Audience Analysis Paper

Learning to communicate with people from different backgrounds is difficult, but by knowing how to consider the characteristics of your audience, can help make our meeting a breeze. I was asked to present quarterly sales information for a group of stakeholders, which include managers, salespeople, and customers. Knowing that this group is very diverse, I plan on using my communication techniques in making sure my audience is focused and I get all of my points across.

People values and beliefs affect our response to different people and situations. Many people in the United States value individualism, while in other countries, they might value groups. Nonverbal signals can be misinterpreted just as easily as can verbal symbols. And the misunderstandings can be harder to clear up because people may not be aware of the nonverbal cues that led them to assume that they aren’t liked, respected, or approved. Having the right body language is also important to keep your audience involved in what you’re trying to say. Audiences usually respond negatively to nervous gestures such as fidgeting with a tie or hair or jewelry, tapping a pencil, or swinging a foot (Kitty O. Locker and Donna S. Kienzler, 2008).

Having eye contact with your audience is also a major factor in keeping your audience from straying from your presentation, and missing key points. Americans see eye contact as a sign of paying attention, but in many other cultures might not see it that way. These differences can lead to miscommunication in the multicultural workplace. Superiors may feel that subordinates are being disrespectful when the subordinates are being fully respectful—according to the norms of their culture. Taking this in consideration, you might limit the eye contact with some, or continually make eye with different people through out your presentation. Making sure you prepared in your message to have to know the purpose of your introduction, how you portray your information, use of...