Lesson 1 Criteria for Success

Affirmative listening is more or less the polar opposite of judgemental listening. Affirmative listeners only ‘hear’ messages with which they agree. They therefore only listen for points that they can support, and not those that show different opinions.
Having an affirmative listener is at first quite pleasant. They tend to agree with you, which is nice. However, after a while, you realise that they only agree with some points—and possibly not very important ones—but refuse to engage with anything else.
The problem here is that these people only listen for themselves. They want their opinion to be validated—and have no real interest in anyone else. This quickly gets one-sided and tiresome, especially if you are genuinely interested in a debate that explores different perspectives.
6. Defensive listening
A defensive listener takes everything that is said as a personal attack.
These people therefore feel the need to defend themselves against everything, and to justify everything that they say. They often use the phrase ‘Yes, but…’, because they have no interest in building on any other communication—only to justify themselves. They also find it hard to explore other points of view, because anything different is a threat.
7. Authoritative listening
Authoritative listeners listen solely in order to advise. They always know best, and are always ready to tell you what to do. You can often spot authoritative listeners by the use of the words ‘You should…’ or ‘You need…’ in their sentences.

Lesson 13

How to prepare for a public-speaking event

Follow these steps to prepare for your public-speaking event:

1. Know your audience

Knowing your audience helps you figure out how to adjust your speech and your presentation. Considering your audience aids your decision in what kind of language you use, how long your speech is and what topics are appropriate. Make sure the experience is enjoyable and the information you provide is useful to your specific audience.

2. Familiarize yourself with the environment

Try to visualize your surroundings and how the event will look like the day of. Try to get as much information as possible about where you will be presenting. Check to see if you'll be on stage and if you'll have a podium or microphone.
Be aware of how you will need to get to the location, especially if it is a larger event. Consider spaces such as backstage or different entrances you might need to use as a speaker. Prepare materials and supplies beforehand, such as water, your computer, a notebook and a pen.

3. Outline the main points

Outlining the main points of your speech makes your presentation focused and organized. Try to use these main points as the foundation of your speech.
Consider outlining your speech with keywords. Keywords are beneficial because they are easy to remember and work well with an outline. You can easily glance at your notes and see specific keywords that help you stay focused.