How can you create a safe and inclusive space for your audience during your speech?

1 Know your audience

Before you deliver your speech, do some research on who your audience is, what they care about, and what challenges they face. This will help you tailor your content, tone, and examples to their needs and interests. You can also use surveys, polls, or interviews to gather feedback and insights from your audience. By knowing your audience, you can show them that you understand and appreciate them, and that you are not speaking from a position of ignorance or bias.

2 Use inclusive language

The words you use matter. They can either build trust and rapport with your audience, or alienate and offend them. To use inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, assumptions, and generalizations about groups of people. Instead, use terms that respect their diversity and individuality. For example, use gender-neutral pronouns, avoid binary labels, and acknowledge different perspectives and experiences. You can also ask your audience how they prefer to be addressed, and use their names and pronouns correctly.

4 Set ground rules

Another way to create a safe and inclusive space for your audience is to establish some ground rules or norms for your speech. These are guidelines that help everyone behave respectfully, responsibly, and constructively during your speech. You can either create your own ground rules, or co-create them with your audience. Some examples of ground rules are: listen actively, speak from your own experience, respect different views, and avoid interrupting or judging others. You can also explain why these ground rules are important, and how you will enforce them.

5 Address conflicts

Even with the best intentions, conflicts may arise during your speech. Someone may say something that is hurtful, inappropriate, or inaccurate. Someone may feel attacked, offended, or silenced. Someone may disagree or challenge you or others. How you handle these situations can affect the safety and inclusivity of your space. To address conflicts, you need to be calm, respectful, and assertive. You need to acknowledge the issue, clarify the facts, listen to both sides, and facilitate a resolution. You also need to apologize if you make a mistake, and learn from it.

6 Show gratitude

Finally, one of the simplest and most effective ways to create a safe and inclusive space for your audience is to show gratitude. Thank them for their time, attention, and participation. Recognize their contributions, achievements, and feedback. Express your appreciation for their diversity, uniqueness, and resilience. By showing gratitude, you can create a positive and lasting impression on your audience, and inspire them to continue their journey of growth and change.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?