You are going to give a presentation. So you start thinking about what you want to say, what data you need and what pictures might help. However, many people in this situation forget about a crucial question: Who is your audience? The more you know your audience, the better you can prepare your presentation and achieve success. The Harvard Business Review website prepared a handy list of questions you should ask about the audience.
1. How many people will be coming?
The size of the audience plays an important role, so make sure that you have current information about who is coming as well as who is not.
2. Who is coming?
Another important factor is the positions the participants hold in the company and to whom they report. You should have at least a basic understanding of their responsibilities and needs.
3. What do they know?
If you are making a presentation to people who are already familiar with the topic, just briefly summarize the basic information they need in order to understand how your presentation affects them.
4. What are they expecting?
Focus on what opinions your audience may already have, both correct and incorrect. Confirm the correct and refute what is not in your speech.
5. How much do they know you?
If you do not have a close relationship with your audience, you will need to catch their attention with a very strong introduction. For example, you may begin by describing a problem you can help them resolve.
6. Do they have the same goals?
The goals of individual members of your audience may not only be different but also conflicting. If so, mention it in your speech and explain why your solution is suitable for all.
7. What presentations are they used to?
Find out what worked for this particular audience in the past. If you represent something entirely new, use a story. Tell a personal story, but choose one the audience will be able to identify with.
8. Why are they coming?
Your audience may be coming out of self-interest, but often they come because someone else wants them to. In such cases, you should be prepared for a less interested, or an even hostile attitude. If you know who is sending them to your presentation, you can consult with these people as part of your preparation so that it can be as beneficial as possible.
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