Comments on: Should a Speaker Apologize to the Audience? http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/ A Public Speaking and Presentations blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:30:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sarita Agrawalhttp://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-34068 Sarita Agrawal Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:47:36 +0000 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/02/01/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-34068 Nice article on speaking/presentation, http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/ Nice article on speaking/presentation, http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/

]]> By: Sarita Agrawalhttp://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-34069 Sarita Agrawal Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:47:13 +0000 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/02/01/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-34069 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/ http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/

]]> By: Rich Wattshttp://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-31349 Rich Watts Tue, 25 May 2010 14:51:08 +0000 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/02/01/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-31349 Great article - thank you. I have to say I regularly advise others not to apologise for nerves, forgetting their words or similar. I always point out to the nervous speaker that this is because they shouldn't need to apologise for being braver than 99% of other people and standing up in front of an audience and speaking. We can all relate to having the odd stumble, even the most experienced of us! Great article – thank you.

I have to say I regularly advise others not to apologise for nerves, forgetting their words or similar. I always point out to the nervous speaker that this is because they shouldn’t need to apologise for being braver than 99% of other people and standing up in front of an audience and speaking.

We can all relate to having the odd stumble, even the most experienced of us!

]]> By: Fred E. Millerhttp://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-28830 Fred E. Miller Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:51:19 +0000 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/02/01/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-28830 Great post, Andrew! Your country just did a great job hosting the Winter Olympics. I didn't see any of the skaters, skiers, bobsled riders or anyone else apologize. (Well, the coach who waved is skater into the wrong lane did, I hope, apologize.) Everyone did their very best and all were cheering for them. It was especially notable with the figure skaters that when they fell, and were most likely out of the competition, NONE OF THEM walked off the ice. They all got up, and continued their performance. This is what speakers should do, too. Thanks! Great post, Andrew!

Your country just did a great job hosting the Winter Olympics.

I didn’t see any of the skaters, skiers, bobsled riders or anyone else apologize. (Well, the coach who waved is skater into the wrong lane did, I hope, apologize.)

Everyone did their very best and all were cheering for them.

It was especially notable with the figure skaters that when they fell, and were most likely out of the competition, NONE OF THEM walked off the ice. They all got up, and continued their performance. This is what speakers should do, too.

Thanks!

]]> By: Simonhttp://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-20674 Simon Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:14:55 +0000 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/02/01/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-20674 Hi - good points. In my experience, most apologies are because of nerves and/or embarrassment, not genuine contrition. What we tell people on our training courses is that they should never apologies... not because they shouldn't apologise when they do something wrong but because they should never *need* to apologise! ;) S Hi – good points. In my experience, most apologies are because of nerves and/or embarrassment, not genuine contrition. What we tell people on our training courses is that they should never apologies… not because they shouldn’t apologise when they do something wrong but because they should never *need* to apologise! ;)

S

]]> By: Cmty Leadership Projhttp://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-23423 Cmty Leadership Proj Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:28:04 +0000 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/02/01/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-23423 Should a Speaker Apologize to the Audience? http://bit.ly/vdBtt Should a Speaker Apologize to the Audience? http://bit.ly/vdBtt

]]> By: Keith Davishttp://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-18876 Keith Davis Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:57:13 +0000 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/02/01/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-18876 I agree that it very much depends on the context - if aplogising for a deficiency in the room etc - then it is good to make sure the audience knows it isn't as you planned. BUT never ever aplogise for any aspect of your performace. If you miss out a point, lose your way or something of that nature, don't apologise. It just draws attention to it - they most likely wouldn't notice if they are interested in what you are telling them. In the ASC we say never apologise and never thank the audience - they should be thanking you!" I agree that it very much depends on the context – if aplogising for a deficiency in the room etc – then it is good to make sure the audience knows it isn’t as you planned.
BUT never ever aplogise for any aspect of your performace. If you miss out a point, lose your way or something of that nature, don’t apologise. It just draws attention to it – they most likely wouldn’t notice if they are interested in what you are telling them.
In the ASC we say never apologise and never thank the audience – they should be thanking you!”

]]> By: Be A Great Presenter.com » Should You Even Apologize to the Audience?http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-228 Be A Great Presenter.com » Should You Even Apologize to the Audience? Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:57:37 +0000 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/02/01/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-228 [...] a really interesting article by Andrew Dlugan at Six Minutes posing this very question and coming up with some really interesting answers and strategies for [...]

[...] a really interesting article by Andrew Dlugan at Six Minutes posing this very question and coming up with some really interesting answers and strategies for [...]

]]> By: Jo Jamesonhttp://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-227 Jo Jameson Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:36:29 +0000 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/02/01/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-227 I think you make some fabulous points in this post - so often I see speakers apologizing for things that the audience are completely unaware of (e.g. skipping over something, being nervous etc.) and it's like sticking a big neon sign up to them saying 'I messed up!' I think the readers of my blog would benefit from reading your article so I've placed a link on my blog to alert them to it - keep up the good work! I think you make some fabulous points in this post – so often I see speakers apologizing for things that the audience are completely unaware of (e.g. skipping over something, being nervous etc.) and it’s like sticking a big neon sign up to them saying ‘I messed up!’ I think the readers of my blog would benefit from reading your article so I’ve placed a link on my blog to alert them to it – keep up the good work!

]]> By: Andrew Dluganhttp://sixminutes.dlugan.com/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-220 Andrew Dlugan Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:57:31 +0000 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2008/02/01/audience-apology-public-speaking/#comment-220 <b>TJ</b>: I certainly agree with you in the large majority of cases. Speakers tend to be embarrassed by their own lack of preparation. (e.g. Question #2) However, there are cases where a speaker has made there very best effort, and still come up short. Usually this is when things are out of their control. e.g. they are asked to fill in for a sick speaker on very short notice There's no reason for them to apologize in this case, but they would very likely <i>feel</i> sorry that their presentation was not optimal. TJ: I certainly agree with you in the large majority of cases. Speakers tend to be embarrassed by their own lack of preparation. (e.g. Question #2)
However, there are cases where a speaker has made there very best effort, and still come up short. Usually this is when things are out of their control.
e.g. they are asked to fill in for a sick speaker on very short notice
There’s no reason for them to apologize in this case, but they would very likely feel sorry that their presentation was not optimal.

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