Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification Practice Exam

What technique can Amber use to engage her audience during a speech?

1. Use hand gestures

2. Use eye contact

3. Use humor

4. Use notes

The correct answer is: Use eye contact

Engaging an audience during a speech is crucial for effective communication, and utilizing eye contact is a powerful technique to achieve this. Eye contact helps establish a connection between the speaker and the audience, fostering a sense of involvement and attentiveness. When Amber maintains eye contact, she signals to her audience that she is present and inviting them to engage with her message. This connection encourages active listening and can make the audience feel more important as they perceive that their reactions are being acknowledged. In addition to enhancing engagement, eye contact can also convey confidence and credibility. By looking at her audience rather than reading from notes or fixating on her materials, Amber demonstrates that she is knowledgeable about her topic and is genuinely interested in sharing it. This straightforward yet effective practice can significantly enhance the overall impact of her speech. Techniques like humor, hand gestures, and even the use of notes can certainly contribute to an engaging presentation style, but eye contact directly fosters a personal interaction that is fundamental in captivating an audience's attention and sustaining their interest throughout the speech.