Audience ManagementLIS 2016 Preparation

Outline

• Importance of audience analysis

• How to analyze the audience briefly

• How to spot difficult audience members

• How to deal with them

• Practice makes perfect!

TWO TYPES OF SPEAKERS

Self-centric speakers Vs Audience-centric speakers

AUDIENCE

• A nalysis - Who are they? How many will be there?

• U nderstanding - What is their knowledge of the subject?

• D emographics - What is their age, sex, educational background?

• I nterest - Why are they there? Who asked them to be there?

• E nvironment - Where will I stand? Can they all see & hear me?

• N eeds - What are their needs? What are your needs as the speaker?

• C ustomized - What specific needs do you need to address?

• E xpectations - What do they expect to learn or hear from you?

6 types of difficult audiences

Clown Dark Cloud Snowman Sniper

WhispererUnwanted

Panelist

The Clown (1/2)

• How to spot them:• Chatty

• Comments and Questions to entertain

• At best they’re great fun… but if you’re trying to make a serious point

The Clown (2/2)

• How to deal with them:• Use them

• Give them spotlight for a couple of seconds, then refocus

The Sniper (1/2)

• How to spot them:• Gets satisfaction from needling

• Cynical

• Arms may be folded, or eyes rolled as you start to speak.

The Sniper (2/2)

• How to deal with them:• Never , Ever!!! get upset ( or show that you are upset)

• Do NOT take it personally

• Welcome their argument, give evidence to support your point and move on.

The Snow Man (1/2)

• How to spot them:• Timid, shy , insecure

• Bored, Indifferent

The Snow Man (2/2)

• How to deal with them:• Timid? Ask easy questions; Refer to them by name, and take them as

example

• Bored? Ask harder questions; use them as helpers for your presentation

• Energizers

The Black Cloud (1/2)

• How to spot them:• “Yes, but. . .” person

• Frowning, poor eye contact, folded arms or slumped shoulders

The Black Cloud (2/2)

• How to deal with them:• Show them you are different- Positive

• Be enthusiastic

• Use peer pressure

The Unwanted Panelist (1/2)

• How to spot them: • The ‘expert’ in the room

• Show off

• Well informed and anxious to show it

The Unwanted Panelist (2/2)

• How to deal with them:• Wait until he/she takes a breath, thank, refocus and move on.

• Slow him down with a tough question

• You are in charge-be confident and do what is best for your audience

The whisperer (1/2)

• How to spot them:• Don’t understand what is going on

• Sharing anecdotes triggered by your presentation

• Bored

The whisperer (2/2)

• How to deal with them:• Make eye contact, stop talking until they look at you.

• Walk toward them, stand in front of them, and keep talking.

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