If I tell you that everyone that doesn’t buy my shirt dies twenty years earlier and lives in a life of misery, it would be crazy not to buy my product. Fortunately none of you are that dumb and would brush of my claims because it would take some very solid evidence to convince you. That is very extreme example but you get the point. Giving a dishonest speech could give you a poor reputation and could potentially ruin your career. In any business setting honesty is expected so if you plan to build a career off of dishonesty it is more than likely that it catches up with you.
I would like to respond to question #1: I think that using cited sources for the public speaches is a huge part of making your speach credible. Also a big part of citing sources is making sure that the source you are citing is a credible source too. For example I'm taking a statistics class here at the college and one statistic we examined was lawyers median salary's coming out of law school. The source stated that the median salary for a few law schools was $161K, but when the actual stats were examined the highest school's median salary was only $157K and it went down from there. This was a good example to me of verifying information before stating something in a speach or a public article. So citing other information can make your speach more or less credible I believe.
The "boy scout" qualities that I posses that I believe are my strengths while speaking include obedience, cheerfulness, clean, and trustworthiness. When I give a speech I talk on what I am suppose to cover and I tell the truth. Whenever I quote something or someone, I try to make sure that it is cited correctly and given credit to. Cheerfulness comes in handy to lighten the mood and also so that others are comfortable with you speaking and what your saying. When you smile and have a content look on your face, it shows confidence and it also helps the words flow a little better. I also keep in mind to watch how I voice my opinions and views on my topic. It can be really easy to offend someone or even a group of people by even just how you say something. Two things that I steer way away from just to be safe is religion and politics. Of course this is impossible if that's your topic but just keep in mind some subjects that may be sensitive to others while giving your speech. Some areas I need to work on is probably helping, I sometimes tend to be selfish while speaking, making sure I get it done and do good. I sometimes forget to make sure my audience is interested and understanding me and that they benefited from me talking.
Citing the material in your speech will always bring credibility to your speech. It can be hard in these days for someone to just take your word and trust you. Adding credible sources can show that you actually did some research and will help in not making it sound like “your” opinion. I love to research a certain topic and look at all the different views and opinions people can have. I would hate to do a speech where I did not have true and honest facts. So it is important to make sure that you have a credible source so you don’t get embarrassed. Also, citing material will cut time in your research because it has already been proven so you can have more time to lets say, date? I plan on researching and citing the material I give in future speeches so people will know I am a credible person.
How does the use of cited material help bring credibility to your speech?
Cited material makes a world of difference In speeches. I think that it is as clear as night and day, to wether your speech is credible or not. I have found if you are trying to make a point then having an expert back you up is to your benefit. I in high school once had to give a speech in front of the class. My teacher was the 400 pound scary, defensive football coach. When I went up there to present he ripped into me. He asked me how I knew what I did, and what backed me up. Or how I got my survey numbers. It was very hard to keep my thoughts in line to finish my speech. This taught me a very valuable lesson about where I got my sources. Now I like to be extra prepared for my speeches, and I try to use as many credible sources as possible.
I think if I working on my public speaking skills it will make me a great speaker by getting my point across. In the future I will be speaking to a younger audience and I don't have a very large vocabulary so I will be able to speak to the children to where they understand. I relate to children so I think it will make me a good speaker because I will be relating to the audience. My strengths of boyscott policies are I'm very trustworthy. It will help me in the future because it's important that my students trust me. I am also very loyal, helpful, and kind. I am very loyal and I keep my word. I love helping others and I try to do anything I can to help others. I want to be able to help my students understand what they are learning. I want to make sure I can make it to where they understand.
Having cited material that is credible is essential to have in your speech because it will give your audience reassurance that what you are talking about it legitimate and that you didn’t just thaw this speech together last minute or are just making it up on the spot. I have listened to a good number of speeches in my academic career and some of them I had to laugh because you could tell that they had made up what they were talking about. If you watch a keynote presentation from Steve Jobs you know what he is saying is credible because you can see the proof of his claims. But look at the tabloids. You never know if what they write is truth because they have that reputation and no proof of where they are getting their information or how. All in all for me it very important to try and combine getting credible information but make it interesting so that you are able to keep the interest of your audience.
The biggest reason to tell the “full truth” and have credible sources in your speeches is because when you give a speech, you are taking responsibility for those words. If you are quoting information that is not actually fact, those words will lead right back to you and you will have to be the one that answers for them. Personally, I hope that my words will always put me in a better light and not in a light that so often finds celebrities and politicians. On the topic of cited material, if an audience doesn't know you , cited material can bridge the gap and create trust between you and the audience. It builds a foundation on which your speech can rest and in the case of a persuasive speech, can help guide the audience to the outcome you desire. I always try to be honest in my personal life, which doesn't always work out. But, I would never lie in a public speaking venue because there is just too much at risk.
Using cited material is a must for public speaking. Even the most credible speakers use others words during their speeches. The reality is that no one person is interesting enough to entertain an audience on his thoughts alone. Using cited material in your speech also adds to your credibility as a public speaker. Although this method can be overdone it is typically very effective. You don't want to take this to the point that the audience would be better off reading the material from the book or article of the original source. Meshing your own ideas with the ideas of a credible source makes for a sweet speech and something worth listening to. Stories from a source that validate a point you are trying to make are very effective. This method also works well in reverse. I love telling a personal story that lines up perfectly with the ideas of a credible source. This can help in public speaking if we prepare our sources.
Why would you want to make sure that what you are saying is true?
Here is the thing, When you are in a conversation with someone and they start talking like they know everything about everything...and they really don't. It drives me nuts. Why lie to make yourself look cooler, it is either going to bite you in the butt or people are going to keep asking you about it, and you aren't going to know what to say. There is also a time and place.. When your woman says "Do i look fat?" you don't say yes!! If its not the most flattering thing on her.. let her know there is something else that you love much more. On the other hand when you are in a business meeting or meeting someone for the first time... Don't say you go ocean kayaking all the time or you are heir to the orievelle reddin boccker family.. Because people may think it is the coolest thing ever, and you have to follow up on it. as they ask questions and your going to create a web of lies.. Which is going to suck. It's better to always be honest.. and if you love collecting old comic magazines.. tell the world.. don't try to be somebody your not. Because then your not true to yourself and then no one will know the real you.
I have many different strengths when I speak publicly. I have the ability to understand the audience. This means that I can adapt my level of speaking depending on the people I am talking to. I always am respectful of others views and can get my point across without offending people. I hate telling people false information. If it is hurtful to someone I will make a joke out of it or say it in a way that is actually helpful rather than offensive. I sold pest control in California all summer. This involves me knocking on random peoples doors and trying to persuade them to buy my product. The best way that I found to gain credibility was to be honest. If someone can tell that you are being honest with them they are much more likely to listen and ask questions. This was helpful when trying to sell my product!
As much as I hate citing my work I always think that if I was an author and saw peole using my work I'd be a little upset that I wasn't getting the proper credit I deserved. Plus, as much as I don't enjoy doing it, there have been a couple of times when it came in handy when I was looking back at my work to see if I could find the article again. So as time consuming as it can be it can be helpful. Even though I till don't, and probably never will, understand why it has to be so complicated. I don't see why we can't just write the others name, the title of the book and the copywrite date in that simple of an order. It also makes your speech mor creitable becasue then whoever can see that you did your research and you knew more about your topic and it wasn't all based off of your opinion, but your opinion on facts.
It seems that exaggerating or half telling the truth is such an easy thing for people to do on a daily basis. It may not be a big deal the first few times someone does this but after a while people start to catch onto the fact that so and so always exaggerates their stories. At this point a person's credibility takes a spiral down. I don't want to ever be someone that can't be taken seriously because what I say is a little too much. Honesty to me is such a huge factor so I say no it is never right to lie. Life is life and there are going to be times where standing up in front of a group or a crowd and saying what really happened or what is really going on will be insanely hard and discouraging. However, if it is avoided once the second time is easier and then there you go spiraling down again. Of course the, do I look fat in this dress question is not a postition that one wants to be put in but just remember that the person with the dress on asked in the first place. I have learned through experience that there are multiple ways to truthfully answer an awkward question such as this in a kind and considerate way. The initial reaction may not be the best but that person should remember that they did ask the question in the first place. No matter what, no matter the instance telling the full truth is always the only way to go.
Question 2..Truth: Even though a person may say they don't tell a lie here or there, is lying. But when it involves a situation like giving a presentation on a topic, it is absolutely a no no. You want you audience to have credible information. You should want to give credible information. It's a bit different telling someone they look good in a dress when they don't, but at the same time I would want the truth. When giving a speech, always tell the truth, even if it is your opinion. But when stating a fact, you must be able to back it up. For example, saying that more people like white toast instead of wheat tost when studies may show they dont, is lying. You want to be honest with the facts so your audience recieves facts and it may also gain you some trust..
Why would you want to make sure that what you are saying is true (not a half truth or exaggerated truth)? Is there ever a time that it is okay to lie while speaking to others? Think about this one. What if your wife/girlfriend/friend asks you if she looks fat in the dress she is wearing, and she does.
I think it is extremely important to make sure what your saying is true. You don’t want people to catch you lying because you will lose a lot, if not all, of your credibility. No one wants to be known as a liar. I believe mostly everyone lies sometimes, the matter is of what they lie about. If my best friend asks me if she looks fat in her dress, of course your first instinct is to say no (even if she does) just to spare her feelings. Yes you would be lying, but you would also be making her feel better about herself. Its a tough decision. I think everyone is different when it comes to situations like that. I myself would want the truth. I don’t want to go strutting my stuff around town in a dress that makes me look fat. I think overall, you should just stay away from lying. It wont ever get you anywhere.
So for question 2, I think yes & no. I think that when you are talking to the public, then it is very important to make sure that what you are saying is true, and not just what you think might be true. Say that you are doing a business presentation and you have no idea if what you are saying is completely true or if you just found it off the first website you looked up. You could look like the biggest fool to these people that you are trying to impress, cause they could easily know the material that you are talking about and they could say, "Um, no. I am sorry but you are completely wrong & ya fired!" When you really research your material and know what you are talking about when you present it, you will look smarter, and actually be smarter cause you looked it up! But in another case, when I ask my husband if I look fat in my outfit, I EXPECT him to say that I look good! Haha I know that it's not true, or at least that's what I think, but I would be so mad at him if he told me I looked fat, I would hope he would be nice enough to spare my feelings and just tell me that I look good so I can feel better about myself.
“Why would you want to make sure that what you are saying is true (not a half truth or exaggerated truth)? Is there ever a time that it is okay to lie while speaking to others? Think about this one. What if your wife/girlfriend/friend asks you if she looks fat in the dress she is wearing, and she does.” - In my experience it is a bad idea to stretch the truth because you never know who exactly is in you audience. I have been in audience’s where the speaker tells a lie or half truth and immediately they lose credibility from my point of view. They could be misguided themselves and their source could be completely wrong. That is probably why it is important to know what source you are using and its credibility. Now when it comes to a lady asking if she is looks fat. Something like that is left open to interpretation, there is no guide line, so you can say pretty much whatever you want and not run the risk of violating any ethical standards. Because “fat” is a matter of opinion not fact, unless she is of course judging herself by some measurable standard in which case she would already know the answer so it wouldn't hurt to mislead your response.
One principle that I have learned on my mission is called the K.I.S.S. principle. It means keep it simple stupid. That’s one thing that i believe will help me be a great speaker. Just getting straight to the point so everyone knows what I’m talking about and it doesn't get misunderstood or confused. I’m also a very energetic person, I love to have fun and i love to keep people entertained. Keeping the audience interest is, in my opinion, a very important aspect of speaking. One of the attributes that I believe that is my strength is that I’m cheerful. When you are happy, kind and generous, it radiates to the people that you are speaking to and they usually show more of an interest. I’ve seen it countless times on my mission and it has helped me a ton when I’m at my door approach and seeing if the people want to learn more about the church or if they need any help.
Question 3 What will (or does) make you a great public speaker? What "Boy Scout laws" are your strength and why?
I think there are many aspects to being a great public speaker; Charisma, credibility, likability, humor, honesty, just to name a few. I think that the Boy Scout Laws are a great overall checklist for someone who is going to give a speech or talk to a big group. These 'laws' have great value and can make the speaker more respected and credible to the listeners. One thing I think I am good at right now is being calm. I don't look or act nervous when I am in front of people (whether I am nervous or not) I can always tell if a speaker is nervous or not by their body language and voice and their eye contact, etc. It can be very distracting if they have obvious body language that they are nervous and it is hard to focus on what they are saying. I think I'm good at covering up if I'm nervous or not but I have a lot of other things to work on during this semester.
I would like to comment on question 3. To me a great public speaker will have certain characteristics that he/she will be looked up too for having. Those to me include trustworthiness, humor, friendly, respectful, understanding, and clean. I feel like if the speaker is able to attract people and be like idols they will be successful. The goal is have the audience to enjoy their time listening and not have to worry about if they can trust the speaker because he is speaking insensitively about Russian women or are distracted because the guys hair is so greasy that you could run your hand through and have enough oil to fix a creaking door hinge. These simple traits and characteristics will go along way in being a success. If a speaker is can put a smile on and show some energy in his/her emotions they will win the hearts of the audience. If they can use humor in a way to keep you connected but not so much you are thinking of the joke instead of the topic their speech will be powerful and lasting. These traits are what I look to have and that is why I feel they will lead a speaker to success.
Citing your sources will make you more credible because obviously you’re not lying saying it’s your own work, it shows you did your research and took the time to and respect to say where and who you got your information from. When you cite and you can say exactly where you got your information from and who it was said by you are more likely to be confident saying it and the audience will see that and it will become more believable. Not citing your information is a bad idea and you can get into a lot of trouble by not doing it anyways. If you feel you have very little qualities in the Boy Scout law trustworthy, helpful and loyal comes out of citing alone in my opinion.
In response to question 3, there are a few characteristics that are common threads in great public speakers. A key trait that makes a major difference to me is that of being relatable. You need to communicate to your audience that you understand them, and that you aren’t so different from them. That way, those in the audience are able to take what you say to heart because they feel an association with the speaker. A great way to do that is to tell stories and jokes that appeal to the audience. Secondly, confidence is key in a powerful speech. The speaker needs to stand firmly and be in control of him or herself. They need to have good posture and be able to have a tone that communicates that the speaker knows what they are talking about. If the speaker is wishy washy, or fumbles over their words, the audience will eat them alive. They will discount their words quickly, feeling that they aren’t educated in the field in which they are speaking. Lastly, the speaker needs to have clearly prepared their information. If they are just reading from the powerpoint or note cards it becomes distracting. On the other end of the spectrum, if the speaker seems to be speaking from the heart, it holds more weight to the audience.
When you take a look at prestigious public speakers, you'll notice that they all have similar characteristics which make them great. The first being confidence. When they stand to speak, they take control of the room and tell the audience what to think and feel. They are confident in their ability to convey their message and this shows through. Having confidence while giving a speech is capable of changing if from average to extraordinary. The next characteristic that they all share is being friendly, which is also a "boy scout law". Coming across as friendly to your audience will entice them and help to feel as though your words apply directly to them. Having a friendly disposition will make it seem like you are talking to them rather than at them which will only help to increase the quality of your speech. The third and final characteristic is preparedness. This attribute is the basis for the previous two because when you are not prepared, it is hard to feel comfortable and confident with the material that you are presenting because you yourself don't know it too well. When you lack the confidence in your speech, it makes it hard to come across as friendly because you are frantic as you try to pull your thoughts together and place them in to words. Possessing all three characteristics will help to bring you to the top in speaking publicly.
Being honest and accurate in life and speaking is key to success. In business and public speaking if your not honest people will know, you might get away with dishonesty for a while, but people will sniff you out. Once they do that's it, game over. I think that using sited material can help you build credibility, and help you the speaker to feel confident, and it shows that you put some effort into your talk. In my mind a good speaker isn't some one who just knows the steps to delivering a speech. A good speaker has some attachment, an energy, or "passion" about the topic they are speaking on. It seems that if a person loves a subject, and then they speak on that subject, they give off a presence that inspires and welcomes others to do the same.
There are times when I feel that it is appropriate to use good judgment in public speaking even if that includes embellishing the truth. Lets look at our nations leaders, how would America continue to exist as a nation if all of the politician told only the truth? We would not be in college or have hope for the future if our political candidates told us that in the next twelve years our economy would be bankrupt and there would be no jobs for college graduates because those that should be retiring cannot afford to retire. We would then focus our attention on learning survival skills and hording our weapons to defend ourselves and personal property, certainly America would perish much faster. Hope for the future even in the form of embellishment is what is best for the greater good of man kind. In the case of telling a spouse they are fat it is always better to go for a compliment and save the peace unless what they are wearing would cause public embarrassment. I think that we need to be educated and use good judgment when delivering information.
Making sure that the material in your speech is true is important because, if your speech isnt true than, your speech has no meaning. giving away false claims or opinions on fact based speeches can even negatively affect a listener. For instance, if a listener believes the speaker giving fase info, the listener may live their life thinking this concept is true and may end up with a rude awakening finding out that its not true. Plus giving fase info also makes a speacker look like an idiot. If someone is the crowd knows your wrong, you could sound like the biggest dummy ever. Making sure your speech is true is imparrative for these reasons. Is saves humiliation and prevents you from guiding people in the wrong direction.
2.Why would you want to make sure that what you are saying is true (not a half truth or exaggerated truth)? Is there ever a time that it is okay to lie while speaking to others? Think about this one. What if your wife/girlfriend/friend asks you if she looks fat in the dress she is wearing, and she does.
It is always important to be honest. If you are an honest person, you will get far in life and receive benefits. Sometimes it may seem like dishonest people get to the top quicker but they don't always make it there the right way. It is important to always tell the truth when dealing with people. This includes making speeches. If you are dishonest about something, it is very easy to get yourself caught up in a lie. If you always tell the truth, you won't ever get stuck. When it comes to your wife asking if she looks fat in an outfit...that's a different story. This happens to be a tough situation because in reality, she will be offended no matter what you say. I think it would be best to suggest another outfit, try not to hurt her feelings, and cross your fingers that she doesn't get too mad at you.
No one knows everything about everything, however, some people spend a lot of time learning everything about something, and these people are called experts. Whenever we give a speech on something, even as an expert on the subject, there is still more credibility brought to your speech when you pull in the opinions and studies of experts. For example I know quite a bit about the effects of Sugar on health. However, I am not a dietician, I'm not a nutritionists, in fact I'm not even a college graduate! So when I speak about the negative effects of sugar on health, if I want people to not only appreciate but also believe what I have to say, then I need to pull experts into my speech so that skeptics will become believers.
I think that there are definitely times and places where lying is the right thing to do. I think that people that say otherwise are kidding themselves. I took an ethics class last year where we would have the most ridiculous class debates on ethical situations. One of the ones that has stuck with me the most was where we debated whether lying was always wrong. A lady in my class was trying to say that even if you lived in Nazi Germany during World War 2, and the Gestapo was banging on your door asking you if you were hiding Jews in your house, it was NOT ok to lie to the Gestapo. I'm not really sure how my comment applies to public speaking, but it's just a pet peeve of mine when people try and say that lying is always wrong, because if you really feel that the right thing to do is to tell the truth and turn in the Jews hiding in your house, something is wrong with you. That's obviously a pretty extreme example, but I think it illustrates my point: I think that lying is ok in some situations.
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