Final answer:
A speaker should avoid standing out in the crowd to establish a strong connection with the audience, facilitate effective communication, and minimize barriers created by nonconformity and bias. Adapting to the norm of the audience ensures that the speaker's message is received positively and reduces distractions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A speaker should avoid standing out in the crowd relative to the audience to maintain a connection and ensure effective communication. Speaking in a way that emphasizes commonality can bridge the gap between speaker and audience, promoting a sense of understanding and acceptance. Drawing attention to differences, especially in background, appearance, or behavior, can create a barrier to communication, making it harder for the audience to relate to and engage with the speaker.
A speaker needs to consider how their traits and actions are perceived, as managing these can be crucial to presenting a professional and relatable image. If someone is too different from their audience, they might face the issue of nonconformity, which can lead to lower levels of acceptance. For instance, a crowd at a lecture behaves differently than attendees at a rock concert, and a speaker should adapt their delivery to match the setting for optimal impact.
Moreover, a speaker's tendency to blend in or stand out may have significant effects on audience perception. This is particularly true in cases where the speaker belongs to a group associated with preconceived stereotypes, which can lead to challenges such as unconscious bias from the audience. Therefore, maintaining an inconspicuous presence and aligning with the audience's norms can reduce tension and make the message more effective.