Speech Speed vs Thought Speed-by Richard L Weaver II, PhD

Summary

The script addresses the common issue of listeners' thoughts outpacing speakers' words, with people thinking at 600 words per minute compared to speakers' 150-200 words per minute. To engage listeners, speakers should be aware and employ strategies like informality, eye contact, rhetorical questions, and visual aids. They should motivate listeners by connecting material to their lives and emphasizing key points. Listeners, in turn, can stay engaged by seeking relevance, avoiding distractions, and taking notes. The script suggests that with preparation, speakers can turn the speed difference to their advantage.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The average person thinks at a rate of 600 words per minute, significantly faster than the 150-200 words per minute we can speak.
• 🗣️ Speakers should be aware that listeners' thoughts can outpace their speech, potentially leading to disengagement.
• 👥 Encouraging informality, such as walking among listeners and establishing eye contact, can help maintain audience attention.
• 🤔 Incorporating rhetorical questions into speeches allows listeners to engage with the material without requiring them to respond verbally.
• 📄 Providing visual aids like handouts, PowerPoint presentations, or posters can reinforce the message and cater to different learning styles.
• 🎯 Motivating listeners by connecting the material to their wants and needs can increase their investment in the speech.
• 🔍 Emphasizing key points through repetition, slowing down, or using gestures can help drive home the importance of certain ideas.
• ⏰ Listeners can stay engaged by actively searching for relevance in the message and avoiding distractions.
• 📝 Taking notes during a speech can enhance listening skills and help maintain focus on the content.
• ⚖️ Balancing speech speed with thought speed is crucial for effective communication; it requires careful planning and preparation.

Q & A

What is the average thinking speed compared to speaking speed?

Research has shown that people think at about 600 words per minute or greater, while speaking speed is only about 150 to 200 words per minute.

How can a speaker's preparation be affected by the listener's thinking speed?

If the listener's thoughts outrun the speaker's words, the speaker's time and preparation might not be fully appreciated or understood by the audience.

What is the first step a speaker can take to engage listeners whose thoughts may outpace their speech?

The first step is to create awareness that listeners are not solely focused on every word the speaker says.

How can a speaker encourage informality and interaction with the audience?

A speaker can walk among listeners, establish eye contact, and become sensitive to their feedback to encourage a more informal and interactive atmosphere.

What is the purpose of incorporating questions and probes into a speech?

Incorporating questions and probes helps tie listeners directly to the material and requires specific responses from them, thus maintaining their attention.

Why are rhetorical questions effective in a speech?

Rhetorical questions do not require a response from the audience but allow them to think about the question, which can reinforce the speaker's ideas.

How can visual aids like PowerPoint presentations enhance a speech?

Visual aids provide material through both audio and visual signals, activating more senses and thus increasing audience retention and interest.

What is the role of visual support like slides, posters, and objects in a speech?

Visual support can reinforce the material and increase audience interest and attention by providing additional ways to engage with the content.

How can a speaker motivate their listeners to pay attention and respond?

A speaker can motivate listeners by understanding their wants and needs, giving them a reason to learn, and presenting ideas in a way that is directly relevant to their lives.

What techniques can a speaker use to emphasize important points in a speech?

A speaker can use indicators before or after stating a point, repeat the point once, speak slowly, or use a pause and gesture to emphasize important points.

What should listeners do to overcome the tendency to daydream during a speech?

Listeners can stay motivated, search for relevance, avoid distractions, stay active by questioning and paraphrasing, and take notes to maintain focus and enhance listening ability.

How can speakers use speech speed to their advantage?

With planning and preparation, speakers can manage the difference between speech speed and thought speed to keep the audience engaged and attentive.

Where can one find more information about speech speed versus thought speed?

More information on speech speed versus thought speed can be found by visiting the website publicspeakingrules.com.