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You have many strategies available for enhancing your credibility during a speech. But there are just as many ways to make a misstep and erode your ethos while giving a talk. Anytime you say something that shows a lack of competence, trustworthiness, or goodwill, you damage your credibility.
Such errors are common during political campaigns, and you can probably think of examples of gaffes that dimmed the chances of a candidate for office. But we also have seen such errors hurt the credibility of student speakers. In your speeches, careful preparation can help you avoid credibility-
Getting your facts wrong. Your competence and preparation will be questioned if you present factual information that is just plain inaccurate. Mushers and dog-
Pronouncing words incorrectly. Your experience in a topic area will be questioned if you mispronounce the names of key persons or concepts related to the topic. For example, a student who referred to hip-
Failing to acknowledge potential conflicts of interest. In Chapter 17, we note the importance of disclosing your biases. If you fail to acknowledge any personal interest in your topic, it will hurt your credibility when it is revealed. For example, suppose a classmate advocated that all students who serve in student government should receive a thousand-
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Stretching to find a connection with the audience. Have you ever seen speakers attempt to speak a language they do not know well, try to use local or professional slang, or act interested in the audience members’ favorite sports team? They often end up mangling words or using terms incorrectly, getting distracted from their message, and worrying about possible mistakes. These errors end up highlighting how disconnected a speaker is. Local dialect also can be a challenge. For example, when speakers address a Missouri audience, they must decide whether to refer to the state as Missouree or Missouruh.4 You should always show respect to your audience, but the best choice is to be your authentic self. If a change in your typical pronunciation seems forced rather than sincere, you will lose credibility.
After a speaker’s credibility has come into question, it’s very difficult to repair the damage. Thus, before giving a speech, examine the language you intend to use, and make sure that it communicates competence, trustworthiness, and goodwill. However, even bulletproof ethos isn’t enough to deliver an effective speech. You also need to deliver a solid set of facts to prove the claims you’re making.
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