Speaking Tip Of The Day: Focusing The Content Of Your Speech~Who Is Your Audience?

The perceived value of your company or campaign rests in your ability as a leader
to effectively communicate your vision with clarity and passion to your
desired audience. As a leader, your audience is both the people who
work for you and those to whom you sell your products or services or from whom you would like their vote.

A key reason speeches fall flat is that before beginning to write, the speaker neglects to strategically consider their audience. Your audience is the reason you are speaking.  Who they are, what they want to learn from you, how receptive they are, their belief systems, youíre your relationship to them, should directly effect the content of your speech.

Consider for example:

•     Are the members of the audience friends, peers, superiors, subordinates, allies or adversaries?
•     What is the ratio of men to women, and what is their age range?
•     How much education or personal background does the audience have with my subject?
•     What cultural belief systems do we share, and how do we differ?

Speaking To Win means that the style of your delivery and the words you choose should reflect a careful analysis of the audience and your relationship with them.