Know Your Audience

What you can learn simply by being aware of your audience is astounding, yet very few people actually pay attention to how others respond to them/their message. For instance, when someone responds to something you’ve said, you’re probably formulating a reply in your mind rather than observing the other person. Your focus is on you, not them.

When you’re presenting to a group, staying focused on your audience will reduce your anxiety. You can’t be thinking about how nervous you are if you’re interpreting what others are communicating with their body language.

In meetings, look around the room and think about what the behavior of participants is communicating. Usually you’ll see people texting or emailing. What message are they conveying? Imagine what someone would infer about your behavior. Would their interpretation serve you well?

Charismatic people are often described as making you feel like you’re the only person in the room. That’s due in large part to their focus. Acknowledging others by paying attention to them can pay dividends.