How do you foster a positive and respectful rapport with your audience?

I use this technique for fostering a positive and respectful rapport with my university audience SMILE ICE." Smile: Project a warm and genuine smile to create a welcoming atmosphere. Mingle: Actively engage with students before and after lectures. Inspire: Share inspiring anecdotes and real-world applications of the subject matter. Listen: Actively listen to students' questions and opinions with respect. Empower: Acknowledge and empower students, recognizing their achievements. Confidence: Project confidence in delivery to instill assurance in students. Encourage: Encourage active participation and diverse viewpoints.

I prioritize understanding their backgrounds and expectations, tailoring my communication to meet their needs. I establish clear expectations for our interaction, encouraging an open and inclusive atmosphere where questions are welcomed. Through approachable body language and active listening, I validate diverse perspectives, ensuring that everyone feels heard and valued. Using inclusive language and expressing genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter, I aim to create a safe and positive learning environment. Following up with participants, providing constructive feedback, and maintaining open communication channels contribute to building lasting connections and a respectful rapport.

Know your customers.Who they are, What are they looking for, and what preceded and what is to follow important, like before lunch . Choose a story form of intro and try to have suitable anecdotes. Need not rush thru to be able to finish showing your slides. Feedback from audience by body language etc to change communication style if need be

One thing I find helpful is starting each class with a fun check in question like, what is one word a good friend of yours would use to describe you? What would you save first if you house caught fire? What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics? I feel I learn a lot about my students through these answers.

Knowing your receptors is the first and most important scope in teaching. We may know mountain, but let's picture what they have known till now.. And are they ready for a mountain. !!!

Whilst being prepared is really important, don’t forget that building rapport is a two way process that requires you to respond to your audience in action, and often your students won’t respond as you imagined! Part of the skill of being a successful facilitator or teacher is to adapt your style, content or methods depending on how your audience responds. Having a suggested framework of activities, and a ‘toolbox’ of approaches rather than a fixed script, can help you feel confident to change direction in the moment.

Strength of a good mentor is to deliver the stuff in confidence. Confidence is achieved only through deep knowledge. Create the auro and belief in the students with your undeniable content. Never waste the time in lecture as that would project you to be weaker, both in knowledge and conduction.

Preparation and confidence are key ingredients for fostering a positive connection with your audience. By meticulously planning your lecture, rehearsing your delivery, and ensuring your equipment is in top shape, you demonstrate your dedication and competence. Arriving on time and speaking clearly with confident body language further solidifies your authority and earns the trust and attention of your audience. Show them you're ready, and they'll be ready to engage with you.

Absolutely, being well-prepared and confident is key before stepping into a lecture. Thoroughly knowing the material, anticipating potential questions, and practicing the delivery contribute to a confident presentation. This readiness not only instills confidence in myself but also fosters a more positive and engaging experience for the audience.

Knowing the language of your audience and meeting them where they are can be useful as later on, they will try to then meet you at where you want them to be. For instance, when teaching Gen Z, it's useful to know what .5 selfies are, what slay means etc. They love it when you take the effort, and may do the same when you nudge them in school work.

Il faut aussi éviter les powerpoints. Il faut revenir aux fondamentaux. Quand nos enseignants nous montraient quelques documents clé ssur des transparents via un rétroprojecteur ou des diapositives. C'est la méthode que j'applique. On ne projette que quelques documents clés qui servent de support à la discussion et la démonstration. On évite les diaporamas avec du texte (sauf si c'est du texte que l'on analyse), on évite les effets de transition et les textes à rallonge que le conférencier lit en direct. Cela n'aboutit qu'à renforcer l'inattention des auditeurs. Le document projeté doit susciter la curiosité. On peut même rendre le public acteur en sollicitant son analyse du problème présenté.

When I engage my audience, I weave in real-life examples and toss out questions to get everyone involved. Sharing personal anecdotes or stories that hit close to home helps break down complex topics. Keeping the vibe conversational makes it easier for folks to connect with the material, making the whole learning experience more enjoyable for everyone in the room.

In my experience of lecturing, I’ve taught students from different cultural backgrounds. I see this as a big plus as not only would I get to learn more about different cultures, other students in the class will also benefit from this cultural diversity. I have to be conscious about explaining any local references to foreign students and also giving them a platform to share their differences in opinions and views while discussing the content or topics in the lecture. Some of these views often stem from their cultural backgrounds. Creating a safe and inclusive space where students will comfortably share is therefore of great importance.

Respecting diversity and inclusivity is fundamental. Acknowledging and valuing the varied perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences within the audience fosters an inclusive learning environment. By promoting open-mindedness and ensuring that everyone feels heard and represented, we create a space where each individual can contribute meaningfully to the discussion.

The way to provide support during lectures is employ what Albert Mehrabian called immediacy cues, most of which are nonverbal. A Seattle-based therapist named Arthur Wasmer coined a wonderful memory trick for them: SOFTENS. Smile, open posture, forward lean, time (use of), eye contact, nodding, space (use of). In the classroom, if someone asks a question, always take a few steps toward them. Get out from behind the podium, look up from your notes. Show your students through your nonverbals that you enjoy interacting with them, that their contribution is valuable, that you do not view their questions as unwanted interruptions. Remember when you were a child and wanted the nice teacher? The nice teacher was the one with better immediacy cues.

There are different ways to give feedback when lecturing to a diverse group of people. In my experience, there will be people who don’t like being under the spotlight. Giving them feedback in front of everyone might thus make them feel self-conscious. One way to give feedback and support is by asking your students/the audience to write their thoughts or responses on post-its. During the break or after the lecture, you could respond to what you have written either verbally without revealing who they are or you could give each one personalized feedback by writing on the reverse side of the post-it.

Offering constructive feedback and support is crucial for student development. Providing specific and actionable feedback on assignments helps them understand strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, being approachable and available for questions or assistance creates a supportive atmosphere, encouraging students to seek guidance and fostering a positive learning experience.

In my experience, it's important to show the connection between your lecture material and the audience's goal. For instance, when I'm teaching a class on digital media and AI, it's essential to offer three practical tactics that participants can apply to their class projects or work settings. This approach effectively demonstrates respect for your audience's time and their interest in the topic while addressing their day-to-day needs and enriching their understanding of the subject matter.

I believe this is a key to successful delivery and rapport building with an audience. I often get students remembering me from jsut one lecture I have delivered. In a good way!

Build an effective learning culture; take an interest in learners away from their learning, provide autonomy & flexibility to individuals, and foster language that moves away from a ‘you and them’ environment

Don't try to be likable. If you've ever met someone who tried too hard to make everybody happy, who obviously had being liked as their mission in life, you know how self-defeating that attitude is. The people who are liked are the people who are comfortable in their own skin and cheerfully attentive to other people. A lecturer who is well prepared, who works hard on having something valuable to share and thinks hard about how to explain it, is halfway there. The other half is to visibly enjoy what you're doing, and cultivate genuine appreciation and excitement at student engagement, even if they ask a question you just answered. What's elementary for you can be overpowering for them, so reward even crude input. You were a beginner once.

Build an effective learning culture; take an interest in learners away from their learning, provide autonomy & flexibility to individuals, and foster language that moves away from a ‘you and them’ environment

While fostering rapport through active listening and empathy is crucial, it's also important not to lose sight of your own needs and boundaries. A respectful rapport is a two-way street - be open but also know when to draw the line if others cross it. Seeking win-win solutions shows strength, not weakness. And remember, no one can "make" you feel anything without your consent. Stay centered in your values, while also extending goodwill.