Speaker Guidelines for Addressing International Audiences

1. If the audience does not have English (or your language) as their first language, speak slower than usual, and use 'simpler/smaller' words, and ‘simpler/shorter’ sentences. Long, compound sentences will confuse the audience.

2. Avoid ‘nation-centric’ expressions, idioms or slang.

3. Do not use sports or war analogies, ever!

4. Limit the use acronyms or internal lingo and jargon unless previously described/explained.

5. Do not tell jokes! Feel free to use humor, preferably self deprecating - and even then not too much of that. There is humor we all share, look to what makes us human and you can't go wrong. Pay very close attention to the audience; are they laughing when you think they should be laughing? If they are - you're lucky you've got good translators in that little glass booth at the back. If they are NOT laughing... immediately start cutting back on the humor you're using. You either got unlucky and the translators aren't very good, or the humor you're attempting isn't working. Stop doing what isn't working.

6. Adapt all geographically variant measurements and influences (such as seasons, distances, currencies, etc.) to the local situation - unless the differences are important to the discussion.

7. Presentations should be 'timeless' - remove references such as 'last week' or ‘this afternoon’ - this helps if the session is recorded in any fashion. For live webcasts broadcast in different times zones, don’t start with “good morning.”

8. Avoid using graphics or photos on your PPT presentation that may be nation-centric or that could be offensive to other cultures. Keep it simple!

9. Remember that your PPT should only serve as an aid to your presentation with limited number of words. However, if your audience does not have your language as their first language, the PPT may help aid comprehension so either add slides with some of the important concepts or consider distributing a hand-out. If needed, have the slides/handout translated by your local contacts.

10. Consider that a picture is worth a thousand words so use a picture/image to tell a story, if you are sure the message behind it is universal … but be careful it rarely is!

11. If there is simultaneous interpretation, find out from your translators if the language(s) they will be translating your presentation into are denser or sparser than English/your language. What does this mean? Some languages will require more words to say what you just said... others will require fewer. But in any case, be prepared to speak slower than usual, in some cases, a lot slower.

12. If there is consecutive interpretation, break up your statements in ‘short’ segments that represent a coherent single idea/thought and allow the interpreters some time to translate after each statement. The challenge is maintaining the flow of thought as you stop and start through the presentation. Consider that the presentation will take twice or three times as long to deliver so adapt your presentation accordingly.

13. Be aware that the audience will likely contain a range of understanding of the speaker's language. Look for signs that indicate who "gets it" before the translator speaks. This can be very helpful in a consecutive interpretation if the translator misses the point. You may also be able to see a sign from your indicator that prompts you to verify content with the translator.

14. Provide interpreters in advance with copy of presentation - possibly in the local language(s) - and any available translation glossary. If possible, spend time with your translators prior to speaking. Speak to them about some of the more offbeat concepts/words in your presentation. This is especially useful in languages such as Mandarin or Cantonese where there often isn't an equivalent word or phrase and the interpreter will need to understand the context and speaker's meaning to choose the best way to interpret it.

15. Find out in advance what the dress code for the event is and dress accordingly.

16. Regardless of your allotted time and when you were supposed to start or actually started, finish according to the original schedule. You might get away with finishing late in North America... but not in Helsinki, or Germany

17. Make every attempt to learn more about your audience, their culture and preferred learning style. This will help you interpret their verbal feedback during a question and answer session or non-verbal response to your presentation. Consider these examples: In India, don’t worry if they shake their head, rather remember this means they agree. In Japan, don’t be concerned if they occasionally close their eyes, you are not putting your audience to sleep. In Finland, don't expect audience feedback - expect stony silence - even when they love you. In the Netherlands, expect to be challenged during your talk - they value debate - even when they agree with you. In Japan, don't single out someone to answer a question - they prefer not to speak as individuals - even though they assume the speaker (sensei/teacher) is to be respected and listened to. These are generalizations, of course, but the message is do some research on the local culture and customs and you will be prepared.

18. Read this article on What to Know When You’re Speaking to an International Audience from the Total Communicator for more information on this topic: http://totalcommunicator.com/vol2_2/interaudience.html

19. At the end of all this advice? Relax - the audience in front of you, regardless of the location, wants you to succeed and likely sees you as an expert just because you flew across the world to speak to them. Speak from the heart - don't make too many assumptions - and have some fun. It's only a presentation!

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