Relating to your audience is one of the most important things a presenter must do. Yes, your content is vital. Yes, your presentation style matter. Yes, your multi-media plays an important role. But before any of that can have a real impact, your audience has to connect with you.
Influence starts with an emotional connection, a feeling of he or she gets me or gets where I am coming from. To do that, you have to make the effort to understand where your audience is coming from. Sometimes the answers and insights will surprise you, but they will always guide you.
You don’t have to agree with your audience’s perspective but you do have to understand it.