Understanding of the Diverse Audiences - Essay Example

Audience Analysis Name Course Instructor’s Name 14th April 2010 Introduction I have been summoned to address a quarterly sales meeting in which the managers sales people and other stakeholders like customers are likely to turn up. The Company for which am giving the quarterly report is a multinational company. The audience there fore cuts across many cultures and this calls me to deliver the information cautiously so as to address the multicultural differences in an effective way. Characteristics of the audience I will put in mind that the audience, which am addressing is multicultural. This means that these people come from different backgrounds. This diversity means that each individual has a different set of expectations and therefore I must posses the right discipline and content to communicate with these different groups. I must seek to understand the values, beliefs norms and the practices of these people (Locker & Kaczmarek, 2004). The understanding of these cultures will help me understand each and every aspect that is important and also it will help me to respect and appreciate the expectations of each group. I must also understand that the cultural perspective of individuals or of groups of people affect the way the different groups respond or act given a particular stimulus (Pawelzik, 2005). Therefore, I will understand the influence of culture on these people. I will also understand that even people of the same culture act differently to a similar stimulus. This is just based on personality differences and I must also respect that (Locker & Kienzler, 2007). In addition, these people have different notions when it comes to interactive behavior. Their perspective towards gender may differ and their social classes may also differ. I will consider that some may be elites while others may be non elites (Locker & Kaczmarek, 2004). I must therefore respect the fact that what a manager will expect is not what acustomer will be looking for in my report. This will in turn cause me to make sore that my report has all the important aspects that the different categories of people will expect. The channels of communication Before establishing the ways and means of reaching the audiences, I must take into account their differences and expectation as long as communication is concerned. Different communities or cultures receive communication differently. There are nations or cultures that are high context. These include nations like Saudi Arabia and Japan. They prefer an indirect communication and they do not like confrontation. They do not so much rely on words to communicate and they prefer non verbal communication. To them written information is not so useful .To such groups I will tend too pass the information to them graphically (Locker & Kienzler, 2007). I will tend to pass the information incorporating their preference and I will make sure I do not engage in very conversational means of passing information to them. Instead, I will use signals like graphs and diagrams to communicate to them. The charts I may post on their online sources or even through the mass media. During thee meeting, I will also have charts to reach out to them. On the other hand, there are low context nations are such nations like Germany and the Northern part of America. The culture there prefers when information is passed in a confrontational clear and direct way . They unlike the high context culture go for clarity not ambiguity (Hartley & Bruckmann, 2002). They consider indirectness as a way of dishonesty and they see a degree of manipulation in it. I therefore must make sure that the channel I choose for them also shall have to be a channel that highly relies on words for they value the use of words I will use less signs for they do not rely on them and I will be clear to the last detail for they are very specific unlike their counterparts. For such groups I will print out the reports on journals and magazines as well as their local newspapers. Other factors about audience I also must consider the other factors that vary in the behaviors of these groups. These include the diversity in their values as well as beliefs and practices. For example, some people like the American culture value competition, as they believe it is the best working atmosphere and they believe it improves one standard and competitive skill. On the other hand some other cultures like The Japanese cultures believe that competition brings about conflicts (Locker & Kienzler, 2007). Other cultures value social class like France; I will also understand the differences in cultures that some cultures like American culture value individualism and so they value entrepreneurship and others prefer groups like the Japanese culture (Pawelzik, 2005). I will also understand the religious affiliations that different nations confess. I will in turn try to know generally, what they expect and the values that they honor. This is because religions affect businesses and business life. Understanding the calendars of the different people is important, as it will help me to know which days are their working days and what days are their resting days like national holidays and religious events (Hartley & Bruckmann, 2002). This will also help me to know the appropriate time to, communicate to the different groups and to send out the reports. How to ensure message is effective The effectiveness of a message is to a large extent determined by the reception that the message gets. Thus, I will seek to understand what cultures dictate. One of the aspects I must consider is the aspect of the body language, this is because different communities interpret body language in different manners for example sitting quietly is ethical to Japanese while fidgeting and nodding is appropriate to Americans. Thus while addressing the Japanese I will sit quietly because fidgeting to them is, interpreted as madness. Some people sit quietly while listening folding their arms across their chest and to some other groups that is an indication of boredom. Eye contact is also an aspect I, have to consider for to an American it is seen as a sign of paying attention and Japanese on the other hands teach the watching at the neck instead. Therefore I must give eye contact where expected and avoid giving eye contact where it will put people off (Locker & Kienzler, 2007). Smiling or not smiling is another aspect that can lead to misinterpretation and the frequency of it also matters. Smiles in some places are interpreted as insincere and in a business meeting one ought to know the right time to smile; Greeks sometimes smile to express anger. Therefore, while I will be at it, I will make sure smile where appropriate so that my message is interpreted well. Gestures and other signs and symbols can also be used and I will make sure I apply them only where appropriate. Other important aspects are space touch and time consciousness of the people involved. Nonverbal symbols like the dress code can also cause inefficiency .the colors one wears for the occasion as well as the personal presentation can either cause the message to be interpreted or misinterpreted (Locker & Kaczmarek, 2004). Not all factors can be exploited in this article but I will ensure that the message or the report has hit the appropriate targets and that they all receive the information and interpret it right. The appropriateness of this will be determined by my understanding of the diverse cultures, which I will put into consideration for efficiency. References Hartley, P. & Bruckmann, C. (2002). Business communication. London: Routledge Publishers. Locker, K. & Kienzler, D. (2007). Business and administrative communication, 8th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Locker, K. & Kaczmarek, S. (2004). Business communication: building critical analysis, 2nd Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Pawelzik, B. (2005). Communication Business. London: Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag Publishers. Read More