Not sure how or what to communicate? Try asking!
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"So, what do you want to hear?" "I'll buy the next pint." "Oh."
The following advice has been compiled and provided by Andy Bounds, talented Communications Consultant:
How to make your audience happy…ask what they need
“Give me some Rules of Thumb with communication … rules that I can follow. Without thinking.” So said one of my clients recently. I asked what areas he was most interested in.
“Well, when I am making a formal presentation, should I use PowerPoint or not?”
My reply: “I don’t know. It depends what the audience wants. Your best bet is to ask if they want you to use it or not.”
“Ok, but if I do use PowerPoint, should I send information in advance, or take everything with me on the day?”
“It depends. Ask your audience.”
“Should I start my presentation with background information, to set the scene?”
“It depends. Ask them if they want it.”
“Who should present the information? The best presenters on my team? The people actually doing the work?”
“It depends. Ask…”
My client interrupted me: “This is exasperating… I am looking for some Rules of Thumb”
I replied: “Can’t you hear the Rule of Thumb?… Ask”
Optimising your communications processes
The best way to ensure you give your audience what they want… is to ask them what they want. Contact them before the communication, and ask such questions as…
- What do you want me to cover?
- What do you want me not to cover?
- Have you any concerns, that you want me to address?
- Who else will see this communication? Is there anything I should include for their benefit?
- Would you prefer a formal PowerPoint, or a more informal discussion?
If you don’t ask, you don’t know. And that means you are guessing. This makes it less likely you’ll deliver a communication – and outcome – that you and your audience want. For your next communication, ask your audience what they want from you. Use their answers to shape what and how you communicate.
As you say, one of the key success factors in public speaking, is to understand the audience.
What are they expecting?
What do they want to hear?
What provokes their interest?
What is in it for them?
See it from their point of view and you’ll have a much better chance of success.
Andrew
Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Is Communication Moving Too Fast For Its Own Good
Surely though you do more than just ask what they want?
There is a saying “Careful what you ask for because you may get it”.
I assume you also offer advice or examples? That you list the benefits of say Powerpoint, or what from experience you find works well for a large or small audience, or a large or small allocation of time?
But you are right. When I have companies come to give presentations where I work, normally I give them the topics to cover and I say how important each one is, sometimes with an outline of time to spend on each.
I am interested though whether to hand out slides if I present? I never know this. The audience might say yes so they can write notes on them which is good, but then I see them looking ahead and not always listening to me so I do not have their full attention. For sure, I have never had an outside company come to present and give me the slide set first. Even so maybe you are right? If the audience want it first, I should give it first?
Hello, I was just searching Google for fun activities to do when I accidently stumbled upon your site. IMHO there are a bunch of inspired articles around here!
Kind regards, John