Introduction
A key rule for effective public speaking is that audiences are egocentric . What do we
mean by egocentric? Just that audiences care most about things that directly affect them.
Think about the last lecture you sat through. Chances are that you perked up and paid the
greatest attention when the lecturer talked about quizzes, assignments, or anything else
that was directly related to your grade.
An effective public speaker understands the nature of audiences and adapts speeches to
audiences. In order to do this, you must learn everything you can about your particular
audience. Then make sure to keep the audience in mind in every decision you make in the
speech development process. When you plan your speech this way, you engage in
"Audience-Centered" public speaking, which is vital for success.
When centering on the audience, you start by finding common traits that enable you to
identify with them. Since audiences are concerned with things that they believe will
directly affect them, it's your job to find as many different ways that your topic relates to
your particular audience. The more ways you can find to connect with the audience, the
more reasons they have to listen to you. Whenever possible, you will want to obtain the
following information about the audience and the location where you will be speaking.
Demographic Traits
Have you ever filled out a warranty card for a new purchase, or filled out an advertiser's
survey? If so, then you're familiar with demographic information or general information
that helps guide you when making basic decisions about how to approach an audience.
For example, if an advertiser discovers that the audience for a particular television show
is 14-16 year olds, then trying to sell life insurance during this program would be a waste
of time and money.
Reality Check
Public Speaking Workbook
©Sam Walch, 1998
PDF created by Jumsoft, 2003
While demographic information can be useful, there is also a danger of falling into
stereotypes. Demographic information is good when no other information is available,
but you should not rely on it completely.
Demographic Factors:
Age
An audience in their 20's will have different interests and motivations than one in their
70's.
Education level
Is your audience filled with people holding advanced degrees, or are they mainly high
school graduates?
Occupation
What does your audience do for a living? Do they all share similar jobs or work for the
same company? Can you somehow connect your topic to their jobs?
Gender
While gender differences may be diminishing, it is important to know the gender
balance of the audience. For example, it would be a good bet that a speech that uses
only examples from sports would be less effective for an all female audience.
Marital status
Is your audience mainly married or single? These groups will have different values and
motivations. How about children? Some issues, like safety, become much more
important to audience members who are parents than an audience composed of single
people.
Religion
Does a majority of the audience share certain types of religious beliefs? Knowing this
ahead of time can avoid offending people based on their faith. For example, using
quotations from the Bible might not be very effective for an audience composed of
mainly of Buddhists or Muslims. In addition, don't make the mistake of assuming that
just because your audience is American that it will be a Christian audience.
Public Speaking Workbook
©Sam Walch, 1998
PDF created by Jumsoft, 2003
Racial/cultural/ethnic background
Stereotyping can lead to problems such as patronizing the audience, but it is helpful to
know if the audience shares any racial, cultural, or ethnic similarities. For example, is
your audience rural, suburban, or urban? You always want to be sensitive and
respectful, unlike Ross Perot who once repeatedly addressed an African-American
audience as "you people."
Group membership
Are there any specific groups that your audience might belong to? For example, if a
majority of the audience belongs to the National Rifle Association, then you will want
to take special care when discussing a controversial issue such as gun control.
Hobbies/Interests
Does your audience share any hobbies or interests? If so this gives you a way to find
common ground. For example, if the audience is composed of people who all share a
passion for computers, then using examples from the computer industry will strike a
common chord in the audience.
!
Situational Traits
Situational data is much more specific to the actual speech, and it is vital that you gather
this data as well as demographic data.
Size
The larger the audience, the more formal your speaking style should be. A larger
audience also means that you may have to work with a microphone and that you may
need some way of making your visual aids large enough to be seen.
Physical setting
• Seating and visibility
How physically close are you to the audience will affect how close you can get to them
psychologically. In addition, the way they are seated is also important. Are their chairs
on the floor while you will be speaking from an elevated stage? Or is the audience on
the same level as you? Are there any obstructions that will keep them from seeing you
or your visual aids?
Public Speaking Workbook
©Sam Walch, 1998
PDF created by Jumsoft, 2003
• Temperature
The temperature of the room will also have a major effect on the audience. If the room
is too warm, then the audience will have an increased tendency to be lethargic and
sleepy. If the room is too cold they will be constantly shivering and shifting in their
seats. In either case you should not plan on a long speech in either situation, or add a lot
of attention getting devices to keep the audience tuned in.
• Distractions
Is there anything that might distract the audience from your speech, such as construction
noises, a window where people will be passing by, or interesting wall decorations? you
will want to know about these ahead of time and compensate for them.
• Formal or informal setting
Will this be a formal lecture hall or a banquet hall? Will you be standing up at a
meeting? The formality of the setting will have a definite effect on the expectations of
the audience and also on how you should approach your speech.
Disposition toward topic
• Interest
Is the audience naturally interested in your topic, or will you have to find ways to make
it interesting to them? If they normally would not find the topic interesting, then you
will have to put some work into adjusting the topic to their interests.
• Knowledge
How much does the audience know about this topic? If they know next to nothing about
it, you have to worry about going over their heads. If they know a lot about it, then you
will have to worry about not boring them.
• Attitude
What preconceived attitudes and opinions will they have about your topic? Will they
treat it with skepticism, or will they be extremely polarized on the topic? In either case
you will have to carefully present your messages.
Disposition toward speaker
• Credibility
If they do not know you, what kind of credibility will you have with this audience? How
seriously will they take you?
• Reputation
Public Speaking Workbook
©Sam Walch, 1998
PDF created by Jumsoft, 2003
If the audience knows you, what is your reputation? If your reputation is at odds with
your subject, then you will need to take steps to assure that you are taken seriously. For
example, if the audience knows that you are a chain smoker, then a speech persuading
them to quit smoking would not be effective.
• Expectation
What does the audience expect of you on this occasion? For example, if giving a eulogy
at a funeral, the audience expects a certain level of formality and respect. Violating the
audience's expectations are a quick way to gain their displeasure.
Disposition toward occasion
Why is the audience attending this particular occasion? Was their attendance voluntary,
or were they required to attend? An audience whose attendance was mandatory could be
slightly resentful, so you need to convince them that this speech will be worth their
attention.
Gathering Audience Data
Here are some strategies for gathering audience data.
Interview someone who is a member of the group you are addressing
Prepare ahead of time
Be on time and respect the interviewee's time
Find out from them additional sources, if needed
Questionnaires
Distribute at meetings
Follow up with personal interviews
Encyclopedia of Associations
Available in most libraries
Good for gathering initial information to prepare for interviews
Go to a meeting
Extremely valuable when speaking to an organization
Contact them ahead of time
Public Speaking Workbook
©Sam Walch, 1998
PDF created by Jumsoft, 2003
Reality Check
While it is a good idea to interview someone who may be a member of the audience, you
should always be aware that s/he may be uninformed. Always double check to make sure
information is accurate, and try to talk to several people who are members of the
audience. Also realize that if you attend a meeting, it might not have the same audience
or situation as your speech! Talk to several organization members and find out how the
meeting you attend relates to the meeting you where you will be speaking.
In Review
An effective public speaker is an "audience-centered" speaker, because audiences are
egocentric. That is, they will pay more attention to things that they believe will directly
affect them. By gathering and analyzing both demographic and situational data, a speaker
will be better able to find common ground with the audience and appeal to its interests.
Before moving on to Step 6, you should have:
1. atopic and specific purpose
2. a surplus of research
3. demographic and situational data about the audience