is for AUDIENCE
"To motivate your audience, present your message so that it addresses their pressing needs and interests. People listen to what affects them and respond to what promises to enrich them in those areas."
- Thomas Leech
Assess your audience using tools such as Mary Ellen Drummond's
pre-program questionnaire and create a presentation to meet their needs, and the needs of the organizers.- Age range?
- Average age?
- Education background?
- Job responsibilities?
- Number of males, females?
- Group size?
- Dress code?
- Reason/purpose for meeting?
- Theme of meeting?
- Goal or desired outcome of meeting?
- Any issues to avoid?
- Any special challenges or problems?
- What type of programs have been presented?
- Names of previous speakers?
- Names of officers or top managers who will be in the audience?
- Who will precede my presentation?
- Who will introduce me?
- How long will I present?
- Starting time?
- Ending time?
- Question and answer time desirable?
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO KNOW WHO YOU WILL BE ADDRESSING
- Find out who has spoken to them before and on what topics. What was the crowd's reaction?
- If they have regularly scheduled events, attend one before you actually make your own presentation.
- Obtain the names of some of the attendees and call them to inquire what they think the group needs or would like.
PREPARING A SPEECH THAT WILL BE UNDERSTOOD
Adapted from, The Art of Public Speaking,  by Stephen A. Lucas
Juan, a geology student, was preparing a speech about earthquakes for a group that knew very little about geology. To make sure his speech would be understandable and meaningful, he practiced it on a friend who was not knowledgeable about geology. “Stop me every time I say something you don’t understand.” Juan asked his friend. His friend stopped him four times, and each time Juan was able to find a way to make the point clearer to his friend, and thus to his listeners.
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