Knowing Your Audience in Written Communication

The importance of tailoring the written message to the audience.

The first and most fundamental step in any written communication is to be fully aware of the intended audience.

Although this may seem like a basic principle, it is one that is most often overlooked.

We often make the mistake of writing as if we were speaking to ourselves, incorrectly assuming that the reader shares our context, knowledge and level of expertise.

For communication to be effective, the focus must shift from the sender to the receiver.

The message is not written for oneself, but for the other, and therefore, every choice - from vocabulary to structure - must be made by constantly thinking about who that person is and what he or she needs from our communication.

Summary

The most fundamental step in any written communication is to be fully aware of the intended audience. The focus must shift from the sender to the receiver in order to be effective.

We often make the mistake of writing as if we were speak