Audience Analysis Paper - Essay Example

All cultures everywhere use various behaviors and belief systems. The most critical thing to remember is the simple fact that audiences in Japan, United States, Europe, or the Muslim world will have significant differences in their individual behaviors and belief systems. Because most cultures are more formal than the United States, when addressing this type of audience, one must keep in mind that titles may be more meaningful to them. Therefore, use titles and not first names. Another important key to international communication is that the author of the document or the presentation needs to avoid the use contractions, slang, and sports metaphors.

If one is not familiar with the audience's language then it is proper to use, English. If the presentation is in an overseas office generally, an interpreter is present to properly present to findings to the individual stakeholders, managers, etc of the foreign entity (Locker, 2008). A manager's responsibility is to learn about the different cultures around the world and the different people that we may work with. Stereotypes make for well-intentioned efforts at communications effectiveness. However, Carver and Livers found in their studies of stereotyping where they wrote in the Harvard Business Review in 2002 that African-Americans clients of their firm were complaining about the fact that were asked more about diversity then about the job (Caver, 2002).

What communication channels are appropriate? Explain. Interpersonal dimensions always focuses on the following. First, focus on the people in order to promote friendliness, cooperation and group loyalty. The next dimension focuses on the content in terms of the problem, data, and possible solutions. The procedural dimension will focus on the method and the processes (Locker, 2008). This will necessitate that the speaker be aware of what the group consists of and performing some prior research is always a good idea.

Allowing the audience to ask questions and having the ability to provide on the spot answers is wise. Knowledge of the company is helpful to any audience. The speaker needs to make the audience aware of where the company is now and where he/she expects it to be in the future. This type of information is critical to the meetings success. In this case, if quarterly sales do not meet the expected goals, the speaker should be aware of that fact to satisfy the audience with presently plans for the future.

Prior research of the audience comes into play in this step. Knowing what the audience is expecting, what he/she goals are for the future are some key points to making this meeting successful (Locker, 2008)? These steps will keep the speaker on tract to success while at the same time considering this particular audiences point of view. At many points in the meeting, the speaker may find they need to paraphrase some of the content back to the audience; he/she may need to mirror some feelings or ask for information or clarification by offering to help solve the problems together.

What are some considerations to keep in mind given the diversity of the audience? Within every culture is a subculture. It is up to the speaker to cut through the diversity by cutting across these different cultures and use differentiating factor like gender, race, and economic position. The speaker holds the key to researching cultures and subcultures. The speaker needs to know what presentations will work the best with this diverse audience. Sometimes, this goes beyond these basics when one deals not only