| I had a college professor one semester that was so | | | | Confidence: Looking like you are nervous and |
| captivating inhis lectures that I was hesitant to leave | | | | uncomfortabledoesn't say much for your knowledge. It |
| when the class wasover. I probably would have been | | | | doesn't matter if youspent twenty five years living with |
| content to sit there and listento him spout off about | | | | gorillas, people aren't goingto have nearly as much |
| anything as long as he kept talking. Hewas interesting, | | | | respect for your points about primatecommunication if |
| yes, but even if he had stated that cats couldtalk and | | | | you don't look like you have any self-assurance. |
| buildings could walk, I probably would have believed | | | | Delivery packs just as much of a punch as a thorough |
| himsolely based on how much I trusted and respected | | | | intellect,as long as you remember that you need both |
| his knowledge. | | | | to give a greatpresentation. |
| There are many aspects of public speaking that | | | | Character: Character is a little trickier, because it's |
| should be takeninto account when incorporating | | | | basedmore on a values system than on how much |
| speeches and presentations intoa public relations | | | | you know aboutsomething. If you've researched your |
| campaign. One of the first ones that should | | | | audience's demographicsbeforehand, you will have |
| beconsidered, though, is the issue of credibility. | | | | more of an idea what sort of issuesthey will or will not |
| What is credibility? Well, it incorporates a lot of things, | | | | respond to. Even if you are presentingsomething that is |
| butthe main point to remember is that when you are | | | | the antithesis of everything they stand for,you can still |
| credible, peopleare more inclined to trust you and | | | | find ways to word your arguments so that you |
| believe that you are areliable source of information. | | | | willappear credible and non threatening. |
| So how do you go about building your credibility? Well, | | | | Rapport: Ah, rapport. Common experiences and |
| let'stake a closer look at what defines credibility. | | | | interests are whathelp us as humans relate to each |
| Competence: If you stand up in front of an audience | | | | other. If your audience knowsyou share similar feelings |
| and decide totalk about Darwinian logic without any | | | | with them, they will be more likely torespond to your |
| sort of conception of who | | | | message in a positive way. |
| Darwin even was, your audience probably isn't going to | | | | As a society, the majority of individuals tend to hold a |
| believethat you have the authority to be speaking on | | | | prettysimilar system of values that you can use to help |
| such a subject. | | | | you build yourown credibility. Social and community |
| However, if you list your information sources in | | | | values seek to attain suchideals as peace, freedom, |
| yourpresentation along with a quote or visual aid, your | | | | respect, family security, and living acomfortable life. |
| audience willknow that you did your research, and that | | | | Personal values for the individual show thatmost |
| you know your stuff. | | | | people wish to be ambitious, forgiving, responsible, |
| Other ways to show your competence is to let the | | | | andhonest. By demonstrating that you stand for similar |
| audience knowabout your educational or professional | | | | ideals asyour audience, you help maintain a component |
| background. You don't haveto sound like you're putting | | | | of trust. |
| on airs here, because the simpletruth is that the more | | | | Once your audience has a built a foundation of trust |
| work you've done in a specific area, themore you will | | | | and respect,your message will seep in a lot more |
| know about the topic. | | | | easily than if you havelittle or no credibility. |