How do you accommodate different communication styles at events?

1 Assess your audience

Before you design your event, try to get a sense of who your audience is and what their communication styles are. You can use surveys, feedback forms, social media, or other channels to gather some data on their demographics, backgrounds, interests, goals, and expectations. You can also ask them about their preferred modes of communication, such as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic, and their accessibility needs, such as captions, sign language, or assistive devices. This will help you tailor your content and delivery to suit your audience and avoid potential barriers or misunderstandings.

2 Choose your format and platform

Based on your audience assessment, you can decide on the best format and platform for your event. For example, you can choose between a webinar, a workshop, a panel discussion, or a networking session, depending on the level of interaction and engagement you want to achieve. You can also choose between a live, recorded, or hybrid event, depending on the availability and convenience of your audience and speakers. Moreover, you can choose a platform that supports different communication features, such as chat, polls, Q&A, breakout rooms, or emojis, to enable your audience to participate and interact in various ways.

3 Provide multiple options and alternatives

To accommodate different communication styles at events, you should provide multiple options and alternatives for your audience to access and consume your content. For example, you can offer a transcript, a summary, or a slide deck of your presentation, so that your audience can read or review it at their own pace. You can also provide captions, subtitles, or sign language interpretation for your audio or video content, so that your audience can follow along or catch up if they miss something. Additionally, you can provide different ways for your audience to ask questions, share feedback, or network with each other, such as chat, voice, video, or email, so that they can choose the mode that suits them best.

4 Use clear and inclusive language

Another way to accommodate different communication styles at events is to use clear and inclusive language in your content and delivery. This means avoiding jargon, acronyms, slang, or idioms that may confuse or alienate your audience, and explaining any technical terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to them. This also means using gender-neutral, respectful, and culturally sensitive terms and expressions that reflect the diversity and identity of your audience, and avoiding stereotypes, assumptions, or biases that may offend or exclude them. By using clear and inclusive language, you can ensure that your message is understood and appreciated by everyone.

5 Encourage feedback and interaction

Finally, you can accommodate different communication styles at events by encouraging feedback and interaction from your audience. You can do this by asking open-ended questions, inviting comments, soliciting opinions, or creating polls or quizzes that stimulate discussion and engagement. You can also acknowledge, validate, and respond to the feedback and interaction you receive, and show appreciation and recognition for your audience's contribution and participation. By encouraging feedback and interaction, you can create a sense of community and connection among your audience, and learn from their perspectives and experiences.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?