"Hello everyone.
" How often have you heard that phrase? And here are a couple of even more pointed questions: Who exactly is being addressed, and what does that mean in terms of audience response? Briefly, my answers are: no one at all, and in response to the second question, I would argue it tends to alienate members of the audience, although perhaps modestly.
When you address a group this way, it implies you see a featureless group, rather than a gathering of individuals.
"Hello everyone.
" and "Thanks everyone.
" and their variations depersonalize the audience.
For those of us in the audience, it seems to suggest you're speaking past us, to some unknown at the very back of the venue.
The same audience response is true, to some extent, of the phrase "Ladies and gentlemen" although its long history implies formalism rather than depersonalization.
You might well object, though, that many speakers and entertainers use the phrase, "Ladies and gentlemen.
" And, you'd be right.
They do.
For example, comedian and talk-show host David Letterman often uses the phrase as he launches into a joke or anecdote.
In that case, the phrase is likely not a bad habit; it's probably done intentionally.
By using "Ladies and gentlemen.
" he adopts a formalism that contrasts very effectively with his off-the-wall style of humor.
That contrast makes the jokes funnier.
Similarly, some very good public speakers also use the phrase intentionally.
Again, the intent is formalism, but in this case it's not used for contrast, it's used for emphasis.
Prefacing a key point with the "Ladies and gentlemen.
" adds weight to the words to come and makes them stand out from other sections of the speech.
Finally, some speakers and entertainers use the phrase unintentionally, through habit or misguided advice.
They haven't enjoyed good, detailed critiques that would expose the usage.
While I can find reasons to use "Ladies and gentlemen.
" I can't find one for "Hello everyone.
" or "Thanks everyone.
" They both depersonalize the audience, which lessens the effectiveness of a speech or presentation.
And what, you might ask, should we do instead? Well, if you speak to a group, whether formally or informally, start by thinking of the group as a collection of individuals, each of whom wants to be addressed personally.
Keep in mind that old marketing acronym, WIIFM, "What's in it for me?" It's a way of reminding ourselves that every individual in an audience has his or her own wants and needs, starting with recognition of their existence.
And, that can be done quite simply.
If you say simply "Hello" rather than "Hello everyone" you've made it possible for each person in the audience to assume the greeting is meant for them personally.
The same applies to "Thank you" and other usages.
I also find that it works well if you pause after saying a simple "hello" and then make eye contact with a number of people in the audience.
You don't have to make contact with everyone, but at least a few.
Summing up audience response to your greeting, never address your audience as a group; always address it as a collection of individuals.
Bottom line: avoid both "Ladies and gentlemen" and "Hello everyone" (and their variations) unless you have good and specific reasons.
" How often have you heard that phrase? And here are a couple of even more pointed questions: Who exactly is being addressed, and what does that mean in terms of audience response? Briefly, my answers are: no one at all, and in response to the second question, I would argue it tends to alienate members of the audience, although perhaps modestly.
When you address a group this way, it implies you see a featureless group, rather than a gathering of individuals.
"Hello everyone.
" and "Thanks everyone.
" and their variations depersonalize the audience.
For those of us in the audience, it seems to suggest you're speaking past us, to some unknown at the very back of the venue.
The same audience response is true, to some extent, of the phrase "Ladies and gentlemen" although its long history implies formalism rather than depersonalization.
You might well object, though, that many speakers and entertainers use the phrase, "Ladies and gentlemen.
" And, you'd be right.
They do.
For example, comedian and talk-show host David Letterman often uses the phrase as he launches into a joke or anecdote.
In that case, the phrase is likely not a bad habit; it's probably done intentionally.
By using "Ladies and gentlemen.
" he adopts a formalism that contrasts very effectively with his off-the-wall style of humor.
That contrast makes the jokes funnier.
Similarly, some very good public speakers also use the phrase intentionally.
Again, the intent is formalism, but in this case it's not used for contrast, it's used for emphasis.
Prefacing a key point with the "Ladies and gentlemen.
" adds weight to the words to come and makes them stand out from other sections of the speech.
Finally, some speakers and entertainers use the phrase unintentionally, through habit or misguided advice.
They haven't enjoyed good, detailed critiques that would expose the usage.
While I can find reasons to use "Ladies and gentlemen.
" I can't find one for "Hello everyone.
" or "Thanks everyone.
" They both depersonalize the audience, which lessens the effectiveness of a speech or presentation.
And what, you might ask, should we do instead? Well, if you speak to a group, whether formally or informally, start by thinking of the group as a collection of individuals, each of whom wants to be addressed personally.
Keep in mind that old marketing acronym, WIIFM, "What's in it for me?" It's a way of reminding ourselves that every individual in an audience has his or her own wants and needs, starting with recognition of their existence.
And, that can be done quite simply.
If you say simply "Hello" rather than "Hello everyone" you've made it possible for each person in the audience to assume the greeting is meant for them personally.
The same applies to "Thank you" and other usages.
I also find that it works well if you pause after saying a simple "hello" and then make eye contact with a number of people in the audience.
You don't have to make contact with everyone, but at least a few.
Summing up audience response to your greeting, never address your audience as a group; always address it as a collection of individuals.
Bottom line: avoid both "Ladies and gentlemen" and "Hello everyone" (and their variations) unless you have good and specific reasons.