我也有话要说（二十九）记录听众的反应

当你在讲话的时候，如果你不尽力，听众就不见得能够做到自动与你感同身受。而当你讲某些话，或做某些事的时候，听众的反应常常（这个概率可能非常高）超乎你的想象。

Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20111022184014/http://www.lixiaolai.com/archives/9839.html

I Have Something to Say Too (29): Record the Audience's Reactions

> By Li Xiaolai · 2010-08-01 · [Original (web archive)](https://web.archive.org/web/20111022184014/http://www.lixiaolai.com/archives/9839.html) (Chinese)
> Our translation from the Chinese original.

When you're speaking, if you don't make every effort, the audience [won't necessarily be able to automatically feel what you feel](http://www.lixiaolai.com/archives/9708.html). And when you say certain things or do certain things, the audience's reactions often (the probability may be very high) go beyond your imagination.

When you think the audience will laugh, they may have no reaction at all; yet they may burst out laughing where you'd never imagine. When you think the audience will feel strong resonance, what they show may instead be confusion; words that once brought you thunderous applause on one occasion may very well bring you [Translator's note: the original writes 给你来的, literally "give you come"; 给你带来的 ("bring you") is meant; translated by the intended sense] dead silence on another occasion...

I remember that once on stage I casually added a comment to a story I'd just told (in fact, even I don't know where this sentence popped out from): "...a mature man knows how to make others feel comfortable." What I never expected was that this sentence drew first a burst of laughter, and then even warm applause. On stage I was secretly taken aback for a moment before I realized—probably because this sentence was understood as a clever double entendre. Afterwards I carefully recalled the situation at the time, carefully savored from every angle all the possible connotations of this sentence, and then turned this sentence into something I could use almost any time to get a "knowing smile" from the audience.

After a talk ends, if audience members are willing to talk with you, that's a rare opportunity. (Some people don't understand how precious this opportunity is, and often [mistakenly think the audience is misunderstanding them](http://www.lixiaolai.com/archives/9644.html), and so turn the subsequent exchange into an argument.) Remember, **all the audience's questions are triggered by what you just said.** If the speaker is fully clear on this, then calm and composure afterwards can come naturally.

Use every possible auxiliary means that can help you to record the audience's questions and reactions. Their questions are reactions to what you just said on stage, and after hearing your further answers they'll have all kinds of reactions too. Sometimes pen and paper may be enough; sometimes a voice recorder may be needed. After I got a smartphone, on a friend's recommendation, I began frequently using evernote as a recording tool to carry around with me; very convenient.

The ancients said, "Writing is made by heaven; a skilled hand happens upon it." This saying shows, on one level, the value of chance and the unexpected. For everyone, "unexpected gains" can actually appear at any time. It's just that most people don't realize it and think it's something beyond their control. In fact, there are other people who, by continually strengthening their so-called ability to "pay attention," can capture more of the value that the unexpected and chance may bring.

Another more useful practice is to observe, in ordinary times, everyone's reactions to all kinds of words, whether or not you said them. Over time, having observed a lot, you'll be able to observe more carefully, able to capture all kinds of subtle and fine reactions that others may not perceive. Although they're not your audience, one day in the future, the audience sitting below the stage will be made up of people with the same characteristics, and they'll give you the same reactions.

The most magical thing on stage is, after you've said something, carefully and clearly addressing one by one the various reactions the audience might have to it, leaving none out, even mentioning the reactions that sound least likely yet are perfectly reasonable. This will not only make the audience bow to your "ability to think meticulously and comprehensively"; more importantly, a considerable portion of them will involuntarily have the thought flash through their heads: "How did he know I think this way!" What's more delightful than meeting someone who truly understands you?