How to Analyze Your Audience When Preparing for Public Speaking

Posted by Ian McKenzie

Written on October 9, 2007

analyze your Audience The boss e-mails and says you are going to be training employees on the features of the new software roll-out. What’s the first thing you do?

You don’t fire up PowerPoint and start creating slides. You don’t build an outline of your presentation. Before you can start considering what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it, you need to know who you’re talking to and why.

Keep in mind, from the start, the audience is the beneficiary of your communication. You are passing on information that is beneficial to the listener. The audience is giving up work or personal time to listen to you, but it’s because you’re going to have something to say. Make it worth their while.

First things first: who are these people?

What is the group demographic (age, ethnicity, gender mix, etc.)?
Are they bringing any predispositions or preconceptions (hopes, fears, positives, negatives, level of interest)?
What is their level of knowledge or experience with the subject.

In what kind of setting will they receive this information?

Will it be a large lecture hall or small seminar room?
Are you going to need equipment for lighting and sound issues?
At what time of day will you be presenting?

Take into account the audience here and now.

Picture yourself as a member of the audience and ask, “How does this message affect me, here, now?”
What you as a speaker have to offer your audience?
What they will be able to understand, accept, support, consider important—because it’s important to them?