One thing you know about me is I deeply care about meeting your listeners’ needs. In fact, I’d say that knowing your audience may be the #1 most important requirement when communicating.
There are a million ways to assess your audience, but a client recently shared an interesting method … “The bird is the word!”
(Crickets.)
Birds, you say?
Yes, it just so happens that the following flock makes for a perfect representational round-up of your audience. Let’s break it down:
- Owls are analytical. And detail-oriented. They won’t sign off on a project without every last “i” dotted and every “t” crossed. Approve a risky prospect? No thanks. “Steady as she goes” is more their style. When connecting, share the data, not the drama.
- Eagles are fast fliers — much quicker than owls. They want the bottom line now! Like the powerful predators they are, they won’t accept just any old idea at face value. When sharing your ideas, be quick and prepared to defend them.
- Peacocks are, well, showy. They love stories, enthusiasm, creativity. They won’t open your attached spreadsheet, but they may hijack the meeting with alternative ideas. To get their attention, share your vision boldly – feather out your proverbial plumage by raising your voice and perhaps taking up a little more space with your stance to get a word in edgewise.
- Doves have high emotional intelligence, and they love consensus. They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. So show them the love! Include benefits that incorporate the entire team. And make sure you start by connecting with them on a personal level.
Of course, no one fits into a box – er cage. (Sorry, I had to!) We are all complex, nuanced individuals. But when it comes to meeting your audience’s needs, you can likely pick a bird or two to represent each listener. If you’re struggling to find the right fit, it can be equally helpful to figure out which ones look least like your stakeholder and skip those tips.
Questions? Comments? Relevant experience? I’d love to hear from you.
