10 Things I Know About...Reaching An Audience

Baker is a communication coach based in Wayland. She can be reached at anbaca1@comcast.net.

 10. Define The Role
Are you the instructor, motivator, initiator, bearer of bad news, sharer of good news? Each of these roles has its own manner of delivery. It is not only WHAT you say, but HOW you say it that gets the message across.

 9. Define The Audience
Are they your peers? Are they familiar with the topic? Are they diverse in age, gender, ethnicity ? Who they are determines how you relate.

8. Your Topic
Make it personal. Relate stories or examples that involve yourself and others.

7. What’s The Point?
Be attached to the material. Have feelings about what you are saying, why and to whom. Know why you think the information is important.

6. Meeting Expectations
Did they come to be entertained, taught, motivated? Are they waiting to be told they are fired, getting a raise? What are they listening for and how are they listening?

5. Results Orientation
What change in your audience’s feelings, thoughts, actions do you want to occur? Be clear in your intentions.

4. Chat It Up
Remember that you are just having a conversation, whether it is with one person or more than one.

3. Be Present
Don’t listen to yourself when you are speaking. If you are watching and listening to yourself in your head you are not present and you have left your audience alone.

2. Scope Out The Space
Be aware of the size of the room, the acoustics, if the audience can see you and vice-versa. Test the sound equipment.

1. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Know your material as well as your own history. And NEVER, NEVER, NEVER practice in front of a mirror.