Who is my Audience?
There's a talk coming up next week and look at me, I wonder who my audience is, so that i could tailor my speech accordingly. I am a lawyer by profession and I couldn't argue the same way as I argue in the courtroom in front of my audience, could I? But wait! I need to find out whom am I going to talk to, am I addressing a group of lawyers or a group of laymen?
You don't want to waste your audience time listening to your 'half-baked' speech, do you? Somebody once said the worst sin a speaker ever commited is wasting somebody's time. More often than not, when you are invited to speak, you knew beforehand who is your audience, otherwise, call up your organizer and ask them to let you have a copy of the audience particulars.
Never ever prepare a speech without having a clear idea of whom are you going to speak to. Are they made up of entirely female participants such case occurs when addressing female-related issues such as women rights, health etc)or both sexes? What are their educational levels? Nothing less than master degress holders? or made up mostly of laymen with combination of differing educational levels? Their age? Would you explain and talk to a group of college students the same way as you would to a group of middle-aged audience.
Their cultures and backgrounds? have you ever given any considerations to it? Take for example, women are allowed to be kissed and hugged, but for some other parts of the world, it might deemed inappropriate.