“I know we’re supposed to care about our audience – but maybe not too much, right?” As he completed his Young Speakers Guild portfolio (our curriculum for young communicators and leaders), Evan reflected that one of his biggest obstacles in presenting speeches had been self-consciousness. He had always worried about what his audience thought of him.
For Evan, worrying about what the audience thought of him and his speech affected his delivery and prevented presenting from being a positive experience for him. His conclusion was that deciding not to care at all would make the process better.
One of our adult volunteers offered him a new perspective.
“I wonder if the question ‘does the audience like my speech’ is actually focusing on the audience? Or maybe the focus is still on you as the speaker. Could that self-focus be adding more stress to your presentations?”
With some coaching from wise guides, Evan had a real “aha moment.” He altered his consideration from “What will they think of me?” to “What can I best present that my audience would relate to and enjoy?” It was a game-changer for his own experience and that of his audience.
On speaking platforms worldwide, we hear many speakers with the mindset of: “Here’s what I want to say.”
In the Institute, the first question we ask before we develop a speech is: “What does this audience need?”
When I think about the needs of my audience and what would connect with them best, it takes focus off me and empowers me to show care and empathy through a mindset of “we.” The speaker becomes tied to the audience through common ground, making a more impactful presentation.
Considering the needs of the audience doesn’t mean I’m going to change my version of the truth when I speak. It means I’ll speak in a way that the audience will receive it. We see this beautifully modeled by Paul in Scripture when he shares the gospel at Mars Hill. The message doesn’t change – but the delivery (and its influence) does.
No matter who your audience is – whether one person online, or a lecture hall, or a small group, or a TikTok following – the platform you have is a privilege. People don’t have to come to listen to you, and they don’t have to stay. And they certainly don’t have to give you the platform again. So how do we respect our audience in such a way that they will want to hear more from us?
We tell stories because they connect with people. At our Communicators for Christ conferences, we empower attendees to consider their audiences. We coach speakers to select the message and delivery that best serves each specific audience. I’d love for you to grow your impact by joining us there.
Blog post originally from teresamoon.org
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