This past weekend I had the pleasure of judging at the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) National Tournament in Arkansas. It was GREAT! I had a lot of fun and learned a ton from the kids (you’ll see in tomorrows newsletter). One thing that I was reminded of is how often we make assumptions about our audience. My favorite, of course, was the debate about how Facebook has changed the culture. And the assumptions both sides made on the argument, using terms and phrases without defining them.
When you meet with someone for the first time, especially outside your industry, make sure to define the terms. Don’t make assumptions about what they do or don’t know. There’s polite ways to ask and define terms without making assumptions. Try not to alienate your audience, they could be your next big client.
