Three insights on tough audiences

I was delivering a Strategy to Story keynote for the leading consulting firm KPMG yesterday. It was such an enjoyable and focused conversation that explored practical aspects of  –

The Arc of Influencing

•  building story banks
•  your audience avatar
•  the biochemistry of communications
•  distilling your ideas and knowledge into memorable messages

What do you do when you have a tough audience? 

One of the participants asked this pertinent question and these three insights summarise my response:

1. Every audience is tough

Just about everyone we're influencing is distracted (and forgetful) so you always have to work hard to grab and hold people's attention.  

2. Audiences are hard to read

Other people's body language and facial expressions are NOT a reliable measure of your effectiveness. Some audiences are flat and non-responsive, even when they're engaged (they're dancing on the inside 🤣).

3. Have you perceived a threat?

For example, have you sensed that people in the audience have more power or status than you? This 'read' of the situation can trigger your nervous system and stress response which can accentuate the perceived problem and trigger self-doubt. 

Workplace communications are reliably tricky. Influencing is seldom a game of chance. Leaders need to be intentional and prepared to land their big ideas successfully.