What are the most common challenges when presenting research to a diverse audience?

It’s critical to understand your audience and specifically speak the “language” they can best consume the content. Being able to tailor the story in words and outcomes that make sense to your listeners will help ensure the message lands and is compelling. This requires you to do some work beforehand, know the audience - demographics, roles, cultures etc. and speak in their words. A little effort up front will make a far more meaningful impact later.

I always ask myself: why are they here? It could be a diverse audience, but there's a unifying reason why they have assembled. An event on housing, pension, an AGM on a financial fund, a parents meeting, etc., all these could attract a diverse audience. Once you find the unifying factor, start simply on it. A short anecdote doesn't harm. But it should be informative. Then get to pictures, then graphs and charts, then figures. By the time you are getting to the charts, everyone should have gotten the message. The figures will be to engage those further interested in the details as the rest think about what you said before. They could even be writing/thinking questions to ask. In conclusion: start easily, engaging the whole audience.

Talking to different people is like telling a cool story that everyone likes. Most times, I talk with folks who aren't into tech stuff, so I keep it simple, avoid using tricky words, and use examples that everyone can get. Knowing who I'm talking to helps me connect, making our chat feel friendly and personal. It's a bit like chatting with friends who like different things but still finding something exciting for everyone. And that makes the whole talk more interesting and fun!

I have been fortunate to have worked with some great presenters. I learned two things - 1. Always be prepared otherwise be prepared to fail. This includes understanding your audience, what level of expertise do they have, what is the message, etc. 2. Whenever I was presenting a complex or technical topic, one CFO that I worked with always reminded me - "describe it as if you were explaining it to my mother". So perfect! Essentially, keep it simple, concise, don't use acronyms, and remember - share the details/facts that are critical for the audience to know.

I consistently request audience details from organizers to tailor my presentations to their interests. For mixed audiences, I include universally understandable content while interspersing more in-depth information strategically. I gauge audience interest during the talk and directly inquire if they want further details on specific topics. If a segment seems challenging for the audience, I may skip it or reserve it for Q&A session at the end of the talk, allowing myself the liberty to discuss them only if some interested individuals ask those questions.

Presenting research to a varied audience can be difficult because of cultural differences, language hurdles, and the need to adjust information for students from different backgrounds. Making ensuring that everyone understands is crucial, as is balancing technical details for professionals with easily understood explanations for non-experts. Additionally, flexibility is required to support a range of communication styles and learning preferences. Effective time management is essential for discussing significant topics without boring or alienating any audience.

The importance of clear communication cannot be overstated. I must eliminate unnecessary complexity and concentrate on the core message. Using simple language, visual aids, and real-world examples helps to convey the essence of my research in a way that everyone can understand and engage appropriately.

The second challenge in presenting effectively is to simplify your message while maintaining accuracy, relevance, and impact. Research, often intricate, may pose comprehension challenges for your audience. To enhance accessibility, articulate your main point and key takeaways early and reiterate them at the end. Utilize straightforward language, offer examples and analogies, and incorporate visuals like charts and diagrams. Employ repetition, summaries, and transitions to reinforce key points. This approach ensures that your message remains clear, relatable, and compelling, addressing the complexity of your research while making it more digestible for your audience.

Using complex and sophisticated language may hinder people from understanding your message, especially considering diverse levels of literacy and language proficiency. Opt for clear and straightforward language that is accessible to everyone.

Different audience members may have varying levels of familiarity with the topic, technical jargon, or industry-specific terms. Simplification makes the information accessible to a broader audience, increasing the chances of effective communication and knowledge retention across diverse backgrounds and expertise levels.

Storytelling is key. If you can create a story out of the most scientific or technical content, you are setting yourself up for success and can connect with your audience. Some of the worst presentations I have seen are the ones with loaded slideshows, small, print, and presenter, talking exactly what’s on the slide. That’s a guaranteed way to lose 90% of your audience.

Adapting your presentation format involves considering mode, time, and setting. Live presentations favor interaction, while recorded ones need editing. Short presentations require focus, long ones benefit from variety. Formality demands structure, informality allows creativity. Choose the mode (slides, video, audio, or text) based on purpose, audience, and platform. Consider timing (morning, afternoon, evening) and adapt to audience availability and mood. Lastly, align the setting (online, offline, hybrid) with accessibility and interaction needs. This ensures your presentation resonates effectively in its context.

A diverse audience may not be best served by the traditional lecture format. I experiment with different methods, such as interactive workshops, question-and-answer sessions, and even storytelling. This adaptability enables me to cater to various learning styles and preferences, resulting in increased participation and understanding.

One thing I consider when presenting to a diverse audience is that I’m not an expert. So I try to call that out initially and ask for feedback and input from the audience. I tend to tailor the format with more high level goals and expected results and then ask a lot more questions to gain direction and value for the diversity.

Initially, I used to prepare elaborate presentations with lengthy slides and scripted content for my talks. Over time, through more speaking engagements, I discovered the effectiveness of oral presentations with slides serving as a visual narrative. Now, I rely on handwritten notes for key points which I prepare a day in advance, think about observations I want to engage with the audience, and some examples to support my viewpoints. I never prepare script for my talks and always mould my presentation style based on the audience. PowerPoint is used to complement my spoken words, incorporating photos, research screenshots, or brief videos. This approach not only captivates the audience but also makes me confidemt speaker.

Prepare your presentation with key points, visualize the flow, and anticipate potential audience questions. If possible avoid relying too much on technology to avoid last moment anxiety (for eg if the projector stops working or the presentation doesn't open). Limit discussions to topics within your expertise to avoid the need for additional research. Keep the presentation simple, maintaining your unique delivery style. Concentrate on your individual approach rather than comparing to others; deliver your best confidently.

Managing emotions during research presentations is crucial for optimal performance and audience engagement. Preparation is key, involving practice, equipment checks, and anticipating challenges. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and visualization, help foster a positive mindset. Stay present and attentive, mindful of your audience and message. Utilize expressive voice, body language, and facial expressions to convey enthusiasm and sincerity. Emotion management enhances your confidence, credibility, and the overall satisfaction of your audience, ensuring a successful presentation.

The fear of public speaking is natural. However, I recognize and manage my emotions, using them as a source of passion and clarity. Deep breaths, mindfulness exercises, and positive self-talk assist me in remaining calm and focused, allowing me to deliver my message with confidence and conviction.

Everything is ok. You know more about the topic than your audience. This needs to be fun for you so make sure you have a good time. It’s a marathon not a sprint

Have a positive attitude while answering the questions of audience. Expect a wide dimension and at all levels. Also be mentally prepared for queries that are supposed to be deferred or out of scope. Evoking a positive energetic attitude welcomes the audience to engage in your content and provide their perspective which could be useful insights.

I appreciate constructive criticism and feedback because it allows me to learn and grow. I actively listen to questions and concerns, demonstrating respect for different points of view. This feedback loop assists me in refining my communication style and ensuring that everyone understands and values my research.

Have time to listen to the feedback. Constructive feedback helps you to refine your work. Feedbacks should always be appreciated. It helps you to grow. Negative feedback sometimes may be provocative but should always be handle with more caution as it reflects what more can be done as part of presentation or the work it self. It also prepares you to handle such feedbacks in future.

I heard it from a very eminent person in strategic planning that research reports sometimes lack strategic inputs and only talks about the research outcome which may not be interesting for non- research participants. Strategic inputs can only be given if the insights are being linked with real business outcomes. Obviously it needs support from business, marketing, product teams to help you curate these findings. Open discussion with other departments will strengthen it. Hence feedback should be heard and taken seriously when working on reporting research outcome. Ask yourself what is the central question being addressed and keep checking with colleagues if what is written in the report is making sense in relation to the business question.

Expecting feedback is a crucial mental model to master. Expecting appreciation is usually the default setting and that leads to defensive discussions rather than a coherent exploration. The key mental aspect should be to anticipate feedback as it denotes interest from the audience

One thing I have found helpful is to carefully and attentively listen to the the feedback, some of the feedback might be weakening your message because of the misunderstanding that occurred or it might help in improving some areas as it would be a right time to research more. The feedback will help to see if the audience was following what you were saying to them. Do not be negative or loose temper when asked questions because this helps in research whether it was done to a point of understanding without even looking into the counter acting solutions.

Probably the most common mistake that people do when presenting graphs is to overlook that your audience may be colorblind. The best way to be inclusive in this case is to avoid differencing patterns by colors but instead using formats, such as: - different font types. - if plotting, use different patterns, for example different line types in a time series plot - generally, keep the plot simple, this is not only inclusive, but a great overall practice.

In my experience, this takes hard work and dedication to get right, no one is ever done learning how to embrace the full diversity of others- and it is critically important to do so. Take the time to be informed and learn how to present data and research through an equitable lens. Consider it the most important thing you’ll do.

Along with considering the audience, you need to consider the occasion. What brings everyone together for the presentation? Knowing that can help you find commonality. Beyond that: Make sure that you use a number of different types of information to demonstrate your point. Not everyone understands statistics nor are convinced by examples. Make sure you use multiple channels in presenting the information. Visual aids back up what you are speaking about and can help visual learners. Involve the audience physically to help kinesthetic learners.

Navigate the challenge of diversity by acknowledging varied backgrounds, cultures, values, and perspectives within your audience. While diversity brings valuable insights and opportunities, it can also trigger conflicts and biases. To foster respect, understand the diverse needs and preferences of your audience, steering clear of stereotypes and assumptions. Cultivate an open, respectful attitude, embracing the richness of diversity, and be willing to learn and collaborate with your audience for effective communication.

This links in well with knowing your audience. Try to avoid personal opinions that may alienate some people in your audience, try to accommodate a diverse range of learning styles and think about neurodiversity. The presentation shouldn’t be the only focus, what about the space or room in which you are delivering? Is it accommodating to those that struggle with sensory stimuli like noise, lights, sound, etc? Can a neurodivergent individual feel comfortable enough in the room to fully engage with the presentation?

In my experience of being on the receiving end of research reports a lot of researchers’ (particularly those with less experience or those that come from academia) reports are out of balance - they focus too much on either the “what” (users did or didn’t do X) or the meta research information (methodological rigour, sampling methods etc). While important, especially to assess validity and applicability for triangulation by other researchers, the point of the report itself - help make a decision - gets buried so deep, or worse yet - not included at all. Our stakeholders are seeking datapoints to make decisions. Start with the end. Don’t be afraid to make meaningful recommendations early. View the report with their eyes.

Enhance your preparation for presentations by scripting your talk well in advance. Documenting key points provides a structured reference during your presentation, relieving the pressure to recall everything from memory. This not only ensures a smoother delivery but also allows you to stay focused on engaging with your audience, knowing that your essential content is readily available in your script

Research may come across as overly academic and dull, particularly if individuals are not engaged with the subject. Look for ways to personalize the research and establish a compelling hook, encouraging people to become interested and delve deeper into the content/findings.

A clear and cohesive storyline backed up with solid assumptions, data and evidence that is in simple enough and logical language that the audience can connect to. Everyone should leave the room knowing that the presentation spoke to them or a subsect of their lives and how they can take the findings/information further to contribute or apply further.

I’d like to add that understanding your own information and point you are trying to get across is going to allow you to speak confidently to any group of people no matter the size of the audience. Also, enjoy the process