How to Know Your Audience
Use words and phrases your audience understands., Be concise and talk about what’s important to your audience., Ask your audience what they want to hear from you.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Use words and phrases your audience understands.
Instead of using an acronym or technical jargon, use a relevant word or phrase that provides the same meaning.
For example, business people like to use SME’s (pronounced like "smees") to describe a person who is a Subject Matter Expert.
The time you save by saying “SMEES” is lost when it causes an unfamiliar listener to try to figure out what you mean.
Just say “Subject Matter Expert” or “Expert” or “Business Owner” or something to describe the same thing.
If you cause your audience to have to think about your last words then they will stop listening until they figure out what you meant. -
Step 2: Be concise and talk about what’s important to your audience.
If you have the opportunity to discuss a topic that you know a lot about, it is easy to talk at a level of detail that nobody can follow (or care about) except you.
People typically only care that the overall process works, not how it works.
In sales you talk about benefits with the assurance that the product works, not the features or how it works.
Eventually the question will come up where you can bring up the details but that should be based on knowing that your audience wants those details. , The titles people give you in introducing themselves at the beginning of a meeting may be impressive, but not necessarily indicative of what they care about.
Don’t rely on their role or title.
Instead ask how much detail your audience wants from you.
This will not only help you earn their respect it also helps you stay on time and on track. -
Step 3: Ask your audience what they want to hear from you.
Detailed Guide
Instead of using an acronym or technical jargon, use a relevant word or phrase that provides the same meaning.
For example, business people like to use SME’s (pronounced like "smees") to describe a person who is a Subject Matter Expert.
The time you save by saying “SMEES” is lost when it causes an unfamiliar listener to try to figure out what you mean.
Just say “Subject Matter Expert” or “Expert” or “Business Owner” or something to describe the same thing.
If you cause your audience to have to think about your last words then they will stop listening until they figure out what you meant.
If you have the opportunity to discuss a topic that you know a lot about, it is easy to talk at a level of detail that nobody can follow (or care about) except you.
People typically only care that the overall process works, not how it works.
In sales you talk about benefits with the assurance that the product works, not the features or how it works.
Eventually the question will come up where you can bring up the details but that should be based on knowing that your audience wants those details. , The titles people give you in introducing themselves at the beginning of a meeting may be impressive, but not necessarily indicative of what they care about.
Don’t rely on their role or title.
Instead ask how much detail your audience wants from you.
This will not only help you earn their respect it also helps you stay on time and on track.
About the Author
Denise Price
Writer and educator with a focus on practical organization knowledge.
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