Strategizing for Audiences with

Different Expertise

Cornell Course

Your work in a technical field likely means that you periodically interact with colleagues, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders who live in a different part of the world, speak a primary language different from your own, or have expertise in a different or non-technical field.

As a technical expert, your ability to anticipate the needs of audiences from diverse backgrounds and communicate effectively with them is essential.

In this course, you will have an opportunity to explore how you can prepare to meet the needs of audiences with differing backgrounds, primary languages, and levels of expertise, and even varying degrees of receptivity to your message. You will examine principles of persuasion and consider how and when to apply them both effectively and ethically. As part of your studies, you will also review pertinent selections from Dr. Traci Nathans-Kelly's book “Slide Rules,” and you will look at how you can prepare for the unexpected in your talks and maintain your composure when disruptions occur.

By the end of this course, you will have gained techniques and insights that you can apply as you prepare and develop presentations for a wide range of audiences with varying needs and interests.

You are required to have completed the following course or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

• Redesigning Slides for Impact
• Engaging Presentation Techniques
• Designing Slides for Live and Legacy Use