Speaking in front of a large or small group can be intimidating, especially when you're unknown to the audience and they are unknown to you. Keep these four audience types in mind as you craft any presentation, and remember that most gatherings include a smattering of all four audience types.

The "Active" audience is one that is engaged in your subject, and participative in their interest. You feed off their energy as they feed off yours. You'll look upon their faces and see real enjoyment; heads nod as you make key points in your presentation, and their questions are thoughtful and on-topic. It may be tempting to "relax" in front of this group as you realize that a modest effort to communicate is enough for them. Resist that temptation. The Active audience is a tremendous opportunity for you to experiment. Perhaps you have an analogy that you'd like to try out, or maybe there is a point in your presentation where you can strengthen your message with impromptu audience participation. Because you have built credibility with this group in a way that makes them feel apart of the presentation, and not just as passive receivers of information, they will give you the creative leeway to be innovative. Speaking to this group is like speaking to a dear old friend, you'll be congratulated for your boldness and your mistakes will become learning for you both.

The "Passive" audience sits back and waits for you to educate and inform them. They may take notes of what you say, or ask perfunctory questions to ease the burden of collective silence. You'll seek energy from them, and get back a moist towelette. Speaking to this group can be a draining experience, and it's often helpful to quickly analyze after your presentation why you felt so alone amongst so many others! Passive audiences tend to have heard (or believe they have heard) your message before. When you anticipate speaking in front of this group, take the pulse of a few attendees beforehand to test that your assumptions are correct. This is also a good opportunity to think about what you might add or subtract to your presentation that would enliven their experience. Audience participation can be a great way to "reach" this group. Challenge them to add their own expertise and ideas, and to think creatively especially when tackling issues or concerns that they've heard before.

The "Captive" audience is gathered because they've been told to; maybe your presentation is a condition of employment for them, or mandatory training of some type. While you present, they'll check messages on email, make out the weekly grocery list or feign attention for brief periods of time. Like the "passive" audience, these folks may see you as an intrusion on their time. The best way to handle the captives, is to show that you are not a captive. As the subject allows, have fun with your presentation and invite others to join in. Audience participation is a great way to break through with this group. Especially with a dry subject, solicit real-life examples from the audience to support your key ideas and concepts. If you can, pre-arrange with several attendees to share their experience at your presentation. In this way, you appeal to their sense of ego by positioning them as subject matter experts, and you create shared commitment to the presentation's success.

The "Antsy" audience is looking past you. It's nothing personal, however you stand between them and the next bathroom or meal break, or perhaps the end of their day. Maybe the speaker before you went well beyond their allotted time, and now you're stuck with a time commitment that means you have to cut your presentation in half! It's best to acknowledge this predicament so that the group understands that you're aware of the sensitivity of their situation. Tell them candidly that you know how they may be feeling, and let them know that you'll be respectful of their time. Give them a timeframe within which you'll complete your remarks, and then stick to it. Leave the door open for questions at the end, or perhaps for a follow-up with you in a smaller group if possible.

Confidence carries you through any presentation, keep Mike Faber's "Golden Reminder" in mind as you prepare. Since public speaking is so intimidating to most people, most of your audience is simply in awe of your ability to stand in front of them and speak coherently. For more information and a free consultation on how to speak with confidence, visit Mike's web site athttp://www.fabercomm.com. This article may only be reprinted in its entirety.

Articles Source - Free Articles
About the Author

Mike Faber is a professional public speaking and sales presentation coach, certified by the Coach Training Alliance. Mike Faber has been helping sales professionals and public speakers go from good to great since 1982. When you take advantage of Mike's expertise, you leverage a wealth of experience in sales, broadcast journalism and public speaking. For more information and a free consultation, please seehttp://www.fabercomm.com