CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – MARCH 5, 2021
What Do Great Presenters Do That Good Presenters Don’t?
2) GREAT SPEAKERS TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR AUDIENCE BEFORE THEY SPEAK TO THEM
Great speakers tailor or customize their stories to fit the specific audience by doing their homework and learn as much about their audience before their presentations. They then tailor their stories to their audiences; therefore creating a better connection with them. Getting to know as much about my audience before any of my presentations is key and I always take the time to do this as part of my preparation. During my workshops and programs, I show people how I use the word A.U.D.I.E.N.C.E. to determine what they could learn about their audience.
Below is some general guidance using this acronym:
Analysis – Who are they? How many will be there?
Understanding – What is their knowledge of the subject?
Demographics – What is their age, sex, educational background?
Interest – Why are they there? Who asked them to be there?
Environment – Can they see? Where will I stand? Can they all see the visuals and hear me?
Needs – What are their needs? What are your needs as the speaker?
Customized – What specific needs should you address to make it feel like this speech has been made just for them?
Expectations – What do they expect to learn or hear from you?
I will often have clients fill out a pre-program survey which includes specific questions that fit into each of these eight categories and ask the client or audience to tell me what they want. Essentially ask them what they need and give it to them.
3) GREAT SPEAKERS ALWAYS PROVIDE SOMETHING OF VALUE FOR THEIR AUDIENCES
There is nothing better than to make your audience feel they did not waste their time listening to you. Great speakers always make their audiences feel they received value from having attended. By using the A.U.D.I.E.N.C.E. analysis technique I described above, you will go that extra mile to make sure you provide the best program for your audience and bring them more value to your presentations. And it will show that you have. By customizing your presentation to each audience, you make each audience feel you are specifically talking to them and addressing their needs.
Audiences like a speaker who provides them with tools, techniques and wisdom they can use immediately. I often use this quote in my programs which sums this up in one statement,
No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care