Developing Your Listening Instinct

Build the skill of reading rooms through practice:

• Listen before you speak — when entering a room, listen to its energy. A buzzing, excited room needs a different approach than a tired, quiet one
• Monitor continuously — split your attention between delivery and reception. Keep part of your focus on the audience the entire time you speak
• Test and calibrate — early on, use a light joke or question to gauge responsiveness. A flat response tells you the room is cooler than you expected, so dial back the energy and warm them up before pushing your main point