I regularly get asked how speakers can improve their ability to engage with their audience and hold their attention.   Given the number of dull boring and apparently pointless presentations I have had to sit through this is no great surprise,  I am often complimented in my ability to quickly engage my audience so today I’ll share with you some of my secrets.

  1. Set a clear intention.
  2. Have a clear outcome for the presentation – Know what you want them to do as a result of your talk
  3. Connect with your audience before you start to speak. Silently welcome them as you scan the room
  4. Quickly establish “What’s in it for your audience” so that  they can see the relevance of your content
  5. Maintain good eye contact with the whole audience –
  6. Vary you energy and expression – a  monotone delivery will send your audience to sleep
  7. Turn your presentation into a story or series of stories that communicate your key messages
  8. Don;t overload them with too much detail – less is more!

That’s it in a nutshell.   If you want more detail on any of these steps – just send me an email or ask a  question in the comments box below and I’ll be happy to expand on any one of them.

Posted in Presentation Skills, Public Speaking

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