The Audience

Audience expectations are another important part of the communication environment. If your listeners are anticipating an interesting self-introductory speech and instead hear a tirade against tax reform, the communication environment may become a bit chilly. At another time or in another place, your speech might perhaps work—but not in that particular Circumstance.
The negative or challenging factors in the communication environment that can disrupt effectiveness are called interference. Interference, can range from physical noise that impedes the hearing of a speech, such as a plane flying over the building, to psychological “noise” within speakers and listeners that prevents them from connecting.
While conversationalists are often close acquaintances who feel comfortable with each other, public speakers and their audiences can seem like strangers to each other, especially during first encounters. At such times, they may raise psychological barriers to protect themselves from the risks of genuine communication. Speakers troubled by communication anxiety may see listeners as distant, unfriendly, or threatening. Even before they begin to speak, they raise a barrier between themselves and their audience. Listeners may fear hidden agendas. They may be suspicious of a speaker’s motives, cautious about accepting messages, or concerned that what a speaker asks of them may be costly or risky. They too may fear the change—even the growth—that can result from genuine communication. 18 Such suspicions and fears may raise the barrier even higher.