{"id":4532,"date":"2023-09-29T23:27:12","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T22:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/?p=4532"},"modified":"2024-03-03T21:47:39","modified_gmt":"2024-03-03T20:47:39","slug":"persuasive-communication-three-steps-to-know-your-audience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/29\/persuasive-communication-three-steps-to-know-your-audience\/","title":{"rendered":"Persuasive Communication: Three Steps To ‘Know Your Audience’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I walked into the somewhat intimate dean’s boardroom of a globally ranked, double-accredited business school in Africa. I was scheduled to deliver a day-long workshop to executives from Bank Z, a leading bank in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was my first time stepping into the dean’s boardroom. Whether intentional or not, the choice of the venue (not the regular lecture room) communicated an unspoken premise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The participants were special, and I should be mindful of how I delivered the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over four months, some facilitators and I delivered different modules for Bank Z. My day-long communication programme was for the fourth cohort of executives from the organisation. Despite receiving high ratings for the first three cohorts, with my highest score being 4.9\/5, I was committed to improving my delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what I found out from that programme, and from all interactions I’ve had with ambitious professionals, executives, and leaders over the years, is that the first rule of effective communication makes or breaks your impact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know your audience<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve stressed it on this blog for over a decade. Communication authors, coaches, trainers, and speakers have also echoed the advice on different platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No doubt you\u2019ve now realised that you can\u2019t influence people to action if you don’t know your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what does ‘knowing your audience’ entail?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are three steps you should take to analyse your audience and serve them so you deliver relevant content that triggers action:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Step #1: Ask specific questions about the audience’s knowledge and expectations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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For every programme I facilitate for corporate clients, such as Bank Z, I’m informed about the number of participants and the gender ratio. Other helpful information about the audience members include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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