From being picked last for a team in gym class to not being invited to an after-work get-together, it feels bad not to be included. I recently experienced that sensation firsthand. And I didn’t like it one bit.
Could you be creating that same feeling of exclusion during your own presentations and speeches?
Let’s see a show!
In January, my husband Mike and I were spending a rare weekend away from the kids. Searching for something we could do together on Saturday night, I saw that a band called Truffle was playing at a bar within walking distance of our hotel.
When we got there, the place was PACKED. The audience were all people our own age, so we fit right in. We picked a spot right next to the stage with an up-close view of the band. Shortly after we arrived, the music started. Everything had fallen in place for a perfect night out.
Truffle is a popular band with talented musicians who put on a great show for their fans! People wearing Truffle tour shirts were dancing in front of the stage and singing along with the music. Fans embraced each other as they met on the dance floor. Just about everybody was having a great time. Everybody, that is, except for me and Mike.
Feeling left out
It wasn’t that the band wasn’t any good. It’s just that Mike and I didn’t feel included in the party. Aside from a single Steely Dan cover, we didn’t know any of the songs. The band was playing to their fan base and never asked if there were any new faces in the audience. They assumed that everyone knew who they were.
Despite the great music and friendly crowd, we just didn’t feel part of the group, so after about 30 minutes we decided to go back to the hotel. As we were getting our coats, we chit-chatted with one of the fans.
“Oh my god, don’t you LOVE Truffle?” gushed the fan.
“They’re a great band!” I assured her as we took our leave.
Being an inclusive presenter
On the way back to the hotel, I wondered if there had been times when I had inadvertently excluded people in my own audiences. Have I ever said, “As we all know…” assuming that everyone did? Have I used jargon exclusive to graphic designers when teaching people how to create slides? And have I included references in my presentations that only people “in the know” would get?
I recalled a daylong genetics workshop I attended last year. Going in, I knew I wouldn’t understand much, but I was shocked at how deeply ignorant I was on the subject! Do I sometimes make people in my own audiences feel the same way?
The Takeaway
Creating a shared experience for your audience is one of the most important things you can do as a presenter! If you want to influence people to do something, they need to be in an environment that makes them want to take action. Think about how you can include people who aren’t already familiar with you or your subject. Otherwise, you might be creating a members-only event.