Start with your audience!

Start with your audience! 

Whether you need to present something verbally or send an email, ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you providing an update to your team members?
• Do you need to present something to your leadership team?
• Is your audience new to your industry or organization?
• Are all participants native English speakers? 
• Are people experts in their field? 

When you communicate something, always think of who is your audience. 

Whatever the situation, make sure you always use words, expressions or abbreviations that everyone can understand. Never make assumptions. Never think ‘everybody knows’.

When you know your subject, it’s easy to use ‘technical jargon’. However you can easily lose your audience if you are not mindful about the words and expressions you use.

If you use abbreviations, spell them out, especially if people are new. What is obvious to you may not necessarily be obvious for someone else. 

Remember: if you want to be a powerful communicator, it’s not about you.

It’s about your audience and what’s in it for them. 

#vlvcoach #communication #leadership

This post was also posted on Linkedin and Coachinghub.us.