By Michele Trent

One of the biggest mistakes speakers make?

They prepare for the content…
but not for the audience.

Let’s say you’re presenting on physical fitness. You know your material. You’ve got great insights on strength training, cardio, and routines.

But who’s in the room?

If it’s elementary school students, your approach shifts.
If it’s seniors with limited mobility, it definitely shifts.

Too often, we assume the audience is “some version of us.”
And that assumption is where good presentations start to miss the mark.

Every presentation is a three-part equation:
• The speaker
• The content
• The audience

Ignore one, and the whole thing wobbles.

Early in my corporate career, I led a research project on in-store signage. The data showed that nearly 40% of signage could be reduced without impacting sales.

Great insight… but potentially threatening to the two people whose jobs were centered on signage.

Because I took a moment to consider who was in the room, I addressed that concern upfront. I reassured them there was still plenty of meaningful creative work ahead.

That moment mattered.

If I hadn’t done that? They would’ve spent the entire presentation distracted—and understandably so.

Here’s the takeaway

Before you build your message, pause and ask:
• Who is this for?
• What’s going on for them?
• What do they need from me?

Same content. Different audience. Completely different presentation.

Next time you’re preparing to speak, ask yourself:
Am I building this for me… or for them?

What’s one audience you’ve had to adjust for that surprised you?