Matching the Level of Detail to the Audience's Personality

Identify whether the audience prefers detail or an overview.

Beyond the level of expertise, the individual personality of each listener profoundly influences how they prefer to receive information.

People tend to process information in two main ways: some are detail-oriented, while others are big picture oriented.

A detail-oriented person is more comfortable with hard facts, figures, studies and a thorough breakdown of information.

In contrast, someone who is big picture oriented prefers a panoramic view, a "high-level" executive summary, and may be overwhelmed or lose interest if immersed in too much detail.

An effective communicator must be able to identify this preference and adapt the depth of their message, providing a thorough analysis for the former and a strategic summary for the latter, thus avoiding a disconnect with their audience.

Adapt communication style to autonomous vs. structured personalities.

Another personality dimension that affects communication, especially when delegating tasks or making requests, is the preference for autonomy or structure.

Some people have an autonomous personality and value flexibility; they prefer to be assigned a goal and given the freedom to find the best way to achieve it without a strict script.

Others, on the other hand, have a structured personality and feel more confident and efficient when given a detailed plan that clearly specifies the steps to follow to execute an idea.

Since each person is different, the communication style must be adapted.

Providing a detailed plan to an autonomous person may be perceived as micromanaging, while giving only a general objective to a structured person may generate anxiety and inefficiency.

How to observe and ask questions to understand audience preferences.

The key to identifying these personality preferences is not guessing, but observing and actively listening.

Much can be learned by paying attention to the behavior and questions our interlocutor asks.

For example, does the person frequently ask for data, studies or evidence to back up claims? This is a clear indicator of a detail-oriented mindset.

Does he or she tend to interrupt the details to ask about the end goal or the "why" of a strategy? This suggests a preference for the big picture.

By observing these patterns over time, we can build a deeper understanding of how our interlocutor prefers to communicate and, consequently, adjust our style to be much more persuasive and effective.

Summary

Beyond experience, personality influences how information is preferred to be received. Some are detail-oriented, while others prefer an overview and are overwhelmed with unnecessary detail.

Another personality dimension is the preference for autonomy or structure when delegating tasks. Some people value flexibility, while others feel more confident and efficient with a detailed plan.

The key to identifying these preferences is not to guess, but to observe and actively listen to the behavior and questions of the interlocutor. By observing these patterns, we can adjust our style to be more persuasive.