Preparation is absolutely essential for a successful speech or presentation, and the most important preparation you can do is to consider your audience.
Knowing your audience calms your public speaking nerves and ensures greater success.
Tailor your talk to their wants and needs using language, structure, examples, and humor that your audience understands.
How can you change your content for each group? Firstly, you have to do your research and learn who the audience members are, and what matters to them.
What are their demographics? What do they already know about your subject, and what would they want to learn? How do they relate to you and your topic? What do you want them to specifically do about your subject? Tailor Your Vocabulary To Your Audience Know your audience members' backgrounds and customize your language accordingly.
You want to make them feel comfortable with the terms you are using, and understand your concepts.
For example, it wouldn't make much sense to use technical terms with a group of investors who are casually acquainted with your industry.
Unless your audience is very specialized in their knowledge of your topic, it is safer to use the simplest version of a concept.
Age groups are also an important factor to consider, as each group will react differently to different idioms.
The same goes for regional groups.
These organizations and groups have their own jargon and lingo that you would do well to learn and pepper your speech with.
Just make sure you don't get caught trying to be a teenager if it's been decades since you were a teen.
Different professions also rely on different jargon.
Attorneys, scientists, and analysts have their own language that they speak to refer to things.
You can use some of this jargon to connect with your audience, but do so very sparingly.
Think of it like hot jalapeno peppers; how many would you really want on your sandwich? Customize Your Opening Your opening is the perfect opportunity to speak directly to your audience and address why you are speaking to them.
During your opening, indicate something like: "I'm here to talk about this issue (be specific) because your organization has a history of support for people facing this challenge.
" This will give them a lead in to your speech as well as prime them for what they should pay attention to and why it is important to them.
If you begin by telling them how it affects them, they are sure to feel involved.
By tailoring your speech to your audience, you will be able to gain your audience's attention and their respect.
This public speaking skill will help you to control public speaking nerves, and it will allow you to make a more impactful speech.