Primary Care Blog
So many times we give a presentation and are not sure whether we have connected with the audience. Of course there is the look of approval on the audience face, the compliments you may receive after the program, or the observation that no one left their seat during the program. I have found that questions after the program indicates a level of interest and a connection with the audience. If you are speaking to a lay audience, you may receive validation that you did well when patients call and request an appointment.
But there are other methods to use that will help you become a better speaker.
If it's appropriate, you can even stop and ask the audience for their input on what you came across. I often use this technique if I am speaking for a pharmaceutical company and will ask the pharmaceutical representative who requested my presentation what was his\her opinion of the program and if I was able to connect with the audience. When possible, have a random spectator take notes on audience reaction. Once it's over, do a thorough post-mortem. Was your objective achieved? Did the audience seem engaged? Note what went well and what didn't. Ask for feedback from credible participants. If you're making the presentation again, how will you improve it next time?
I also think it is helpful to submit a questionnaire to the audience and ask for their feedback. You can also use the questionnaire to ask for their E-mail address and if they would like additional information on the topic presented. This allows you to stay connected to the audience and to see that your name crosses their mind over and over again.
Bottom Line: Public speaking both to our peers and to the lay people in the community is an excellent way to market and promote your practice. Public speaking does not come naturally to most physicians, including myself, but with practice and fine-tuning by asking for feedback, you can become a very polished public speaker.
Neil Baum, MD, is Clinical Associate Professor of Urology, Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, LA, and author of Marketing Your Clinical Practice: Ethically, Effectively, and Economically, Jones Bartlett Publishers. He is also author of Social Media For The Healthcare Profession, Greenbranch Publishing, 2011. He blogs at http://neilbaum.wordpress.com/
