“We’ve been delivering leadership development programs for over 20 years, and for the first time, we’ve seen a 25% increase in management capabilities, including coaching and feedback skills, in just one program cycle [using AI].” – Kris Karauria, COO, BDO Gisborne
BDO Gisborne uses Yoodli AI coaching to scale leadership and manager training, and drive economic development in New Zealand. Through Yoodli, BDO Gisborne achieved a 25% increase in client management capabilities, 100% improvement in participant confidence, and successfully scaled their programs across multiple industries.
Background
BDO Gisborne, part of the international BDO network, has been delivering research-driven leadership development programs for over 20 years. They offer public accounting, tax, and advisory services across 166 countries, with 115,661 professionals in 1,776 offices worldwide.
Within months of implementation, Kris Karauria, COO of BDO Gisborne, saw transformative results. With programs targeting various leadership levels from supervisors to business leaders, they spent eight months building bespoke personas, scenarios, and rubrics. Now, they use Yoodli daily empowering leaders across New Zealand in multiple sectors to drive economic growth in the face of uncertainty.
The Problem
BDO Gisborne faced the following challenges:
Desire to scale leadership and coaching programs without sacrificing quality
Providing metrics around behavior improvements
Giving their clients the opportunity to practice their skills in a safe environment
Previously, BDO Gisborne spent significant time and resources developing tailored leadership programs. They wanted to scale these successful programs while maintaining quality and preserving their valuable intellectual property.
The Solution
BDO Gisborne partnered with Yoodli to create a series of AI-enhanced leadership development programs. With Yoodli, BDO Gisborne:
Developed multiple AI personas to test management skills across various scenarios
Easily were able to integrate the AI technology with existing proven programs
Provided a platform for users to practice, measure, and improve their skills asynchronously
Scaled their work while focusing on program impact
“Yoodli has provided the perfect platform for clients to practice what we teach them and improve their capabilities. The feedback it provides is invaluable to improve behaviors.” – Pete Jarratt, Executive Coach, BDO
Cultural Shift
The implementation of Yoodli has transformed the learning culture at BDO Gisborne and its client organizations. Participants now have unlimited access to practice their leadership skills in a private, judgment-free environment.
Kris shared: “We now have multiple personas, rubrics and scenarios that we can use to suit most situations. The learning curve is flattened for the user and we have dramatically increased the opportunity to monitor and embed individual development.”
The Outcome
Yoodli has been a game-changer for BDO Gisborne. After implementation, the team saw:
A 25% increase in the participants management capabilities, including coaching and giving feedback
100% of participants reported improved confidence
Successfully scaled programs without compromising quality across multiple industries, including horticulture, forestry, engineering, and accountancy
Increased competency and capability levels across various sectors, contributing to regional economic growth
Business leaders, upon seeing the impact on their staff, opted to complete the program themselves
“In New Zealand we have been hit hard by weather events and global economic pressures. After collaborating with various industry players, it was obvious that we need to invest in our people and prepare them for a future of constant change. The program offered by BDO Gisborne has already made a big impact on this and we are excited about the future.” – Karen Fenn, Business Growth Advisor, Trust Tairawhiti
Passive listening is one of the most common communication struggles people face. It can be easy to subconsciously tune people out, even if you don’t mean to.
We’ll help you overcome this habit and explain everything you need to know, from tips to break the habit, to common passive listening examples, downsides, and misconceptions.
What Is Passive Listening?
Passive listening is when you listen to someone speaking and don’t react. You might’ve heard the phrase, “It went in one ear and out the other.” It means the person listening didn’t actually understand what was said; they listened, but didn’t remember the meaning behind the words. Passive listening is a little like that.
On one hand, passive listeners never interrupt. But that benefit doesn’t outweigh all the downsides of this type of listening, which we’ll explain in detail in the section below. The main downside is that the listener doesn’t pay attention to what’s said, so the communication only goes one way.
Active vs. passive listening
In comparison to passive listening, active listening is the total opposite. Instead of just hearing the information but not paying attention, active listeners hear the information and remember what was said. They digest the information, reflect on it, and engage in the conversation.
How to Use AI to Overcome Passive Listening
This type of listening isn’t a habit that you want to continue. Luckily, you can take advantage of AI tools — like Yoodli — to overcome passive listening.
Yoodli, an AI-powered speech coach, can analyze your speaking habits and speech to give data-backed, practical feedback you can use to improve your listening skills. You Plus, Yoodli does so much more than provide the tools to overcome passive listening. You can also work on your conversation abilities, too.
Using Yoodli can help you overcome passive listening.
Because it’s such a realistic conversation simulator, it can be personalized by the user. For example, you’ll pick an AI conversation partner, which could be virtually anyone, from a coworker to a stranger or your boss. Then, choose a personality for your AI conversation partner — reserved, friendly, professional — you name it.
While you’re talking, your AI partner will listen to what you say. Based on that, it gives an appropriate reply. Here’s where you can practice overcoming your habit. Using the below methods in the next section, practice being a more engaged listener. For example, you could practice asking open-ended questions or paraphrasing what your partner told you.
Using Yoodli’s AI conversation coach can help with passive listening.
You’ll get an individualized report of all your speaking metrics afterward, from how loud you speak to your word choice and body language, like eye contact.
If you have a friend who’s willing to practice with you, you can get valuable insights about how long you’re talking vs. how long you’re listening to the other person. Yoodli is one of the best communication technology tools out there for working on your speaking skills.
5 Tips for Overcoming Passive Listening
If one of your goals is to overcome passive listening, that’s great — it’ll benefit your communication skills and elevate your ability to have a successful conversation. It can even improve your executive presence.
Here are the top five tips to overcome your passive listening habit.
1. Before the conversation, clear your mind.
You won’t always have the luxury of preparing before the conversation. Sometimes, a coworker will walk up to your desk and spark a conversation. A stranger might stop you in the street to ask for directions. In these situations, you can’t really prepare. But if you know you have a one-on-one meeting with your manager soon, for example, you can prepare before you speak.
To prep before the conversation, start by taking a deep breath and clearing your mind. Understand that for the duration of the conversation, you’ll need to tune into the speaker and focus. It can be distracting if you’re trying to juggle the million other things you’re thinking about in addition to an ongoing conversation.
Even if you think the conversation could be boring or tedious, be ready to be open and engaging during the chat.
2. Be ready to give the speaker your full attention.
Most importantly, to avoid passive listening, you need to be ready to give whoever is speaking your full, undivided attention. Letting your mind wander and zoning out cause you to completely lose focus.
To help yourself pay attention, make it a point to look at the speaker and make eye contact. Don’t do anything else besides listening. Multitasking while a conversation is actively happening can cause you to go into passive listening mode.
3. Summarize what was said in your head.
Another helpful tip for overcoming passive listening is to summarize what the speaker said in your head. As they’re speaking (or shortly after), think about what they said and paraphrase it in your own words. This helps you remember the context of the conversation and helps you pay attention.
Consider the key points they made and formulate questions if something is unclear.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Although some people are weary of asking questions during a conversation, it’s completely normal and even encouraged. Asking questions helps you get more information about the topic and clears up any potential misunderstandings. It also shows the speaker that you’re an engaged listener.
Just wait until the speaker is finished with their thought before you start asking questions. Interrupting them isn’t just rude, but it can cause them to forget what they were saying.
5. Make sure you’re responsive.
One thing passive listeners are guilty of is the “100-yard stare” — looking at the speaker with a blank face.
Don’t just listen passively. Instead, make sounds or affirmations that show you’re listening. For example, saying things like “Uh-huh” or “yes, I see” can demonstrate that you acknowledge what they said and understand.
Internal and External Passive Listening Examples
Not surprisingly, there are many signs that someone’s a passive listener. Some are more obvious than others.
Passive listening examples can usually be grouped into one of two categories: internal and external examples.
Internal passive listening examples
Knowing the most common signs of passive listening can help you identify when and how you’re doing it.
For example, some of the most common internal passive listening examples include:
Catching yourself daydreaming
“Hearing” the words the speaker is saying but not understanding
Having no clue what the speaker just said
Experiencing wandering thoughts
External passive listening examples
Signs of passive listening can be more obvious from the speaker’s perspective.
For example, some of the most common external passive listening examples a speaker might notice include:
Fidgeting (such as playing with items near you, tapping your fingers, picking at your skin, etc.)
Not responding or acknowledging what was said
Giving the speaker minimal responses (such as “oh,” “wow,” or “cool”)
Looking distracted or like your eyes are glazed over
Passive listening isn’t a great habit to get into because it hurts you in the long run. Passive listeners have trouble keeping up in meetings, conversations, and other situations where they need to “pay attention.”
Here are some of the most common downsides to passive listening that you should be aware of.
A lack of effective communication
One of the most significant drawbacks to passive listening is the fact that it limits your communication skills. You won’t be an effective communicator with this type of listening. Here’s why.
When you’re only half listening, you end up missing key information during the conversation. You won’t have all the details and necessary context. Not only that, but you might not pick up on the tone or emotions behind what’s being said.
This leads to misinterpretations, misunderstandings, frustration, and confusion.
Damaged relationships
As a consequence, passive listening can damage existing relationships and seriously hinder new ones. That’s because not giving the speaker your full attention is noticeable and causes the speaker to lose respect and trust for you.
Not only can being a passive listener affect your personal relationships, but it can also influence your professional relationships, too. You won’t be able to make strong connections with others. Once you’ve lost that connection with someone, it can be difficult to gain back.
Plus, if you have trouble communicating effectively, the resulting frustrations and miscommunications can result in negative interactions and ultimately, resentment toward you as a person and coworker.
Other personal and professional drawbacks
There are also some other personal and professional drawbacks to be aware of.
Your decision-making abilities could be affected if you have a habit of passive listening. Since you don’t get all the necessary information, you’ll likely make decisions based on inaccurate information.
It’s the same deal with problem-solving. Collaboration and ideation efforts — two aspects that are directly influenced by this type of listening — can be hindered. It’s more difficult to solve problems, especially in a group, when you don’t give speakers your full attention.
Similarly, you might not be able to be as productive as you could if you’re not a strong listener. Constantly misunderstanding speakers can lead to wasted resources and time, which affects your efficiency and productivity in settings like work, school, and at home.
Because of this, you might miss out on important opportunities in those settings, too.
Misconceptions of Passive Listening
Highlight the common misconceptions about passive listening (e.g., it’s just being quiet, it’s easier than active listening). To fully understand the importance of overcoming this habit, you also need to be aware of the misconceptions around it.
For one, some people think it means simply being quiet. However, this isn’t true. The difference between just being quiet while someone’s talking versus passive listening is that with the latter, you aren’t really hearing or digesting the message. If you’re just listening quietly, you’ll still understand what’s being said, including the context and implications.
Some people also think it’s “easier” than truly listening. In the sense that you won’t understand the conversation, it’s “easier.” But realistically, it’s not easier than giving the speaker your full attention.
Because of all the drawbacks to passive listening, getting into this habit actually makes your life more difficult.
Others have the assumption that it’s a harmless habit, but again, the reality of the situation is that it makes both your personal and professional life more complicated.
One of the biggest misconceptions about passive listening is that it’s a habit only introverts struggle with. However, this type of listening affects all personality types, not just introverts. Extroverts and ambiverts experience this kind of “tuning out,” too.
The Bottom Line
Remember that overcoming passive listening isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s a lifelong journey that you’ll always be working on, so don’t feel discouraged. Knowing how to avoid it is a high income skill.
Using a tool like Yoodli and practicing breaking this habit are some of the best things you can do for yourself if you’re a passive listener.
Active listening is a required skill for effective conversation. So why is it so difficult?
It can be challenging because this ability isn’t necessarily something you’re born with. It’s something you’ll continue to learn throughout your life.
In our comprehensive guide, we’ll give you everything you need to know about this skill, from easytips and tricks to how to improve your team’s skills, common pitfalls, and active listening examples.
What Is Active Listening?
Active listening is the ability to not only listen to a speaker, but also to engage and interact with them in a meaningful way during a conversation. It requires you to be able to reflect on what was said and respond to the topic.
Active Listening Examples
This specific type of listening encompasses many essential methods and means of understanding. As such, there are plenty of examples to look at.
Here are just a few examples of active listening:
Making eye contact with someone you’re talking to
Validating the speaker’s feelings
Rephrasing what was said in your head
Nodding
Using phrases of acknowledgement, like “Uh-huh” or “Oh, I see”
Asking questions
At work or in a professional setting, some active listening examples could include:
Not interrupting when others are talking
Giving constructive feedback instead of straight criticism
Taking notes during calls or meetings
Inviting others to engage and participate
There are special considerations when you’re talking to kids, too. Some active listening examples when you have a younger audience include things like:
Getting down to their level by crouching so you can look them in the eye
Helping them pinpoint their feelings (for example, saying something like, “Wow, it sounds like you were feeling really frustrated”)
Being patient to allow them to feel comfortable and open up (instead of rushing them to finish their sentence, for example)
Asking questions, especially open-ended questions, to show your interest
7 Tips for Active Listening
Active listening is a skill you can work on and hone your entire life. However, you’ve got to start somewhere. If you’re having trouble with it, a few tips and tricks can help.
Here are the top seven tips for building your active listening skills.
1. Prepare yourself before the conversation.
Although some conversations are impromptu, meaning you can’t really prepare for them, active listening works best when you can take a second to get your mind right. Remember that as the listener, it’s your job to give them the space to communicate and share their feelings.
If it’s a planned conversation (or you’re in a setting where active listening is important, like school or work), make sure there’s no obvious distractions. It should be a relatively quiet environment. Turn off your notifications and put away your phone.
2. Pay attention.
It might seem obvious, but one of the most important tips for active listening is to pay attention. Zoning out or letting your mind wander — even if the conversation seems tedious or boring to you — is a surefire way to hinder your listening skills.
Standing or sitting up straight and making eye contact can help you pay attention easier. Focus on not just the words they’re saying, but also the emotions they convey. For example, consider their facial expressions, nonverbal cues, and tone. It helps when there are no distractions.
3. Don’t interrupt.
Interrupting isn’t part of active listening. As such, it’s best to let the speaker finish their thought before interjecting with other information or a question. This tip allows you to get the complete context of the conversation while also validating the other person and showing genuine interest in them.
4. Acknowledge their feelings.
One of the most common pitfalls of active listening is when you don’t validate or acknowledge the speaker’s feelings. Instead of just listening with a straight face, you can empathize by directly acknowledging their emotions.
For example, you could say things like, “Wow, that must’ve been a difficult choice to make” or “It sounds like that was a pretty exciting experience for you.”
5. Be encouraging.
Similarly, you’ll also want to encourage the speaker to show you’re actively listening. For example, nodding can encourage the person to continue talking. You can also pair the nodding with some affirmatives, like “I see,” “gotcha,” or “uh-huh.”
It shows that you’re interested in what they have to say and care to hear more.
6. Ask questions.
Although you don’t want to interrupt the speaker, asking questions shows you’re engaged and curious about what you hear. After they’ve finished their sentence or thought, you can ask some clarifying questions to get more information.
You can also ask them how they feel about the situation, depending on the conversation topic.
7. Be patient.
Most importantly, when it comes to active listening, you need to be patient with the speaker. Be responsive and present for the conversation and let them express what they need to. Don’t try to rush them or get them to “hurry up” with what they’re saying. It’ll come off as rude and impolite.
How to Improve Your Team’s Active Listening Skills with AI
Taking advantage of generative AI is more common now than ever. In fact, you can use AI to improve your team’sactive listening skills, too. Here’s how.
Try exploring communication technology tools, such as Yoodli. Yoodli is an AI-powered conversation coach that evaluates your speech and speaking patterns to give you actionable feedback you can use to improve. You can work on not only your team’s active listening skills, but also their overall conversation abilities.
Using Yoodli’s conversation coach is a great way to practice your active listening skills.
You can start by choosing an AI conversation partner — such as a stranger or a coworker — and a topic. You can further personalize your experience by choosing a personality for your AI speech partner, whether that’s friendly, reserved, or something else entirely.
From there, you practice speaking. Your AI partner will listen to what you say and provide a response. That’s where your skills come in. Carefully listen to the AI partner’s response and use your active listening techniques. For example, practice rephrasing what was said and asking open-ended questions.
Practicing active listening is much easier with a coach to guide you through it.
After your AI-generated conversation, you’ll get a personalized report of all your speech data, such as:
You can even practice with a friend. When you upload a recording of you and a friend chatting, Yoodli can tell you how long you talked compared to how long you listened, which is a helpful stat when you’re trying to improve your skills.
Improving your team’s active listening skills for sales
You can also leverage Yoodli to enhance your sales team’s active listening skills when it comes to sales calls and pitches. Yoodli offers comprehensive, realistic sales roleplays for reps to practice their active listening skills in a risk-free environment, so they don’t have to worry about messing up or losing a client or deal.
Reps can boost their listening abilities during simulated cold calls or customer discovery calls and will receive the same feedback and insights based on their performance. Because Yoodli takes on customer personas, the back-and-forth banter is as natural as it would be with a human.
Plus, for company admin, the customization capabilities allows leaders to make Yoodli their own by tweaking it based on their company’s own methodology. Brands can optimize Yoodli for whatever their needs are, from manager training to pitch coaching, and anything in between. Not only that, but the platform also has enterprise-grade privacy, including SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and more.
Easily work on your sales team’s active listening skills with Yoodli’s intelligent roleplays.
Benefits of Active Listening
Learning how to implement this skill can be incredibly helpful for effective communication. Whether you’re in a professional or personal setting, this is one of the best high income skills you could have.
Here are some of the top benefits of active listening.
Personal (and professional) growth and development
Not surprisingly, this skill leads to both personal and professional growth and development.
To start, this type of listening builds your foundation of knowledge. In order to learn something, you first need to listen. Knowing how to actually listen can help you better pick up information. Before you know it, you’ll be expanding your understanding of everything.
Active listening also introduces you to different perspectives, which aids your personal growth. Coming across new perspectives builds your self-awareness, too. When you pay attention to others, you can become more in touch with your own biases and personal areas of improvement.
Improved collaboration and problem solving
Problem solving and collaboration only works when you have all the right information. This type of listening ensures you have the correct information to go off of. You’ll be able to steer clear of any miscommunications or misunderstanding with active listening. Not only that, but you can make more informed decisions and problem solve effectively with accurate information.
Having access to diverse perspectives and an open discourse allows for increased innovation and creativity among groups. It’s hard to come up with and discuss new ideas with a group that does listen to others. For example, in a professional setting, this can do wonders for collaboration, innovation, and brainstorming.
In a similar vein, knowing how to listen actively can bolster team spirit, especially in work settings. It’s one of the best ways to avoid a toxic work environment: making sure everyone feels heard and appreciated.
Best of all, this type of listening can ease stress and decrease conflicts. That’s because active listening can clear up any potential misunderstandings before they evolve into conflicts.
When you have less conflict, you can focus on the things that matter, like relationship building.
Better relationships across the board
One of the best benefits of active listening is that it improves your relationships, both personal and professional.
Active listeners are able to establish a foundation of trust and understanding from the get go. You can connect easier with those around you since it shows people that you genuinely care what they have to say. Not only will they have their thoughts and feelings validated, but they’ll also feel an increased sense of trust with you.
Because this type of listening improves your communication skills, you’ll be a better communicator. Successful communication fosters connection and relationships, whether that’s at school, at work, or in your own time.
Plus, you’ll be better able to empathize and offer support when people need it. Through active listening, you can pinpoint problems easier and understand the emotions of others. Using that information, you can show your support in ways they’re looking for.
Barriers to Active Listening
That’s not to say that active listening is easy or even comes natural to people. There are quite a few obstacles to be aware of.
Here are some of the most common barriers to watch out for.
Distractions and multitasking
It should come as no surprise that external distractions can be a barrier to active listening. Some of the most common culprits include:
Loud, noisy environments
Surroundings that make you uncomfortable
Other people trying to talk to you
If you’re trying to multitask while listening to someone, this can also affect how well you’re able to listen.
Unconscious biases
Everyone has their own unconscious biases. It’s completely normal, which makes it one of the most significant barriers to active listening. These biases come in many forms, but they all have a commonality: hindering effective communication.
Cultural differences can also fuel this type of bias. For example, nonverbal cues like hand gestures can vary across cultures. Something that’s considered “normal” or harmless in one culture could be offensive in another, such as pointing.
Power dynamics
Depending on the setting, power dynamics can also prevent successful active listening. For example, if you’re in a situation where you think you might be judged, you’re less likely to be able to listen like you would if you were comfortable and relaxed.
If there’s a fear of retaliation, you’re even less likely to express your true opinions, feelings, or questions because of the perceived risk.
Active Listening Exercises to Try
If you want to practice implementing some of your skills in real-world scenarios, you can do so with a group of friends or coworkers.
Here are a few active listening exercises to try and experiment with.
Charades
Chances are, you’ve at least heard of the game known as charades. It’s an activity where participants use body language, such as facial expressions and hand gestures, to get other participants to guess what they’re imitating or describing.
This game is a perfect active listening exercise because it requires everyone to work on understanding nonverbal cues.
Paraphrasing activities
Because paraphrasing (or being able to paraphrase) is such a huge component of active listening, activities where participants are required to paraphrase are great.
If you’re looking for a good paraphrasing activity, try assigning participants a topic they can speak on. Let them speak for a few minutes and then have others in the room try to paraphrase the main points. This helps drive home the importance of listening carefully and reflecting on what was said before responding.
Friendly debates
Debating can be a serious business, but you can practice your active listening skills with a few friendly debates. Here’s how this active listening exercise works.
First, choose a debate topic. Pick something lighthearted, such as:
Which is better: mustard or ketchup?
Should cereal be considered a soup?
Do you appreciate books or movies more?
Would you rather have the power to teleport or have wings?
Which reigns superior: “Star Trek” or “Star Wars”?
Whatever it is, engage in a friendly debate about the topic. This puts your active listening skills to the test. You’ll have to listen to the other person’s points, reflect, and respond in a meaningful way while also interpreting their nonverbal cues.
Why Is Active Listening Important?
Active listening is important because it’s essential to effective communication. Whether you’re giving a presentation at work, interviewing for a job, or just engaging in small talk with a stranger, active listening is necessary.
Plus, all the aforementioned benefits of active listening adds to its importance.
The Main Takeaway
Learning how to become an active listener is well worth it. It’ll not only take your communication skills to the next level, but it can completely transform and revitalize your relationships with others.
It’s an underrated communication tool that many people overlook. All the more reason to perfect this skill!
Click here to watch the full episode on Banter, the Yoodli podcast.
Background
Bryan Lemos is one of the world’s best communication coaches and consultants. He started his career as a struggling actor and director in LA – before an eye-opening experience working in foreign aid taught him what inspires people to action. When Bryan returned home, he immersed himself in executive development and was asked to begin coaching Fortune 50 clients at LinkedIn, NBC, and Delta, among others. Bryan is now a Senior Consultant and Executive Communications Coach at Decker Communications, leading executive communications for clients such as Google, Fidelity, and Workday.
Bryan’s Challenge:
Slow coaching sales: Despite his impressive credentials, Bryan spent too much time convincing companies that they needed communication coaching help (especially for executive leaders and L&D teams with volatile budgets). Typical contracts took anywhere from 1 – 3 months to close
Manual work: While the most fun of Bryan’s job is to help clients be their best selves, he spent over 10 per week on admin work (recording client videos, reducing the file size to share over email, transcribing client speeches, critiquing tactical elements of their delivery as opposed to focusing on empathy and story)
Client churn: Most engagements involved 3 X 1:1 coaching sessions or one-off workshops. Given the infrequent nature of speech coaching, most clients would churn after their initial training sessions and Bryan would need to source new leads.
Solution and Results
Bryan signed up for a bespoke coach version of Yoodli’s AI coaching solution. With this, Bryan got a customized version of Yoodli with his branding, logo, and custom content that he could configure. His primary benefits from Yoodli:
Lead Generation: Bryan now uploads a prospective client’s speech to Yoodli, leaves comments, and sends it to the client as part of the initial proposal. When a client sees their speech critiqued quantitatively in a judgment-free way, their eyes light up. This has increased inbound discussions by over 20%+ Here are examples of celebrity speeches you can see as reference.
Time savings: With Yoodli, client speeches are automatically transcribed, can be shared with 1 click, and include AI coaching across executive presence, eye contact, word choice, etc. Bryan can quickly skim through the metrics, instantly tell where to double down, and leave timestamped feedback – this saves him up to 10 hours a week. Moreover, Bryan can show clients an instant replay of what they said during Zoom calls and then do run-throughs over and over again (without waiting for the Zoom recording to process)
Retention: With Yoodli, Bryan sells clients access to a one-year subscription. They can practice with AI anytime and can send Bryan speeches to asynchronously critique, thereby keeping him on retainer. The best part? Yoodli integrates with their online meetings – so clients can get (private) feedback anytime they’re speaking without anyone knowing (or without needing to schedule the time to practice)
Most importantly, practicing with AI gives his clients a better overall experience. They have an extension of Bryan by their side at all times – they can access his content on Yoodli, practice with AI, and then focus on the more nuanced pieces of speaking during their live coaching sessions.
Bryan’s initial concerns with AI
Bryan is more tech-forward than most speech coaches but was initially concerned about using artificial intelligence. His reasons:
Confidentiality: Most of his clients are C-Suite and high-level executives practicing extremely sensitive content – what if this leaked?
Intellectual Property: Bryan’s method is bespoke to him and built on years of experience. He wanted to ensure only his clients could access this coaching (and that it’s not used to train broader machine learning models)
AI could take jobs: Bryan was skeptical if AI might replace him. Even if the coaching isn’t as good, what if clients moved to AI as an alternative to their live sessions?
AI is too tactical: Most of Bryan’s coaching is focused on the nuance of storytelling and understanding the audience. He worried that AI may not be able to understand this context and provide feedback that is unhelpful or simply incorrect (thereby hurting his credibility)
How Bryan overcame his AI skepticism:
Bryan was intrigued by AI given all he had heard about ChatGPT but wasn’t quite convinced at first.
Confidentiality: By signing up for the customized coach version of Yoodli, Bryan got access to the most advanced privacy features on the market. His clients’ speeches are private by default (not even visible to him unless explicitly shared), instantly deleted, and locked behind enterprise-grade security and encryption
Intellectual Property: Bryan’s content belongs to him. On the advanced Yoodli plan, his content is not used to train AI models and is only accessible to his clients
AI could take jobs: Bryan realized that AI could not replace him because his coaching was far too bespoke. However, another coaching company using AI might. As a result, he switched his approach, positioning AI as his assistant. Yoodli is to Bryan what TurboTax is to accountants or a medical report is to doctors – a tool in his toolbelt
AI is too tactical: Bryan doesn’t always agree with Yoodli’s suggestions (every coach has their personal method). However, he’s now customized Yoodli with his learning content, his method, and custom prompts – he can engage with AI comments and tell his clients what to focus on.
What’s next for Bryan?
Bryan is now on the Yoodli coach advisory board and shaping the roadmap of AI and communication coaching. He advises coaches and companies around the world on how to use AI to scale themselves. You can connect with Bryan on LinkedIn. If you’d like to get started with a bespoke version of Yoodli, reach out at info@yoodli.ai
Chances are, you’re familiar with communication technology. Today, the use of smartphones, computers, and even AI chatbots make communication easier than ever.
Still, there are definitely drawbacks to this tech, too. We’ll give you the overview on what you need to know about this specific type of technology, from the common subtypes to the benefits and drawbacks, and which tools are worth trying out.
What Is Communication Technology?
Communication technology refers to tools and programs that allow people to give and receive pieces of information. In a nutshell, this type of technology allows and improves communication.
There are tons of examples of communication technology, and not all examples are digital. For example, something as simple as a pen and a piece of paper still counts as communication tech, as it aids in successful communication.
However, other communication technology examples that are newer could include things like:
Phones, including telephone calls and text messaging
There are tons of types of communication technology. Anything that can be used to benefit or boost communication should be considered.
Here are some of the most common types of communication technology.
Telephones
The most common type of communication technology today is phones — particularly smartphones. They’re a tried-and-true communication tool that allows for long distance connection.
Though telephones have changed a lot since their conception, the purpose behind them remains the same.
Instant messaging
For the past two decades, instant messaging has been a huge area of communication technology. For example, AOL instant messenger was a very popular method of communication in the late ’90s and 2000s. Microsoft’s MSN Messenger was another common tool during this time.
Today, instant messaging is available in many channels, such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook Messenger, Google Chat, Instagram, and other platforms.
Email
In a similar vein, email is another example of communication technology introduced decades ago that’s still going strong today.
For example, Hotmail was an email platform from Microsoft that was rebranded over time to Outlook. Still, it offers the same general services. Other common email platforms include:
Gmail
Yahoo Mail
Apple Mail
Windows Mail
Social media
It’s hard to imagine a world without social media, but before social media, connecting with others outside of a person’s usual circle was pretty difficult. Social media platforms — namely Facebook (Meta), X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Snapchat — are a great example of communication technology.
It helps people communicate from all over the world, instantaneously. For example, people can share photos, videos, and other information to better connect with others.
Video conferencing
Video conferencing is an extremely powerful communication technology tool that gives others the chance to talk with each other face-to-face, no matter where in the world they are. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of video conferencing apps like Zoom and Google Meet exploded in popularity. Because people could no longer have as many face-to-face meetings, Zoom meetings became the new normal, leading to unexpected side effects, such asZoom fatigue.
The internet
The concept of the internet — the World Wide Web — revolutionized communication. Since its conception, people have been able to talk to anyone across the globe online. Finding information became even more accessible and more efficient, especially with the introduction of Google’s search engine.
Other types of communication technology
There are also other types of communication technology that are less common or not considered as often. These include things like:
Printers
Wearable devices, like smartwatches such as Apple Watch or Fitbit, or other fitness trackers
Scanners
GPS devices
Fax machines
Radio
Television
9 Communication Technology Tools Worth Exploring
Within the past 100 years, communication technology has absolutely exploded. Today, there are so many options when it comes to tech tools to use for communication.
Here are the nine best communication technology tools you should be using.
In terms of communication technology — especially when it comes to improving your communication skills — Yoodli is the top pick.
This speech coach app relies on AI to aid users in building a foundation for their communication skills. It’s perfect for both professional environments and for personal use. As such, there are loads of solutions Yoodli can offer its users.
Some of the most common ways people use Yoodli include to:
Practice and prepare for interviews
Improve their public speaking skills
Prep for corporate or school presentations
Practice impromptu or conversational speaking
For example, you can record or upload a video of yourself practicing your upcoming presentation on DEIB and Yoodli will provide instantaneous data and metrics to help you improve.
You’ll get data like your speaking rate, filler word usage, word choice, talk time, for example. Yoodli uses this data to give actionable tips and feedback on how you can improve. If you struggle with inclusive language, Yoodli can identify instances of noninclusive language and provide you with alternatives to use.
Check out the overview video below to learn more about how to use Yoodli to your advantage:
Yoodli is one of the best communication technology examples on our list, as it helps the user improve their speech immediately.
One of the best instant messaging apps available is WhatsApp, a cross-platform, freeware service owned by Meta Platforms. With WhatsApp, you can send instant messages, voice and video messages, and media like documents, locations, and images. In addition to that, this app also allows users to make voice and video calls.
WhatsApp is available all over the world, making it one of the most common solutions for global communication. No matter where you are, you should be able to connect with others through WhatsApp.
It’s also extremely versatile, as it can be used in professional environments like at work or school, or in personal spaces, like a family group chat. It’s free to download and use, too.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed both educational and work environments all over the world as people shifted to virtual communication. As a result, Zoom became more popular than ever.
Zoom is a video conferencing app that allows people to participate in video calls. You can connect with your phone or your computer and join voice or video calls. You can also send instant messages in the chat box during calls.
This app revolutionized communication and collaboration, especially in professional settings. Things like Zoom interviews weren’t as common pre-pandemic, for example. It’s free to use, although there are paid plans that give users more features.
If you’re in the gaming community in any capacity, you’ve probably heard of Discord. It’s a tried-and-true instant messaging app released in 2015 that’s especially common with people who play computer games.
With Discord, you can set up private chats with friends or servers, which are usually larger chat rooms that can house topic-based channels and online communities. As a communication technology app, people who use Discord can send instant messages, media, and other files, as well as participate in video or voice calls.
It’s available in 30 different languages and is free to use.
One of the most well-known examples of communication technology is Slack, the messaging app targeted toward business teams.
Slack uses cloud-based technology to allow for instant messaging. Although it’s ideal for communication within businesses, companies, and other professional environments, Slack has definitely evolved as a more versatile platform.
On Slack, you can do things like:
Message coworkers within your organization
Create channels for teams to have a space for communication
Even though it was originally created for business environments and team communications, Google Chat has now expanded its audience to include virtually anyone. Developed by Google, this chat service allows users to instant message each other on the platform.
Still, Google Chat is most commonly used in work environments and other environments where teamwork and collaboration is the focus.
On the platform, you can do things like:
Instant message coworkers in real time
Create group chats for instant messaging or casual collaboration
Although it was previously known as Flipgrid, the creator of this popular web and mobile app (Microsoft) rebranded it as simply “Flip.” Flip is a free app targeted toward students and teachers to improve communication education and literacy.
For example, educators can use it to form online groups for their students who can then answer questions and provide feedback through various means of communication, like audio, text, or video messages.
To do so, teachers and professors invite students and create a group. Next, they may post a topic for discussion or an assignment that students can respond to. With Flip, the educator can see student responses and offer comments and feedback as well.
The app is pretty useful and as such, it’s one of the best educational communication technology examples out there.
Snapchat — recognizable by its iconic ghost logo — is a popular multimedia app for instant messaging. Users who have the app can find their friends and send instant messages, pictures, and videos to communicate. On the app, you can also upload “stories” which are photos or videos that are featured on your profile icon for about 24 hours.
During the past few years, Snapchat has released several updates, the latest being its introduction to My AI, the user’s personal generative AI chatbot assistant.
There is one drawback to Snapchat, depending on who you ask. The messages, videos, and pictures are usually only available for a few seconds. After you receive and open a message, it’ll typically disappear soon after.
Snapchat was launched in 2011 and is still going strong, more than a decade later.
One of the best note-taking apps, if not the best, is Evernote. It’s an app that helps with both note taking and task and project management. It’s a great communication technology tool, especially as it allows for online collaboration.
With Evernote, you can create notes (or archive them later) and include elements like audio, scans, web content, PDFs, documents, or photos. These notes can be edited, tagged, annotated, and exported, as well. Your notes live in online notebooks which can be searched for ease of access. They’ll automatically sync across your devices, too.
This app is especially beneficial if you’re a student or a corporate employee, since you can organize your schedule and tasks right on Evernote. It can help you make sure you don’t miss deadlines and it can even sync up to your Google Calendar. If you’re a student, make sure you check out Evernote’s student discount.
Benefits of Communication Technology
Because communication technology is meant to help people communicate with each other, there are naturally loads of benefits. For example, some of the main benefits to using communication technology are:
Increased efficiency
More access to global services and information
Better connection to friends and family members
Easier collaboration
Increased efficiency and convenience
Work across all industries have seen more efficiency and convenience thanks to communication technology. This type of tech can automate some tasks, similarly to how HR technology does, and this makes employees more productive. They can work on other, more pressing tasks and let their tech handle smaller things that can be streamlined. It’s more convenient this way, too.
More access to global services and information
Because the internet has made the globe a little smaller in terms of connectivity, people have more access to global services and information. Instead of being limited to the research and information nearest to you (whether that’s word-of-mouth or at your local library), you now have easy access to info on any topic.
It’s easier now than ever to learn about current events, research a certain subject, or learn a new skill entirely.
Better connection to friends and family members
Today, it doesn’t matter where your friends, family members, or coworkers are based — you’ll be able to connect with them through communication technology like phone calls, texts, and email.
This is one of the most significant benefits to this type of tech. It’s particularly helpful for people whose friends, family members, and coworkers live farther away from each other and for those who live in remote areas.
Easier collaboration
Despite the push for employees to return to the office after working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, communication technology has boosted collaborative efforts and made collaborating easier than it’s ever been.
People all over the world can brainstorm together virtually using videoconferencing apps or email, for example. Students, corporate employees, and anyone else can use this type of technology to connect with each other and throw ideas around.
Even in in-person settings, communication technology has facilitated teamwork and collaborative efforts.
Drawbacks of Communication Technology
That doesn’t mean this type of technology exists without any disadvantages. Although there are tons of benefits, there are definitely some drawbacks to communication technology.
Leads to privacy violations
People say once something’s posted on the internet, it never truly goes away, even if you delete it. This is certainly true to an extent, which is one of the reasons why communication technology can lead to privacy violations and concerns over personal (and even governmental) security.
AI has had similar consequences, as scammers can use it to imitate a person’s voice — say, a friend or family member — and pretend to be in an emergency situation that warrants you to send money to them, for example.
Your data can be mined from the internet and used against you and without your consent. Cyberattacks are a common but unintended consequence of this technology.
Spreads misinformation, quickly and efficiently
As the world witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly on social media platforms and the internet in general. Because information is so much more accessible, misinformation and disinformation are just as widely available.
Common myths begin on the internet and tend to crop up in topic areas like politics, social and cultural subjects, and health.
Can be distracting and addictive
If you’ve ever had a smartphone or a social media account of any kind, you probably have an idea of how distracting phones can be. Communication technology uses lots of different notifications, whether that’s a phone ringing, an instant message ping, or a push notification on your phone.
Unfortunately, these types of notifications can be very distracting. Communication technology can even be addictive in some circumstances. Many people are tempted to continuously check their phone. It’s the first thing they do when they wake up and the last thing they do before they go to bed, oftentimes.
Feeds social inequality
Although this wasn’t an intended consequence of communications technology, it can definitely lead to new forms of social inequality. For example, some, if not most, of communication technology is considered a privilege, not a right. Even though information is more easily accessible than ever, not everyone has access to a computer or smartphone.
In addition to that, not everyone has the same level of digital literacy. Some people are unfamiliar with the inner workings of the internet or other communication tools which can put them at a disadvantage, such as when applying for various jobs.
Just as communication technology can spread misinformation, it can also promote hate speech and discrimination, especially on social media. This leads to a greater divide amongst groups of people, which directly feeds into social inequities.
Algorithmic biases are also another consequence of this kind of technology that helps fuel inequality. A social media platform may promote one user over another, or boost the posts of someone over another person based on biases. This leads to echo chambers — a concept that leads to confirmation bias as it shows content that aligns with a person’s pre-existing views instead of all types of content.
Communication Technology Trends
It’s no wonder that communication technology trends are constantly changing as the tech itself evolves. The trends are endless, but there are a few in particular that have begun to grow in popularity.
One such trend, for example, is the use of AI in this type of tech. Machine learning (ML) has also grown extensively. Tools like ChatGPT and Bard are great examples of communication tech that falls into this trend.
As mentioned above, videoconferencing has exploded in popularity thanks in part to the recent pandemic. The concept of telepresence is such a significant trend that it’s touched multiple industries. Not only can people work from home when they need to, but they can also schedule telehealth appointments or even virtual social hours.
Mobile-first technology is yet another trend seen among communication technology tools. This has been a shift to devices like tablets and smartphones. In order to cater to the mobile-first shift, apps and websites are specially designed for mobile interfaces.
The Key Takeaway
Communication technology isn’t new, but its uses, applications, popularity, and trends continue to evolve. Using technology like Yoodli, Zoom, or Gmail all improve efficient communication among others to foster connection and collaboration.
This kind of tech has a whole host of benefits and drawbacks alike, though new advantages and disadvantages continue to crop up every day.
Speaking passionately is a powerful and persuasive communication skill that transcends mere words. Passionate speakers leave a lasting impression, whether they’re addressing a room full of people or engaging in one-on-one conversations. We’ll discuss what passionate speech is and share practical advice on how to speak passionately.
What Is Passionate Speech?
If you wanted to find another phrase that pairs well with “passionate speaking,” you might use “how to speak eloquently,” as they often go hand-in-hand. But, it’s difficult if not impossible to find an exact substitute. Passion when speaking is a quality that can be hard to describe — a je ne sais quoi. But, you know passion when you read it; you know it when you hear it.
Passionate communication can refer to spoken (public or interpersonal) or written language. It’s the art of using language in a fluent, ardent, and emotionally impactful way. Passion often involves the skillful use of rhetoric, including techniques such as metaphors and similes to create a compelling and memorable message.
Passion in speaking isn’t restricted to a specific vocabulary or accent. Instead, it’s about how you convey your message. It’s a quality that entails using language in a way that resonates with your listeners — making complex ideas accessible and evoking emotions when needed. A person who knows how to speak passionately possesses the ability to inspire, persuade, and engage their audience — leaving them not just informed but moved.
In short, passionate speaking is a work of art. It’s not merely uttered; it’s crafted. It’s not a blaring car horn; it’s a symphony.
#1: Learn from Passionate Speaking Examples
Examples of passionate speaking will demonstrate what it is and help you know how to speak passionately yourself. So, if you want to be a passionate speaker, read a lot of well-written material. Listen to speeches that are crafted and delivered brilliantly.
To get you started, let’s take a look at a few examples of passionate speech from public speaking as well as interpersonal communications. We’ve contrasted each example with alternative language to drive home the difference. Read these examples aloud to get the full effect.
Passionate speaking examples from speeches
“Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”
Repetition of “Now” at the beginning of each sentence
Alliteration with dark/desolate and segregation/sunlit
Imagery of “the dark and desolate valley,” “the sunlit path,” “the quick sands,” and “the solid rock”
What if King had used these words instead?
“The present time is appropriate for the realization of the pledges associated with democracy. It is also the time to transition from segregation to racial justice, as well as to relocate from racial injustice to brotherhood.”
It’s the same message, but it doesn’t hold the same passion. Let’s look at an example from another icon in public speaking.
“Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’”
Notice how clear Churchill is about the grave reality they face. He doesn’t mince words; he doesn’t present a rose-colored vision. While he uses figurative language, it serves to make reality concrete rather than obscure or soften it. Imagine that Churchill had said this instead:
“Hitler is aware that he must defeat us on this island or face defeat in the overall war. If we can successfully resist him, there’s a chance that all of Europe could become free, and the global situation may improve significantly. However, if we don’t succeed, the entire world, including the United States and everything we cherish, will face a prolonged and darker period, exacerbated by the misuse of scientific advancements. So, we should prepare ourselves for our responsibilities and conduct ourselves in a way that, even if the British Empire and its Commonwealth endure, people will still remember this as a noteworthy moment in our history.”
Informative, but not as passionate.
Passionate speaking examples from interpersonal communication
Passionate speaking isn’t limited to public speeches; it can occur in conversation. If you want to learn how to speak passionately, read material such as literary fiction that’s strong in dialogue. Let’s look at some examples from fiction.
“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature.”
Jane Austen • Northanger Abbey
Imagine if Austen had written it this way:
“I’d do anything for my real friends. I wouldn’t even think of partially loving people; that’s not like me at all.”
Are you starting to get the hang of it? Let’s look at another example from Austen.
“Oh! Do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch.”
Jane Austen • Mansfield Park
Are you reading these aloud? Listen to this alternate wording:
“Please spare me the lectures about time constraints. Watches are unreliable, and I won’t let one be the boss of me.”
Now, you might be thinking that the difference is between 19th-century and modern language. So, let’s look at some examples of passionate speech from more recent works.
“So, how, children, does the brain, which lives without a spark of light, build for us a world full of light?”
Anthony Doerr • All the Light We Cannot See
What would that beautiful sentence sound like if it weren’t as passionate? Perhaps like this:
“A brain is stuck inside a dark skull. So, how can it generate a bright reality?”
Let’s consider another example from modern dialogue:
“‘Loving someone is like moving into a house,’ Sonja used to say. ‘At first you fall in love with all the new things, amazed every morning that all this belongs to you, as if fearing that someone would suddenly come rushing in through the door to explain that a terrible mistake had been made, you weren’t actually supposed to live in a wonderful place like this. Then over the years the walls become weathered, the wood splinters here and there, and you start to love that house not so much because of all its perfection, but rather for its imperfections.’”
Fredrik Backman • A Man Called Ove
Now, what if Sonja weren’t as passionate?
“Loving someone is like moving into a house. First, you’re in love with everything that’s new. You can’t believe it’s yours, and you worry every day that someone will tell you they’ve made a big mistake and it’s not yours after all. Over time, things in the house get old and start to break, and you end up loving the house because it’s not perfect, not because it’s perfect.
By now, you should notice that passionate language isn’t boring; it isn’t clunky. It gets the message across, for sure, but it does more than inform. It’s elevated in some way. And, you don’t have to be Martin Luther King Jr. or a character in a celebrated work of literature to speak with passion. Let’s look at some dialogue from the fabulous flick “The Princess Bride.”
Inigo Montoya asks Westley who he is. Westley could respond, “Nobody.” Instead, he says, “No one of consequence.”
When Inigo shows Westley his sword, Westley could say, “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Instead, he remarks, “I’ve never seen its equal.”
Count Rugen tells Westley, “Come, Sir. We must get you to your ship.” Westley could say, “We’re individuals who prioritize taking practical steps and decisive measures. We don’t lie.” Instead, he offers this retort: “We are men of action; lies do not become us.” (This is a good example that shows that wordiness isn’t a feature of passionate speaking; often, passionate speech is concise.)
When Buttercup tells Westley that she’ll never doubt him again, he could say, “You won’t have to.” Instead, he says, “There will never be a need.”
These examples should help you get into the habit of noticing the differences between language that’s ho-hum and language that’s full of passion.
#2: Broaden Your Vocabulary for Passionate Speaking
People who know how to speak passionately have fairly broad vocabularies. Passion often involves choosing just the right words for the occasion. So, it helps to have more words to choose from.
Again, it helps to be an avid reader. Read widely; explore different genres and eras. Take note of words that are new to you, look up their meaning, notice how they’re used, and practice using them yourself.
In addition to reading a lot, you can use vocabulary-building apps, play word games, keep a vocabulary journal, create flashcards, and write more.
Keep in mind that building your vocabulary is an ongoing process. Gradually, you’ll find yourself using a broader range of words in your everyday communication, making your language more expressive and nuanced.
Also, remember that passionate speaking isn’t about using big and fancy words that most people don’t know; it’s about using the right words. The more words you know, the more options you’ll have.
#3: Embrace the Power of Rhetoric for Passionate Speaking
Rhetorical devices add depth and beauty to your language. Several of the examples above include techniques such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism. The more you’re exposed to rhetorical devices, the more you’ll recognize them and find ways to use them yourself. So, listen to speeches and debates, and read rhetorical works. Study the techniques. Practice using them. (You can practice creating metaphors with the fun online game Metaphor Mania.)
Wrapping Up
Speaking passionately is a valuable skill that can elevate your personal and professional life. It’s not about sounding posh; it’s about connecting with others through the art of language. By mastering the basics, expanding your vocabulary, and practicing the techniques of rhetoric, you can become a more effective and impactful communicator.
Remember, passionate speaking is a journey. And, with dedication and practice, you can transform your speech into a powerful tool that leaves a lasting impression on your listeners.
Note: This post was created in partnership with artificial intelligence.
The National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) was founded over 90 years ago to help students develop their communication, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.
Today, the NSDA offers a variety of resources to help middle and high school students succeed in speech and debate, including competitions, training, and scholarships.
Let’s take a closer look at the National Speech & Debate Association.
About the NSDA
The NSDA has evolved over the years, but its mission remains the same.
NSDA’s Mission, Vision, & Values
The National Speech & Debate Association’s mission is to “connect, support, and inspire a diverse community committed to empowering students through speech and debate.”
Their vision is for every school to have speech and debate initiatives that develop students’ skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.
The NSDA upholds core values of equity, integrity, respect, leadership, and service.
NSDA’s History
The National Speech & Debate Association has a rich history rooted in the efforts of its founder, Bruno Ernst Jacob. Born in Wisconsin in 1899, Jacob was a social studies teacher and debate coach at Chippewa Falls High School. But, during his college years, Jacob’s passion for speech and debate education took shape. He compiled a widely circulated handbook called “Suggestions for the Debater,” which indirectly led to the establishment of the National Forensic League in 1925.
The organization reached 100,000 members by the end of 1956 and 300,000 in 1969. In 1975, the League moved away from the Ripon College campus and got its own building.
Starting in 1995, the League extended its membership to middle school students. And, in 2000, its membership reached one million. In 2004, the organization held its first international competitions, with students from eight countries participating.
The organization changed its name from the National Forensic League to the National Speech & Debate Association in 2014.
NSDA Membership
NSDA membership is through schools. Students and/or faculty at a middle or high school can set up an NSDA team that students can join. School membership is renewable annually for $149 (high school) or $75 (middle school). A school can choose to purchase NSDA’s resource package subscription for $199 annually.
Some schools and programs are eligible for membership grants.
NSDA provides resources, training, and competitions for various skill levels. Of course, participating students sharpen their communication and debate skills. And, they can earn recognition from the National Speech & Debate Association’s Honor Society and engage in community service activities.
Student membership costs $20 for high school students and $10 for middle school students. This is a one-time enrollment fee for the entirety of their schooling.
Coaches
Each NSDA team has a coach or a group of coaches. They manage the team and train its members. Anyone can be a coach; you don’t have to be a school staff member or a trained and experienced debate and speech coach. NSDA has resources to get new coaches up to speed.
The NSDA offers free, online practices for nonmembers. Learn about their Springboard Scrimmages.
NSDA Resources
NSDA provides resources for debate coaching, speech coaching, self-guided learning for students, and team management. Some resources are free, some are available only to members, and some are available only to resource package subscribers.
NSDA organizes a variety of competitive events for speech and debate.
Speech competitions include the interpretive events of Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Poetry, Storytelling, and more. They also include public address events such as Impromptu, Informative Speaking, and Original Oratory.
NSDA’s debate events include Big Questions, Congressional Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and Policy Debate.
The National Speech & Debate Association’s Honor Society recognizes middle school and high school students and coaches for their participation in speech and debate activities. Members of the Honor Society are held to the highest standards of character, integrity, and service—reflecting the core values of the organization.
Honor Society members earn merit points when they compete, serve, and lead in their school and community. Those points add up and translate to degrees. For example, 250 points earn a member the Distinction degree. The top is Premier Distinction, which requires a minimum of 1,500 merit points. Coaches, too, can earn Honor Society degrees.
Honor Society membership motivates and acknowledges students’ efforts, and it helps them rise to the top in college admissions.
Professional Development Program
The National Speech & Debate Association offers free on-demand professional development courses for member coaches.
They provide professional accreditation programs for speech and debate coaches, with different levels and specialization tracks. The first level is the Speech and Debate Coaching Endorsement, which requires completion of specific courses and a fee.
Coaches can choose to continue with the Coaching Track or the Teaching Track for further endorsements. The Coaching Track recognizes the skills required for coaching programs beyond the school day. The Teaching Track recognizes the unique skills required for teaching speech and debate in the classroom setting. Each track has additional levels of endorsement with specific requirements.
The National Speech & Debate Association also offers a conference video archive with videos from past National Conferences.
Wrapping Up
If you’re a middle or high school student who wants to develop valuable communication skills, the National Speech & Debate Association could be an excellent option for you. NSDA membership is a great way to enhance your education and set yourself up for career success.
If you’re someone who loves to foster young people’s growth and achievement, NSDA coaching might be a good opportunity for you to get involved in your community and help shape the future.
Unconscious bias is extremely common, more so that conscious, explicit bias. Even so, it can be hard to recognize and work on your own preconceived notions and biases.
Everyone can work on their unconscious bias. We’ll explain what this type of bias is, how it manifests, and ways in which you can work on it on both an individual and large-scale level.
Everything You Should Know About Unconscious Bias
Unconscious bias — also called implicit associations — is a type of bias toward other people outside of your own understanding or consciousness. People with unconscious bias have certain social stereotypes about groups of people.
As a refresher, bias refers to holding discriminatory beliefs about a person or a group of people. For example, identity groups are often targets of bigotry.
Some common communities that face bias include:
Minority racial groups and people of color
The LGBTQ community, especially in terms of gender and sexual orientation
People with various religious groups that are often stereotyped
The disabled community (including people with invisible disabilities)
People with body differences, such as a larger body size
Older and younger generations, especially in the workplace (ageism)
There are two main types of bias. One is unconscious bias or implicit bias. The other is conscious bias or explicit bias.
With conscious bias, the person is fully aware of their bigotry and its effects, as opposed to unconscious bias, where the person doesn’t fully understand their prejudices.
Who has this kind of bias?
Everyone has unconscious bias. In fact, research shows that most unconscious prejudices start early in life, typically beginning during childhood. As the person grows up, these biases continue to grow and develop.
It’s a human trait to categorize people into various identity or social groups, and having these biases is normal.
Still, that doesn’t mean it’s harmless.
How common is this type of bias?
Since everyone has some unconscious bias, it’s extremely common. That being said, it’s even more common than outright, conscious bigotry.
What triggers it?
Although everyone develops this type of bias during their life, there are some situations that can trigger unconscious bias. Here’s an example.
If you’re working under pressure, stressed, or multi-tasking, this can prompt unconscious assumptions or attitudes.
How do you identify this type of bias?
There are many ways to identify unconscious bias. One way is to surround yourself with diverse groups of people. You can also read up on identity groups that you’re not a part of and the concept of DEIB.
However, taking an unconscious bias test can better identify biases that are below the surface that you’re not aware of (learn more about this below).
How Does Unconscious Bias Affect People?
Unconscious bias has a negative effect on people. These biases affect a person’s behavior toward others.
For example, the impact of unconscious bias has been extensively studied, especially in areas like:
Education departments
Health and healthcare space
Criminal justice system
Unconscious Bias Examples
Unfortunately, there are tons of unconscious bias examples to consider when taking a look at your own internal prejudices and beliefs.
Here are some common unconscious bias examples, including in the workplace and healthcare sphere.
Most common unconscious bias examples
Because it’s so common, chances are, you’ll recognize and even possibly be able to identify your own prejudices through these unconscious bias examples. Here are 17 types of unconscious bias examples to watch out for.
1. Racial bias: This type of prejudice assigns stereotypes to people of different racial groups and backgrounds.
2. Gender bias: Gender bias is a societal habit to discriminate based on preconceived notions or the historical discrimination of various genders.
3. Affinity bias: This kind of bias — which is also referred to as similarity bias — is the habit of making connections with those who are similar to you in terms of their experiences, background, and interests.
4. Confirmation bias: One of the most popular biases is confirmation bias, which is a type where you tend to come to conclusions about someone only based on your individual prejudices as opposed to honestly reviewing the situation.
5. Halo effect: When you have a tendency to place someone on a pedestal after you hear something remarkable about that person, this is called the halo effect.
6. Attribution bias: When you judge someone’s behavior only based on past interactions, this is known as attribution bias.
7. Ageism: With ageism, people have preconceived notions about others solely based on their age. For example, some people believe younger generations (such as Gen Z) “don’t want to work” these days. On the contrary, others believe older generations (such as Baby Boomers) are extremely resistant to change and have trouble adjusting to the modern age, especially with technology.
8. Authority bias: This kind of bias is when people consider opinions or ideas more only because the person who suggested it is in an authority position.
9. Conformity bias: You might be more familiar with the term “peer pressure,” but both of these terms are essentially synonymous. With this type, regardless of your actual beliefs, you’re more likely to conform to fit in with the people around you.
10. Horn effect: When you tend to see someone in a bad light after you figure out something negative or unsavory about them, this is called the horn effect.
11. Anchor bias: Also known as expectation anchor bias, this type refers to situations where people make decisions using one piece of information.
12. Contrast effect: When you compare things that you’ve experienced and exaggerate one over the other, this is called the contrast effect. You might see one thing as being way better than the other (or much worse) instead of perceiving it normally.
13. Nonverbal bias: If you evaluate things like hand gestures or other types of body language and that informs your opinions or decisions, this is nonverbal bias.
14. Beauty bias: Also referred to colloquially as “pretty privilege,” is when people believe that those who are more conventionally attractive are also more qualified, successful, and capable than those who aren’t.
15. Height bias: This type is exactly what it sounds like: a bias toward short or tall people based on preconceived notions.
16. Name bias: Name bias is extremely common. This refers to the habit of preferring people with particular names and judging people with other types of names. Usually, more “Western” or Anglo origin names are “preferred” whereas names originating for other regions are unfairly discriminated against.
17. Overconfidence bias: If you tend to be more confident in your abilities than you really should be, this is known as overconfidence bias.
Unconscious bias in the workplace
In the workplace — no matter what industry — unconscious bias is common and ever-present. As such, many researchers have studied this type of bias in work environments.
For example, one study on labor market discrimination found that resumes with “white-sounding names” got 50% more interview offers than resumes with “Black-sounding names.”
In another more recent study, science faculty favored students who were men over women as a result of their gender biases. Researchers found that applicants for a lab manager role who were men were actually considered more hireable and capable. For applicants who were men, science faculty offered not only more mentoring, but also a larger starting salary.
Unconscious bias in healthcare
Many groups face disparities in healthcare — namely people of color and LGBTQ folks. Researchers believe that unconscious bias might fuel some of these healthcare disparities.
Healthcare providers like doctors and nurses have implicit biases that actually affect their understanding, decision-making, and ultimately, the care the patient receives.
There have been dozens of studies about decision-making in healthcare and unconscious bias. Racial bias in particular is extremely common with healthcare professionals. Research shows that a provider’s beliefs about race affects their decision-making.
Unconscious Bias Training
A great way to mitigate this type of bias in various spaces and on an individual level as well is unconscious bias training. Unconscious bias training is a resource you can use to raise awareness of this type of bias and how it’s unjustly connected to a person’s abilities or persona.
The goal of the training is to ultimately eliminate bigotry toward friends, peers, clients, colleagues, and other people you might interact with on a daily basis. For example, in the workplace specifically, unconscious bias training can keep personal biases from affecting decisions related to hiring, terminating employment, and promotions.
However, research shows that unconscious bias training isn’t working as it should. Psychologist Patrick Forscher and his associates conducted a meta-analysis in 2019 of over 490 studies. In their analysis, which covered around 80,000 people, they discovered that people’s behavior didn’t change after the training.
Albeit discouraging, unconscious bias training can definitely work. The key is to make sure it’s not a one-off training session. Instead, entities like universities and workplaces need to emphasize that it’s a life-long journey.
A good unconscious bias training doesn’t just give examples of how biases can manifest — Instead, it teaches participants how to evaluate their prejudices, alter their behavior, and even keep up with and analyze their progress as they go.
Instead of simply showing examples, unconscious bias training can provide attendees with information that disproves common stereotypes while also offering connections to people outside of an individual’s usual circle.
True unconscious bias training is a lifelong effort that entities should continuously work on and encourage.
Unconscious Bias Test
For people who want to work on their internal prejudices, there’s one unconscious bias test in particular worth checking out.
The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is one of the most common, trusted unconscious bias tests out there.
Researchers designed the IAT to identify and more easily recognize unconscious bias. This unconscious bias test is based on aspects like:
Gender
Race
Ethnicity
Sexual orientation
Project Implicit — a network of researchers, technicians, and labs across the University of Virginia, Harvard University, and the University of Washington — aided the development of the IAT as part of its mission to acknowledge and recognize internal stereotypes.
How does the unconscious bias test work?
This unconscious bias test works by examining various concepts and measuring how strong the resulting associations are. For example, people are tasked with placing words or images into categories on a computer.
Researchers know that when two ideas are easily correlated, the individuals taking the test paired the words or images into a category quickly. However, two concepts that testers don’t envision as being associated would have a weak association.
The IAT is an important way to measure unconscious bias because it looks specifically at a type of bias that lays under the surface level.
For example, on the surface, you might think that all genders should be equally associated with, say, mathematics. However, your IAT results might show that you actually have automatic associations that you envision men as mathematicians more than women.
Ways to Avoid Unconscious Bias
Luckily, unconscious biases aren’t necessarily permanent. Once you’re aware, you can become more diligent and make sure you acknowledge and mitigate the negative effects of your biases.
Experts suggest looking at unconscious bias on not only the individual level, but also on a higher societal level.
Individual ways to avoid unconscious bias
In terms of how to avoid unconscious bias yourself, there are plenty of ways to get started recognizing and acknowledging these internal prejudices.
Here are five easy ways to avoid unconscious bias on an individual level.
Explore your own existing knowledge and self-awareness of bias. Take a deep dive into the concept of bias as a whole to explore what it is and how it affects behavior.
Use inclusive language. Using inclusive language and continuously updating your vernacular is a great way to avoid this bias.
Take an unconscious bias test like the IAT to evaluate and identify your own biases. This way, you can be specific in what you need to improve.
Surround yourself with a diverse group of friends, coworkers, and colleagues. Having discussions with people outside of your own identity or cultural group can help you begin to unpack biases and understand others.
Internally acknowledge (or write down in a personal journal) biases that you have and how to challenge them. Writing them down gives you a safe space to process and worth through your personal biases.
Keep in mind how common unconscious bias is. Knowing how prevalent it is on an individual level across society is important to continue the fight against bigotry.
Another way to avoid unconscious bias is through Yoodli, a free communication coach.
Yoodli can analyze your speech and speaking patters when you upload or record a video of yourself talking. Although Yoodli provides a plethora of helpful metrics — namely, speaking pace, word choice, and filler word usage — you can also actively work on your own unconscious bias.
To detect your unconscious bias, Yoodli evaluates a few metrics, such as monologuing, interruptions, and non-inclusive language.
For example, going on long monologues is a sign that you’re not listening or letting others participate in the conversation. When you interrupt other speakers, that’s another hint that you might not be letting other participants express themselves.
Yoodli will also flag any potentially non-inclusive language for you, too. That way, you can not only recognize what terms and phrases might be problematic, but you can also work to improve on that specifically.
With Yoodli, you can work on your unconscious bias in a completely safe space. Learn more below:
Nip your unconscious bias in the bud with Yoodli.
Societal ways to avoid unconscious bias
You can also avoid unconscious bias by using larger, more societal-scale strategies.
Here are four methods to challenge unconscious bias at this level, especially for employers.
Host and attend unconscious bias training sessions or guided discussions to better understand the biases themselves and the ways to combat them. For example, you can host unconscious bias training at your workplace or university to minimize the harm caused in these spaces in particular.
At both university institutions and workplace environments, partner with diverse groups to create solid goals to eliminate stereotyping when hiring, mentoring, evaluating, and promoting individuals. This can give both universities and workplaces a roadmap to avoiding this type of bias.
Normalize calling out and addressing bias at a team level (e.g., at your place of work or university). Having a positive team culture of checking biases can make all the difference.
Be willing to hold yourself accountable at a team level. This goes for anyone on the team. If you’re in a position of power however, it’s even more crucial for you to acknowledge and mitigate your own biases in front of other people.
The Bottom Line
If you have unconscious bias, don’t worry — it’s very normal and expected. Still, that doesn’t mean you should simply accept it. The best thing to do is accept it and begin your journey on unlearning these preconceived notions.
Take it one day at a time and remember to continue educating yourself.
Being confident isn’t always easy. If you want to improve your self-confidence, don’t worry: it’s completely doable.
In our comprehensive guide, we’ll give you all the information and tools you need to boost your self-confidence — in just seven steps.
What Is Self-Confidence?
Self-confidence is your own belief and attitude toward yourself and your capabilities. When you’re self-confident, you’re proud and trust yourself completely. Because of that, you also tend to have an optimistic, positive perspective when you’re confident in yourself.
Self-esteem vs. self-confidence
The line between self-esteem and self-confidence is thin because they tend to overlap. Still, that doesn’t mean they’re the same.
While self-esteem refers to how you value and respect yourself, self-confidence includes the faith you have in yourself and your capabilities.
Even so, the two terms really go hand-in-hand.
Self-confidence synonyms
If you’re unfamiliar with what self-confidence means, sometimes a few synonyms can help shed light on the meaning.
Some of the best self-confidence synonyms include:
Belief in oneself
Self-assurance
Inner strength
Self-reliance
Positive self-image
Signs You Have Low Self-Confidence
Low-self confidence means that you have trouble trusting yourself and others because you don’t feel confident in yourself.
Signs you have low-confidence could include things like:
Having trouble hearing criticism about yourself
Feeling inferior, sad, ashamed, worthless, anxious, depressed, or even angry
Experiencing self-doubt
Having a hard time accepting compliments
Becoming upset when someone else disapproves
Steering clear of tasks or obstacles only because you’re afraid you’ll fail
If you do think you have low self-confidence, there’s no need to stress. There are plenty of simple, easy ways to boost your self-confidence.
7 Easy Ways to Improve Your Self-Confidence
If you’re looking to improve your self-confidence, look no further. We’ve simplified the best ways to improve your confidence in yourself in just seven simple ways.
Here are the seven best ways to boost your self-confidence.
1. Recognize your own strengths.
Recognizing and acknowledging your own strengths and “wins” is very important to boosting and maintaining your self-confidence. Knowing what you’re best at emphasizes your abilities and helps you visualize your achievements better. This includes celebrating your own accomplishments and following your progress.
If you don’t immediately know what your personal strengths are, that’s totally OK. Here are some helpful ways you can recognize and identify your strengths:
Ask your friends and family members what they think your strengths are
Take some time to figure out what you like most and why you like them (this can jog your memory and help you realize your skills)
2. Practice your impromptu speaking skills.
You might not be surprised to find out that your own self-confidence is often tied to your ability to communicate effectively. One of the best ways to improve your self-confidence is to work on your communication skills.
To improve your view of yourself and your abilities, try working with an AI speech coach like Yoodli.
Yoodli uses AI technology to analyze your speech and speaking patterns when you upload or record a video of yourself talking. As part of its analysis, you’ll get not only a full transcript of what was said, but also specific metrics and insights to your own speech.
For example, you’ll automatically get specific data on things like your:
Speaking pace
Word choice (including filler word usage)
Body language
Cohesiveness
This speech coach also gives you clear, actionable feedback. That might be to slow down when you’re speaking, to avoid using as many filler words, or even to reword sections of your speech to improve the flow.
Using Yoodli during virtual work meetings can also be insightful, too. By using Private Yoodli, you can take a look at these metrics and analytics during an actual meeting. Plus, this speech coach can give you tips in real-time to improve your speech, so you’ll be more confident than ever.
Learn more about how that works below:
By taking advantage of real-time coaching from Yoodli, you can improve your self-confidence in speaking.
3. Read some self-confidence books.
Sometimes, reading about self-confidence and methods to improve can make a world of difference. Luckily, there’s tons of research and literature about having confidence and faith in yourself, so you’ll have an entire library of potential books to choose from.
Some of the best self-confidence books include titles like:
If you still find yourself needing some inspiration, check out these seven best motivational speeches.
4. Set (realistic) goals for yourself.
Setting goals is easy, but setting realistic goals? That’s a bit more difficult. Setting a realistic goal means identifying what you need to accomplish and how. Experts recommend setting SMART goals, an acronym that can be defined as follows:
S for “specific”
M for “measurable”
A for “attainable”
R for “relevant”
T for “time-bound”
To make the goals a bit more visible, try writing them down along with any steps you’ve identified to work towards them. If you appreciate lists, you can organize the steps into a checklist and check them off as you go, so you can visually see your progress.
Remember, perfection in humans doesn’t exist. It’s the same with the phrase “practice makes perfect.” Instead, a better phrase to use might be “practice makes progress.”
5. Learn to say no.
Saying no can be incredibly difficult. However, learning to say no to things you don’t want to do (or can’t do) is a must to boost your self-confidence.
First one thing, you’ll feel more confident in yourself that you even have the strength to say no. But beyond that, learning to say no ensures that you don’t take on too much work, take on work you hate, or work that you don’t have time for. This keeps your life less stressful and you’ll be proud of your ability to decline requests from people when needed.
6. Express your needs.
One of the biggest mistakes people make with self-confidence is not expressing their needs, emotions, and feelings. Hiding or feeling uncomfortable expressing yourself is tied to low confidence.
Expressing your needs could apply to anything. Although it certainly applies to romantic relationships, it can also refer to professional relationships, friendships, or even just to the person waiting on your table at a restaurant.
You’ll improve your confidence when you’re able to voice any concerns, needs, or emotions and have faith in yourself while doing so.
7. Stop making assumptions.
Making assumptions can seriously harm your confidence. On the other hand, actively ceasing to make assumptions can boost your self-confidence. Making assumptions about other people, situations, or even just yourself is a slippery slope that leads to a lack of confidence.
You might be surprised to realize how often you make assumptions, especially about other people. For example, you might be afraid to speak up and ask questions at work or school.
Your first thought may be, “But what if everyone thinks I’m dumb for asking this question?” By thinking this, you’re automatically making an assumption that everyone in the room will question your intelligence and competence merely because you asked a question.
If you go into work without assuming that, you’ll feel much more self-assured asking questions, for example.
Although it’s easier said than done, taking a moment to recognize assumptions you make about yourself, other people, or situations can help you avoid a ding to your confidence.
Why Is Self-Confidence Important?
Self-confidence is important because research shows that having confidence in yourself improves not only your social life, but also your health. And these benefits aren’t just brief — they’re long-term benefits.
Researchers found that people who have high levels of self-confidence often have:
Better mental health
Fruitful relationships
Improved physical health
Improved success at work or school
These are just a few reasons why self-confidence is important, but there are plenty of other benefits you can reap from boosting your confidence in yourself.
Best Self-Confidence Quotes
Before we wrap up, here are the best self-confident quotes to inspire and motivate you.
If you’re feeling low or having trouble with motivation, some of the following self-confidence quotes might help:
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” –Maya Angelou
“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” –e e cummings
“Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.” –Michelle Obama
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” –Vincent Van Gogh
“It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else’s eyes.” –Sally Field
“Always be yourself — express yourself, have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.” –Bruce Lee
“You have no control over other people’s taste, so focus on staying true to your own.” –Tim Gunn
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” –Oscar Wilde
“Tear off the mask, your face is glorious.” –Rumi
Next time you’re feeling low, try reading or even saying some of these self-confidence quotes aloud — it’s an easy way to “trick” your mind into feeling a bit more positive about yourself.
The Bottom Line
Self-confidence is incredibly important and should be a life goal for everyone to improve their own self-confidence. The benefits are essentially endless and the actual process of building up your own confidence doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
By following the above seven ways to improve your self-confidence, you’ll be able to start your own journey to improvement. Just remember to have patience with yourself and to recognize that every person is on their own journey.
Comedy has been around since the beginning of time in many forms and types of humor.
Even so, humor is often underlooked, especially in terms of using it in everyday speech or even in professional settings. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore using this speaking tactic for yourself.
Check out the seven best types of humor to use in speech, how to use them, and what that could look like depending on your individual goals.
What Are Types of Humor?
Although maybe people view humor and comedy as one entity, there are tons of types of humor (and subtypes).
Since the beginning of humanity, people have relied on humor to get through tough times, inspire and motivate, and to just get a rise out of others. If you’re looking to use a bit of comedy in your natural or everyday speaking, check out these famous types of humor.
Here are the top seven best types of humor to use in natural or everyday speech.
1. Surreal humor
Surreal humor is a type of comedy that’s best described as quirky, bizarre, and silly. This kind is one of the most underrated types of comedy. It’s been described as “strange,” “odd,” and just plain weird. For this reason, it’s also called “absurdist humor.”
This type of humor plays off illogical or nonsense scenarios and dialogue. One of the most famous examples of surreal humor is comedy group Monty Python’s “Holy Grail.”
2. Slap-stick comedy (physical comedy)
Slap-stick comedy — also called physical comedy — refers to a type of humor that’s actually physical.
This type is often exaggerated, too. It’s considered one of the most humorous types of comedy and one of the easiest to understand (whereas witty or dry humor can often go over your head). Usually, people who use slap-stick humor rely on props, like ladders or
When you picture slap-stick comedy, the one person who should immediately come to mind is Charlie Chapman. Chapman was an English comedian famous for using slap-stick humor in the ’20s. He rose to fame during the silent film era, from the mid-1890s to the 1920s.
Not surprisingly, humor in silent films (films without spoken dialogue) was tricky. Slap-stick or physical comedy helped mitigate the difficulty of getting humor across without speaking.
Some examples of what slap-stick comedy looked like for actors like Chapman in particular include:
Walking into walls
Tripping over train tracks
Hanging from a ladder
Slipping on objects on the floor
A more recent example of actors using slap-stick comedy is Mr. Bean.
3. Observational humor
Observational humor is a type of comedy that pokes fun on everyday, normal life. This is one of the best types of humor for natural speech as it’s extremely versatile and can be tailored to your audience.
The majority of stand-up comedians use observational humor to make commentaries on everyday subjects. Comedians like Ali Wong, Pete Davison, and Jerry Seinfeld are great examples of people who use observational humor.
4. Aggressive humor
As you might’ve guessed, aggressive humor is a type of humor that relies on aggression toward others. This features methods of comedy where the comedian purposely makes fun of audience members.
Even though belittling someone might not sound very fun, this type of humor is actually pretty popular. For example, if you’ve ever heard of or seen a “roast” or a “roast battle,” you’re looking at aggressive humor.
Still, this is a type of humor that you’ll have to be careful using; it doesn’t go well in every situation, especially in natural speech.
5. Black comedy (dark humor)
Black comedy or dark humor is a type of humor where the subject joked about is dark or morbid. This type of humor is really popular on TikTok, where TikTokers (often from Gen Z) retell traumatic stories in a humorous way.
Still, dark humor is used in tons of other scenarios since it’s a very versatile type of comedy. Some common themes explored in black comedy include:
Death and suicide
Poverty
Crime, such as discrimination, violence, and rape
And even more serious and collective traumatic events, such as slavery, the Holocaust, and wars
That being said, dark humor is often inappropriate for natural speech (unless you’re in the company of, say, a very good friend).
6. Self-deprecating humor
Self-deprecating humor is an extremely popular type of humor where the speaker makes a joke about themselves.
It’s not unusual for the person making self-deprecating jokes to do so in order to beat others to the punchline.
Even still, not everyone likes this type of humor. In fact, self-deprecating humor can come off as annoying or irritating depending on your audience.
7. Dry humor (deadpan comedy)
Dry humor or deadpan comedy is humor expressed in a completely unemotional way. This kind is more common in countries like England (think “A Bit of Fry and Laurie”). It’s also popularly used in talk shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “Conan.”
The downside to dry humor is that you risk your audience not picking up on the jokes due to the style in which it’s delivered. That being said, be a bit wary about using this humor in all situations.
More types of humor worth exploring
Here are a few more types of humor worth exploring in your natural speech.
They include:
Double entendres: Making jokes that have more than one meaning (similar/related to innuendos)
Parody/satire humor: Imitating an existing media (such as a book or movie) in a comedic way
Sarcasm: Using your tone and inflection to deliver a statement, often ironically
Wordplay humor: Relying on wordplay tactics — like puns — for comedy
Affiliative humor: Leveraging things people have in common to make jokes
Farcical humor: Using absurdist comedy tactics to exaggerate situations in a humorous way
Witty humor: Relying on your own wit for humor or using certain epigrammatic sayings
Self-enhancing humor: Using comedy to deal with unfortunate situations or help make the person feel better
Juvenile humor: Using specific “juvenile” tactics like toilet humor to joke (e.g., “Beavis and Butthead,” “South Park,” and “Family Guy”) that could make the youngest audiences laugh — not to say that juvenile humor is appropriate for all ages
When to Use Types of Humor
Not all humor is created equal. As such, knowing when to use these types of humor is absolutely essential.
If you’re looking to use various types of humor in everyday speech — whether you’re talking to a friend, giving a presentation at work, or even interviewing for a job — there are certain types that are safer choices than others.
The best kinds of humor to use in natural speech include:
Sarcasm
Observational humor
Wordplay humor
Witty humor
Affiliative humor
The most “risky” types of humor to use in everyday speech include:
Slap-stick comedy
Juvenile humor
Farcical humor
Surreal humor
Dark humor
Why to Use Types of Humor in Speech
So, why would you ever use humor in daily speech?
There are a few valid reasons why you’d want to use humor when speaking.
1. You’re trying to distract your audience from negative feelings, like fear or anxiety. In a professional or more casual setting, humor can act as a distraction from uncomfortable feelings. Although it’s not always appropriate for a professional setting, throwing in a comedic remark here or there can sometimes help. Still, be sure not to rely 100% on your humor to get your audience through a tough time.
2. You want others to see you in a different light. Using a bit of humor can actually change how others see you. Research shows comedy can make an audience view you in a more positive way, whether you’re using it during a speech or presentation, or just with your friends.
3. You’re trying to engage your audience. If you’ve ever sat through a boring presentation, you know it’s almost a form of torture in and of itself. However, by sprinkling a little humor throughout, you can better engage your audience and captivate their attention.
4. You want to energize your listener. Using humor in conversation can actually energize your listener. For example, if you use humor during a presentation, it can effectively “wake up” your audience and help them remember what your presentation was about.
Types of Humor Examples
Seeing examples can better elucidate types of humor.
Here are just a few types of humor examples to give you a more solid idea of what these kinds look like.
Surreal humor examples
Arguably the best example of surreal humor is Monty Python’s “Holy Grail.” Here’s a clip from “Holy Grail,” which relies heavily on surreal humor:
One of the most bizarre types of humor is surreal humor, like the comedy in Monty Python’s “Holy Grail.”
This is a bit on a group of knights who say “ni” — an absurd scene that’s as inexplicably funny as it is bizarre.
Observational humor examples
In terms of observational humor, comedians rely on this kind often during their sets.
See if you can identify the observational humor in this complication of Ali Wong comedy:
Observational comedy is one of the most popular types that stand-up comedians use.
Slapstick comedy examples
To better illustrate what slap-stick humor looks like, check out some of these famous Charlie Chapman moments:
Charlie Chaplin is most famous for his slap-stick comedy.
Dry humor examples
Dry humor is extremely popular, especially in England. Here’s a clip from the ’80s British comedy show, “A Bit of Fry and Laurie,” that uses dry humor:
“A Bit of Fry and Laurie” frequently relies on dry humor to connect with audiences.
This clip in particular also uses a bit of physical humor, as the actors need props for this scene.
Juvenile humor examples
The title of this show is the epitome of juvenile humor: “Beavis and Butthead.” The renowned ’90s cartoon relies on this kind of humor in every episode.
The joke in this clip revolves around “Uranus,” the planet:
Juvenile humor is probably one of the most divisive types — You either hate it or love it.
How to Practice Using Humor
To be frank, using humor during everyday conversation won’t be easy if you’re not used to it. You’ll need a little bit of practice before you confidently use humor in speech.
For everyday conversation and speeches
To learn how to use humor during a conversation with a friend or even a presentation at work, having your speech analyzed by an AI communication coach can do wonders.
For example, you can explore an app like Yoodli, which analyzes a pre-recorded video or live recording on that app to give you feedback on things like your filler word usage, how fast or slow you’re talking, and even your word choice and body language (all of which are critical insights to review if you’re going to be using humor in speech).
Unlike other speech coach apps, Yoodli is completely free to use, so you can practice as much as you want. You can even use Yoodli in meetings at work to analyze your speech in real time. You can learn more about how to do that below:
Private Yoodli is perfect for practicing types of humor.
For non-native English speakers
Learning how to practice using humor is the exact same process for non-native English speakers, with a few small considerations.
If English isn’t your first language for example, there are certain types of humor you might want to practice or get more comfortable with. Humor subtypes such as witty or dry can be more difficult to understand on the first go.
Luckily, humor pairs perfectly with English speaking practice, so don’t be afraid to experiment and implement some of these comedic tactics in your own speech.
The Bottom Line
Comedy is an often overlooked aspect of speech and communication, especially when it comes to professional speech. There’s a fear that the humor used might be inappropriate or not fit for the social setting; still, there are certain types of humor that on the other hand are perfect for conversational speech.
Knowing which types of humor to use in speech is a must, and practicing with an AI speech coach like Yoodli can certainly help you get there. Just remember to practice in safe spaces first where you won’t be judged harshly, such as Yoodli or a close friend.
