15 Rules In Communicating With A Large Audience

Knowledge has certainly become accessible to almost everyone in the information age, but it seems that we’re moving beyond that now. In a world where anything you want to know is just a mouse-click away, it’s so easy for people to get distracted. The same is true for other forms of media. You only have a small window of opportunity to get your message across, so you need to put people in a certain frame of mind to keep their attention.

In communication theory, there is a model which aims to understand each component of the communication process so that people can identify gaps, if any, and restructure it to get the desired effect. This model is called the SMCR (Sender, Message, Channel, and Receiver). Another variation of the model is the SMCRE (Sender, Message, Channel, Receiver, and Effect).

Basically, the theory assumes that before you initiate the communication process, it is necessary to have a good understanding of who is going to deliver the message (sender), what the intended meaning is (message), where it will be delivered (channel), and who is going to receive it (receiver). This information then allows you to make predictions about the result of the process (effect or feedback).

Each component of the communication model is equally important as the rest, but at the heart of this process is, of course, the message. Generally speaking, the approach of those who address a large audience is that they always keep their message interesting (or even entertaining) while making sure that it remains simple and emotionally appealing.

The following are some simple guidelines in communicating with a large audience:

1. Write or speak in everyday language. This makes you seem familiar. It also allows more people to relate to you.

2. Keep your statements simple and clear. This makes your message easier to grasp and your audience more comfortable with your language.

3. Keep your sentences short. This is an example.

4. Be direct with your statements. If you are trying to explain something, don’t beat around the bush.

5. Explain one idea at a time. People do vary in mental processing speed.

6. Be careful in using clichés. These can make your ideas seem obvious, outdated, and uninteresting.

7. Avoid using jargon or technical words. If you find it necessary to do so, make sure you explain what the words mean.

8. Don’t use vague examples. If your purpose is to inform your audience, provide concrete evidence.

9. Use visual aids. Pictures, videos, graphs, tables, and charts allow people to see exactly what you want them to picture in their minds and let you to directly influence their thought patterns.

10. Avoid using vague/abstract words and statements. Tell people what they want to know and not what you think they should know.

11. Use words that will engage your audience. Apply the words ‘you’, ‘we’, and ‘us’ more often in your statements.

12. Use action words (verbs) in your statements. People imagine the words they see or hear. If you want them to act upon something, let them do it in their imagination first.

13. Arouse people’s emotions. Emotions contain energy that causes people to move. Use words, statements, and examples that can touch people’s hearts.

14. Avoid using highfalutin words. Just like technical language, people don’t use these words in ordinary conversations. Using this only makes you seem arrogant and pretentious.

15. Avoid profanity or foul speech. Using vulgar and swear words might damage your credibility. Attacking other people also creates a negative image of you.