Why must a good communicator care about the audience?

Answer 1

A good communicator understands that rule number one in public speaking is "know your audience." One way to show that you care about your audience is to adapt your talk to the particular group to whom you are speaking. For example, if you are speaking to a youthful audience, you may want to include a few references to events or people that this audience would know; similarly, when speaking to an audience of senior citizens, refer to events that have meaning to them.

Good communicators also know that it's important to establish empathy -- let the audience know you are a real human being rather than an encyclopedia of facts, figures, and talking points. And even if you are an expert on your subject, it's never useful to talk down to the audience or treat them as if you believe you are superior to them. You may indeed know more about the subject than they do, but your job is to engage them and encourage them to think about what you are presenting. They are more likely to do that if you are someone the feel they can relate to.

Thus, while you do want to teach the audience something new or share information they may not have, you want to do it in a way that encourages an exchange of ideas, rather than a style that shows contempt. And even if the audience disagrees with you, using a style that demonstrates your respect for their views will go a long way towards getting them to at least consider your opinions. Thus, a good communicator cares about the audience in order to make discussion happen. Speakers who are passionate about a topic or have strong views can still present them in a way that makes the audience feel included in the conversation. The best speakers know how to stand up for their ideas without demeaning those who might feel differently.