The Audience Comes First

Robert and Rande Davis Gedaliah

Make the needs of our audience more important than our own.  How many times have we heard (and said) that?  Often, however, many of us sound like opera singers when we do speeches and workshops:  “me, me, me, me!”

At a convention we attended a few years ago, the speaker, Joel Weldon spoke of using a “you” focus rather than an “I” focus.  He demonstrated this shift in point of view by having two people in the audience count his use of “I’s,” “me’s” and “you’s” during the first portion of his presentation  There were three times as many “I’s” and “me’s” as there were “you’s.”

Then he repeated the same opening, reversing the balance to three times as many “you’s.”  This subtle, but profound, shift was incredible.  His speech came alive!  The second time we, the audience, felt so much more included.  It wasn’t just Joel’s story now...who cares about his story?  What the audience really cares about is how will your story affect me?  How can I use your examples to help me in my life?

Like taking an art appreciation class and then going to a museum, you understand why you like something.  Listening to speakers, after becoming more aware of the “you” centered presentation, helped us realize why we  liked hearing something...or not.  Prior to this new awareness, we would not necessarily know why we didn’t feel connected to the speaker.  Often they were “I” focused.

Such a simple concept.  Yet the realization, the epiphany, the “ah-ha,” was acute.  A simple concept yet, not easy to master.  We must constantly remember why we are speaking.  We are there to provide a service for the audience.  Take them along on our journey.  Teach them through our story.

Awareness is the first step to any change. With recognition and practice, we get measurably better as presenters.  So, too, we all need to literally count the number of “I’s” and “you’s” in our presentations, in order to change our patterns.  Without constant self-evaluation, it’s harder to achieve our goals of connecting with and impacting upon our audiences.

We must tell our story with the audience in mind.  As speakers, we need to develop an awareness of how many times we use “I” or “me,” instead of “you.” We are there for our audience.  Let our words and actions reflect that.

Make your speeches more “you” focused.  Make the needs of your audience more important than your own...the audience always comes first!

Robert and Rande Davis Gedaliah are speakers, coaches and workshop leaders. They help people realize their full potential, by sharpening their influencing skills. www.SpeakingForResults.com