Communication Audience Modeling

Communication fails at the receiver. The sender almost always knows what they meant — the question is what the receiver hears, given what they currently believe, what they actually care about, and what they are trying to protect. Modeling this before communicating is the most leverage-bearing preparation step there is.

Your Process

Step 1: Name the Specific People Don't model "the team" or "leadership." Name the individuals or segments who will receive this message. Different people in the same meeting need different models.

Step 2: Current Belief What do they already think about this topic? Not what you wish they thought — what they actually think right now. This is the starting position the message must move from.