When you step up in front of an audience to speak, what you are doing is all about the audience. And whether your audience is aware of that fact or not, they will know if you are not giving them your all.
Respecting an audience is about many things:
Being present
This means that you know your stuff well enough that you can read the audience and adapt it to their needs. You notice when they need an energy booster and when they need to calm down. You are not thinking of the past or planning for the future. You are there, in the present, with them.
Honoring the audience’s needs
When you respect an audience’s needs, you honor what they came to hear from you. Your presentation is aimed at giving them value … not getting something for yourself. You tailor your presentation to their level of understanding and experience with the topic.
Recognize the collective intelligence
When your respect your audience you don’t talk down to them … and you don’t talk over their head. You don’t underestimate their intelligence and you do your best to speak at a level that they understand, while not belittling their intelligence.
An audience will always know when you don’t respect them. So always remember that you would be a public speaker with out the public.
