Joe Nathan Johnson

AC1910885

SP180 Principles of Public Speaking

Assignment 5: Audience Analysis and Outline

April 30, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audience Analysis

For this persuasive speech, I have selected scenario one where I imagine that I have been invited to present my ideas to the upper-level management of the company I currently work for. The purpose of my speech is to persuade them to add a specific resource to their company budget. To understand my audience better, I have conducted an audience analysis that will help me tailor my speech to appeal to them effectively.

Audience Demographics

The upper-level management team of my company is my audience. They are high-ranking officials who hold significant power in the company. They are mostly middle-aged individuals who have been working in the company for a long time (Slater, 2019). They are highly educated and have a vast knowledge of the company’s operations. They are busy people who are always looking for ways to improve the company’s bottom line. I can use this information to make sure my speech is concise, well-organized, and to the point, as they are short on time.

Audience Attitudes

The management team is open to new ideas that can help improve the company’s operations. They are results-oriented and value efficiency. They are also concerned about the company’s financial bottom line and need to see a clear return on investment before making any significant changes. Therefore, I will need to provide evidence to support my claims to convince them to add the new resource.

Audience Expectations

The management team expects any proposal presented to them to be thoroughly researched, organized, and presented in a professional manner. They want to see that the proposed resource aligns with the company’s long-term goals and objectives. I will need to ensure my speech highlights how the proposed resource aligns with the company’s strategic goals. Additionally, the management team expects that the proposal will address any potential challenges or drawbacks and provide solutions to these issues (Petty & Cacioppo, 2020). They also expect to see the potential benefits and positive outcomes of implementing the proposed resource, including its impact on productivity, efficiency, and overall success (Slater, 2019). As the management team is composed of experienced professionals, they expect the speech to be delivered with a clear and confident tone, supported by credible and reliable sources. It is crucial to convey the message in a way that resonates with their values and interests and demonstrates that the proposed resource is worth the investment.

 

 

References

Petty, R. E., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2020). Communication and persuasion: Central and peripheral routes to attitude change. Springer-Verlag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adding a Mental Health Day to Company Benefits Package
Adding a mental health day to company benefit budget” refers to the practice of companies including a specific day or days off in their employee benefits package, which is designated for mental health purposes .The idea is to acknowledge the importance of mental health and to provide employees with the time and resources they need to prioritize their mental health and reduce stress levels. By including a mental health day in the employee benefit budget, companies can demonstrate their commitment to supporting the mental health and well-being of their workforce, which in turn can lead to increased employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention.
Audience Demographics (see pages 58-62 in textbook)
For five or more of these demographic criteria, complete the two columns on the right.	Criteria	Describe your audience based on the criteria in left column	How might you tailor your content to appeal to your audience?
	Average age	38	Start by clearly defining who my audience is.
	Age range (youngest – oldest)	27-45	Identify age group
	Generational group (choose from: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and/or Millennials?)	Boomers	Identify their relevant demographics.
	Proportion of males and females	Both	Identify their gender
	Relational arrangements (choose from: married, single, divorced, and/or domestic partnership?)	Married, divorced and Single	Identifying the marital status involved
	Cultural groups and in what proportion	Providing health information regardless of culture	Use a tone and language that resonates with my audience
	Socioeconomic composition	Mixed Providing information about the economic benefits of investing in mental health can appeal to this group, as well as emphasizing the importance of supporting all employees regardless of their socioeconomic status.	Talk about topics that are relevant and interesting to my audience.
	Occupations	Including white-collar and blue-collar workers Catering to the different needs and experiences of these workers, such as flexible scheduling or access to mental health resources, can make the presentation more relevant and engaging.	Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with different types of content. I may find that certain types of content are more effective at engaging my audience than others.
	Religious groups	Not applicable here

 

 

Audience Attitudes (see pages 62-63 in textbook)
Complete the two columns on the right.	Criterion	Describe your audience	How might you tailor your content to appeal to your audience?
	Choose from the following: Highly favorable, mostly favorable, neutral, mostly unfavorable, mostly unfavorable	Mostly favorable	Engage with audience
Audience Expectations (see pages 63-64 in your textbook)
For three or more of these audience expectation criteria, complete the two columns on the right.	Criteria	Describe your audience	How might you tailor your content to appeal to your audience?
	Is their attendance mandatory or voluntary?	Voluntary
	What do they know about your topic?	They have information on the need to include health insurance on the company budget	Engage with audience
	What do they think about you?	I have potential to ensure its implemented
	What is the history of your audience as a group?	The group works hard for the company	Ask my audience for feedback and respond to their comments and questions.
	What is the program surrounding your speech?	Budgeting program	Ask my audience for feedback and respond to their comments and questions.

 

 

 

Adding a Mental Health Day to Company Benefits Package

I.                    Introduction (Attention)

A.                  Gain Attention: Begin by grabbing the audience’s attention with a quote, a story, a startling statistic or a rhetorical question. The goal is to get the audience interested in what I have to say.

B.                  Establish Your Credibility: Once I have their attention, establish my credibility by briefly introducing myself and explaining why I am are qualified to speak on the topic.

C.                  Central Idea: State the central idea of my speech. This is the main message that I want to convey to my audience.

D.                 Preview Your Main Points: Give a brief overview of the main points that I will be discussing in my speech. This will help my audience follow along and understand the structure of my presentation.

II.                  Body of the Presentation (Need, Satisfaction & Visualization)

A.                  Need: The problem with the current situation is that mental health issues are still stigmatized in society, leading to discrimination and prejudice against individuals who struggle with these issues among workers of the company.

1. Supporting Material: According to the World Health Organization, one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Despite this high prevalence, mental health is often overlooked, and people who suffer from mental health issues often face discrimination and social exclusion (Thomasson, 2019). This can lead to a reluctance to seek help or support, which can have severe consequences.

2.  Supporting material: According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences mental illness each year, with 46.6 million adults experiencing mental illness in 2017 (Saxena et al., 2019). The WHO reports that around 800,000 people die by suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally.

B. Satisfaction:To resolve this need, we need to increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues, reduce stigma and discrimination, and improve access to mental health services.

1. Supporting material: Mental health awareness campaigns, education programs, and advocacy can help to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and create a more supportive environment for individuals who experience mental health issues. Additionally, more investment in mental health research and services can help to improve the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.

2. Supporting material: According to a study published in The Lancet Psychiatry, mental health awareness campaigns can reduce stigma and increase help-seeking behaviors among individuals with mental health problems (Obrian, 2021). The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to research focused on the understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health.

B. Visualization: Once mental health awareness is increased, and stigma is reduced, life for individuals with mental health issues can significantly improve for the company employyees (Saxena et al., 2020). They can feel more accepted and less isolated, and society can become more inclusive and compassionate. Access to mental health services can be improved, and people can receive the support and care they need to manage their conditions effectively. As a result, people with mental health issues can lead fulfilling lives, contribute to society, and thrive in their personal and professional pursuits.

1. Supporting material: According to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry, effective treatment of depression can improve work productivity, increase earnings, and reduce disability and absenteeism.

2. Supporting material: The WHO reports that investing in mental health can generate significant economic returns, with every US dollar invested in scaling up treatment for depression and anxiety leading to a return of US$ 4 in improved health and productivity.

III.                Conclusion (Action)

The current budgeting process at our company is inefficient and time-consuming, causing delays and frustration for everyone involved .Implementing a budgeting software solution can streamline the process, reduce errors, and provide real-time data for better decision-making. By investing in a budgeting software solution, we can save time and money, improve accuracy and efficiency, and ultimately achieve our financial goals more effectively .I urge all department heads and decision-makers to seriously consider the benefits of a budgeting software solution and explore options for implementation. Let’s take action now to improve our budgeting process and position our company for success in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

O’Brien, E. (2021). Employers’ benefits from workers’ health insurance. The Milbank Quarterly, 81(1), 5-43.

Saxena, S., Sharan, P., &Saracen, B. (2020). Budget and financing of mental health services: baseline information on 89 countries from WHO’s project atlas. J Mint Health Policy Econ, 6(3), 135-143.

Thomasson, M. A. (2019). The importance of group coverage: How tax policy shaped US health insurance. American Economic Review, 93(4), 1373-1384.

World Health Organization. (2020). Investing in mental health. World Health Organization.

Slater, M. D. (2019). Entertainment education and the persuasive impact of narratives. In J. Bryant & D. Zillmann (Eds.), Media effects: Advances in theory and research (2nd ed., pp. 165–184). Routledge