How to manage an audience during your presentations!

1. Audience Management
LIS 2016 Preparation

2. Outline
• Importance of audience analysis
• How to analyze the audience briefly
• How to spot difficult audience members
• How to deal with them
• Practice makes perfect!

3. TWO TYPES OF SPEAKERS
Self-centric speakers Vs Audience-centric speakers

4. AUDIENCE
• A nalysis - Who are they? How many will be there?
• U nderstanding - What is their knowledge of the subject?
• D emographics - What is their age, sex, educational background?
• I nterest - Why are they there? Who asked them to be there?
• E nvironment - Where will I stand? Can they all see & hear me?
• N eeds - What are their needs? What are your needs as the speaker?
• C ustomized - What specific needs do you need to address?
• E xpectations - What do they expect to learn or hear from you?

5. 6 types of difficult audiences
Clown Dark Cloud Snowman Sniper
Whisperer
Unwanted
Panelist

6. The Clown (1/2)
• How to spot them:
• Chatty
• Comments and Questions to entertain
• At best they’re great fun… but if you’re trying to make a serious point

7. The Clown (2/2)
• How to deal with them:
• Use them
• Give them spotlight for a couple of seconds, then refocus

8. The Sniper (1/2)
• How to spot them:
• Gets satisfaction from needling
• Cynical
• Arms may be folded, or eyes rolled as you start to speak.

9. The Sniper (2/2)
• How to deal with them:
• Never , Ever!!! get upset ( or show that you are upset)
• Do NOT take it personally
• Welcome their argument, give evidence to support your point and move on.

10. The Snow Man (1/2)
• How to spot them:
• Timid, shy , insecure
• Bored, Indifferent

11. The Snow Man (2/2)
• How to deal with them:
• Timid? Ask easy questions; Refer to them by name, and take them as
example
• Bored? Ask harder questions; use them as helpers for your presentation
• Energizers

12. The Black Cloud (1/2)
• How to spot them:
• “Yes, but. . .” person
• Frowning, poor eye contact, folded arms or slumped shoulders

13. The Black Cloud (2/2)
• How to deal with them:
• Show them you are different- Positive
• Be enthusiastic
• Use peer pressure

14. The Unwanted Panelist (1/2)
• How to spot them:
• The ‘expert’ in the room
• Show off
• Well informed and anxious to show it

15. The Unwanted Panelist (2/2)
• How to deal with them:
• Wait until he/she takes a breath, thank, refocus and move on.
• Slow him down with a tough question
• You are in charge-be confident and do what is best for your audience

16. The whisperer (1/2)
• How to spot them:
• Don’t understand what is going on
• Sharing anecdotes triggered by your presentation
• Bored

17. The whisperer (2/2)
• How to deal with them:
• Make eye contact, stop talking until they look at you.
• Walk toward them, stand in front of them, and keep talking.

18. Comment in the post if you
enjoyed!