Every audience is unique — but types of audiences have specific, common needs. Knowing the "make-up" of your audience is key to successfully communicating with them. Below are several types of audiences that speakers typically encounter and tips on how to effectively interact with them.

The Executives

When making a presentation to your direct superiors or other executive managers, make sure the tone and manner in which you present reflects a "suggestive" tone. This type of presentation is more formal than others. As a subordinate, you want to make sure you don't come off as lecturing to your audience or presenting yourself as "one of them". Instead, make a series of suggestions or recommended course of "actions" to your audience. Also, just in case there are questions, always have the facts and figures to back up your recommendations.

The Peer Group

The key to successfully communicating to this audience is setting a tone of mutual respect and sharing. When presenting to your peers, it is important that you draw them into the presentation by asking them for their opinions, experiences and feedback.

The Team

The key to presenting to your own team is using the word "we". If you are part of a group, it is important to acknowledge group success as well as accept group blame.

Special Interest Groups

The key to communicating with this audience is relating your topic to the "issue" of the special interest group. By showing the audience you understand their issue, you can make an emotional connection with them. Once you have established such a connection, the audience is ready to truly listen to you. Consider the following example:

A corporate executive from a large health care provider was going to make a luncheon presentation to a women's health group. To gain the interest of her audience, the executive focused on how her organization developed a free health clinic for inner city women. In doing so, she related her presentation message to an issue that was important to her audience. It was a great success!

Mixed Groups

When you have a combination of groups, it is important to structure your presentation so that within the first minutes of presenting, you are able to reach out and connect with each subgroup. Depending on the make-up of your audience, you may want to focus your presentation on the main subgroup within your audience. Just make sure you also plan ways to involve the other audience subgroups.