Recommendations for presenting to a novice audience

Each speech is constructed depending on the type of audience to which it is addressed. That said, the speaker introduces a level of technicality that he/she considers appropriate to be understood by all present. Likewise, the depth and complexity of the topics to be addressed are adapted to each specific audience. We can approach the same topic in different ways and convey a useful message that contributes to satisfy the needs of our viewers.

When presenting to a novice audience, it is important that we work on the message to adapt it to the level of knowledge of those present. Only in this way can we communicate effectively and present a series of ideas that are understandable to the listeners. During the development of this session, we will be offering you a group of recommendations in order to deal with a specific topic before a novice audience or one that is not very knowledgeable about it.

Reinforce the introduction of your speech: We have the preconceived idea that the most important part of a speech will always be its development. The truth is that during the development of our speech, we communicate the most information and elements of interest to the audience. However, in cases where the audience present is not an expert in the topic to be discussed or has very little knowledge about it, the introduction plays a major role in the speech.

When approaching a novice audience, it is important to reinforce the introductory part of our speech. This is what will help people who are less familiar with the topic to be addressed to understand the most basic aspects of it and to acquire a greater context about the contents. Make an introduction that starts from the simplest elements so that the inexperienced audience can understand the more complex ones.

Avoid overloading the speech with information: If you know beforehand that your speech is likely to be your audience's first approach to this topic, avoid overloading the presentation with information. When we address many new elements before a novice audience, it is unlikely that they can be easily assimilated. This leads to a considerable decrease in the effectiveness of your speech and the message you are trying to convey is not useful.

Instead of trying to elaborate a very comprehensive speech, focus on two or three main ideas that may be useful as a first approach of the audience to this topic. Try to explain them well, with simple and pleasant language.

Use narrative resources: There are a series of narrative resources that, if used properly, will be useful when approaching your audience to the topics you intend to address. Among these resources are stories, anecdotes, metaphors, similes, among others. By using them, we seek to make use of comparison to explain the most complex contents, relating them to everyday elements for our audience.

Instead of trying to explain to your audience what a concept is that will be difficult to understand, try establishing a similarity with something they are familiar with. The similarity and the metaphor are narrative resources of great impact, since they not only facilitate the understanding of the content, but also improve the audience's retention.

The same happens with stories and anecdotes, which liven up the speech and help the audience to see practical examples of what you are explaining. Working with novice audiences requires the use of teaching skills. In a sense, every good communicator must be a good teacher.