A Raccoon and a Hippo Walk Into a Bar…
What fun this will be! Cartoon hippos are goofy, clumsy, silly and cute. Cartoon raccoons are dear little bandits who just want to be cuddled. In real life? Not so much.
In Africa, the hippopotamus kills about five hundred humans per year. Lions get about a hundred, sharks do ten. The hippo will kill you just because he’s grumpy.
And that cuddly raccoon? Well, if cornered, he will shred your face and walk away like nothing happened. Underestimate these guys at your peril.
As a communicator, you may think you’re dealing with a cuddly raccoon or an adorable hippo. Big mistake! One of the most dangerous things you can do is to mis-read your audience. Why? Let’s recall the Six Essentials of Effective Communication:
1. Understand your listener both emotionally and intellectually.
2. Clearly identify “Point A”: where your listener is at the beginning of your communication.
3. Clearly identify “Point B”: exactly where you want to take your listener.
4. Carefully map the logical and emotional route from Point A to Point B.
5. Plan out your techniques to get your listener from Point A to Point B.
6. Take your listener by the hand and walk him surely and safely from Point A to Point B.
Do you get the point? Unless you know your audience, you can’t even begin to communicate. Underestimating or under-appreciating your listener will get you the disaster you deserve.
Communicators, know your audience!
The full paper (with (http://www.purposeful.ca/blog) wonderful (http://www.purposeful.ca/blog) cartoon from Ryan James!) (http://www.purposeful.ca/blog)