In front of every good speaker is a supportive, critical, and thoughtful audience member. Your role as an audience member is vital to the success of the speaker. As an audience remember, you are the receiver—be receptive! Here are a few guidelines you should follow as an audience member:

• Be on time! If you are late, don’t interrupt the speaker.

• Be courteous—treat the speaker as you would want to be treated. 

• Listen wholly. 

  • Your eyes are attentive

  • Your ears are open 

  • Your heart is receptive

  • And your mind is ready to perceive 

• Be responsive

  • Provide supportive nonverbal feedback 

    • Head nods, chin rubbing, inquisitive eyes

  • Provide appropriate verbal feedback

    • When appropriate, tell the speaker whether you agree or disagree

      • THINK: Saying “amen” during a pastor’s sermon. 

      • Or cheer when you agree with what is being said.

• Silence your cell phone (vibration should be off, too!), smartwatch, and other wearables. 

• Don’t text or use your devices during the presentation* 

• ​Put away distracting materials such as books, papers, computers*, etc. 

• Pay attention to the speaker. 

• Stay focused on the message. 

• Try not to evaluate the speaker but rather the message they are conveying. 

• Maintain eye contact with them—give them an audience to talk with not at. 

• Be open to new ideas and ways of thinking. 

  • Be aware of the perceptions from your personal frames of reference. 

• Applaud when appropriate.

  • If the presentation is live (in-person or via a video conferencing system), applaud at appropriate times, especially at the end of a presentation.

  • If the presentation is prerecorded, avoid applause as it will be a distraction and the speaker is not present to receive the affirmation. 

• Be able to provide thoughtful and specific feedback if required and necessary. 

​

*If the presentation is interactive and requires the use of electronics, use them only as directed.