As a speaker, you will always deal with audience expectations.
They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they're always the
lens through which the audience hears, interprets and values
message.
Sometimes audience expectations can be downright
unrealistic...like wanting to master a new skill in a way-too-short
time frame or expecting information that is not yet available for
release.And more times than you'd think, speakers don't even know
what the audience's expectations are.
Before the presentation, provide an accurate summary of your
topic for any source [agenda, program, etc.] where details of your
remarks will be published. If the presentation is within your
organization, to the best of your ability, monitor any descriptions
or comments that are circulating and adjust, as necessary, so they
reflect what you will actually talk about.
Do an outstanding job of audience analysis so you have clear
insight into the audience's needs. Send out a questionnaire,
interview representative attendees, understand their mindset,
anticipate questions.
During the presentation, state clearly what you will cover.
Sometimes unmet expectations come from lack of clarity when an
attendee mistakenly assumes that something should have been covered
and is then frustrated when it's not.If there is a gap between what
you're delivering and what the audience expects, bridge it by
suggesting additional resources.
The speaker should not assume the audience is like them. They
may have cultural or geographic biases and the more you understand
them, the better you can express yourself to them and avoid
speaking gaffes. It is also important to know the level of
knowledge they have about your topic, so you can present the
information with the correct tone to keep people interested and
engaged. There is nothing more insulting than to present basic
information to a highly knowledgeable audience, and conversely,
speak at too high a level for a novice audience.
When you know more about your audience and their expectations,
you'll be able to tailor your talk to make it more interesting.
Your audience will be engaged and satisfied, and you will willingly
accept their applause at the end.