Today I glanced in my rearview mirror and easily read the company name on the van driving behind me. Why? Because the text was printed in reverse!
To someone standing in front of the van, the text would be almost unreadable. But the company knew its target audience – drivers glancing in their rearview mirrors – and adapted its message to them.
How often do we as trainers adapt our message to our audience? Do we do our homework ahead of time, finding out about our participants and what message will be meaningful to them?
{This is another re-post from my old website (www.atrainerslife.com). Enjoy!}
Many years ago I did a training class for an accounting firm, and during the class I asked them several times to “find a partner.” Finally one of the participants told me that their executives were called partners, and when I told them to “find a partner” it was confusing to them. They figured out I meant for them to pair up with another person in class, but it gave them pause when I said it.
Adapting our message to the audience could be as simple as discovering their lingo. Do they call themselves employees or associates? Do they attend staff meetings or team meetings? Do they have supervisors or managers?
Its the little things that can go a long way…
