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10 Tips For Public Speaking: Tip #3 Know Your Audience [E082]
Episode 8216th February 2026 • Speak Up! Effective Communication • Craig O'Neill
00:00:00 00:25:58

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Thank You To Our Partners AutoFlow, Shop Dog Marketing, In-Bound

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In our Episode Today:

"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:

  1. Public speaking: The Prisoner, the Vacationer, and the Learner
  2. Clients at the counter: Reading behavior through warmth, hostility, dominance, and submission
  3. 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

  1. A person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation
  2. 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

Thank You To Our Partners AutoFlow, AutoLeap, Shop Dog Marketing, In-Bound

AutoFlow at AutoFlow.com. Your partner in technology, Autoflow consolidates your client interactions - before, during and after the visit to a single thread. Learn more at Autoflow.com

Shop Dog Marketing at Shop Dog Marketing.com. "Want to see your auto repair shop thrive? Let Shop Dog Marketing be your guide. Our customer-first approach, combined with AI-driven creative content, ensures top rankings.

In-Bound at CallInBound.com. Cover your communication needs and revolutionize your auto repair business with AI-driven call analytics from InBound.

Contact Information

  1. Email Craig O'Neill: speakup@craigoneill.net
  2. Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmasters

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/

Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/

Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/

The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/

The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/

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