UNDERSTANDING THE AUDIENCE One of the most important aspects of effective oral communication is understanding who makes up your audience. A message will only truly resonate if it is tailored to the specific needs, interests and expectations of the listeners. As any skilled presenter knows, really digging into the audience composition is a critical part of preparation. Different situations call for communicating to different types of audiences. When doing a presentation, the audience largely expects to gain new information on a relevant topic. In an interview, the interviewers are evaluating a candidate and want to hear their views. Negotiators need to understand each other's positions. Meeting participants may be looking for certain clarifications. To best understand your audience, it can be helpful to think of them in terms of the "A-U-D-I-E-N-C-E" acronym. Take time to analyze aspects like their demographics, interests, environment, needs and expectations. For example, considering age range is important as different generations respond to different styles of presentation. The organizations represented are also meaningful to note to identify any potential biases or viewpoints. Asking the audience directly about their wants and needs can help ensure those are addressed. A friendly question about what they hope to take away goes a long way in making them feel included. It also guides the speaker in customizing their content for maximum relevance. Ultimately, the audience is attending for various reasons and it's worth considering different motivations like obligation, entertainment or genuine learning. Certain contexts like interacting with superiors, peers, direct reports or mixed groups each involve their own nuances in terms of establishing rapport. A question any audience likely ponders is "why this matters to me?" so justifying importance upfront can aid buy-in. Overall, audiences should walk away feeling their needs were prioritized and that the communication achieved its purpose.