"Know your audience." It's tip number three on just about every public speaking list. But I want to slow down on that word—audience. What picture does it put in your head?
If you're imagining a passive crowd waiting to receive your message, I want to challenge that. The real question isn't "Who's watching me?" It's "Who am I communicating with?"
In this episode, I dig into some communication theory—the old "Hypodermic Needle" model versus Active Audience Theory—and then get practical with three different audiences we all face:
Public speaking: The Prisoner, the Vacationer, and the Learner
Clients at the counter: Reading behavior through warmth, hostility, dominance, and submission
Your team:Ability and Motivation—when to collaborate, counsel, instruct, or direct
I found myself referencing things I’ve learned from my mentor and coach Dennis McCarron, throughout this episode. Dennis was one of only six certified trainers in Dimensional Selling and Coaching from Psychological Associates. If you want to go deeper on their Q4 framework, visit Q4Solutions.com.
Our Word of the Day:
INTERLOCUTOR (in-ter-LOK-yoo-ter)
noun
A person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation
One who participates in an exchange, not just observes it
Use in a sentence: "The moment you see your client as an interlocutor instead of an audience, you stop presenting and start connecting."
The big takeaway? Stop performing. Start interlocuting.
Sincerely,
Craig O'Neill
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