SPEAKING TO A HOSTILE AUDIENCE

One wise public speaking expert once observed that we should be careful before carelessly categorizing any audience as a friendly one or automatically hostile. Each of us can probably remember when a group of business associates or group we knew as friends were upset about an issue, disagreed with our opinion on something, or were suspicious. Later, they were friendly again.

Each "friendly" audience can change due to other information, or an event. Likewise a "hostile" audience may learn something new, may be turned around by someone else. No audience is cast in stone as either friendly or unfriendly-your job is to state your message in an open way.

Hecklers - If you anticipate your audience will be hostile (for this encounter), try to establish a few rules up front. Say that you appreciate being asked to speak-you'll have some points to bring out, but afterward will have a question and answer time. Ask interrupters to respect the format. If someone gives a statement in the form of a question-defuse it, saying you appreciate hearing their opinion, but … (then repeat one of your messages.)

Remember there is always tomorrow - act as a professional. Someone in the audience may be changing his or her mind. Don't get caught up with the agitators. They are not the ones you are there to focus on.

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