Page 57 - Effective communication Skills by Dale King

f. Change up the topics

Try to use micro changes constantly and macro changes every ten minutes or
so.

Short and Sweet

The best way to keep your audience’s attention is to not go on constantly.

Take Breaks

Place breaks into your presentation. If people begin lagging in attention, take
a small break for a few minutes where they can get a drink, take a bathroom
break, or walk around. Moving is the best way to revive people who might
begin dozing off.

Tell a Story

Every professional speaker uses the power of stories. There is so much

evidence that shows people have been hard-wired to listen to stories. If you
begin a presentation with: “Let me tell you a story…” you will have your
audience’s undivided attention. Your stories need to reinforce the point you
are trying to get across. Look at your presentation from a story’s point of
view. Are they scattered throughout the presentation or bunched altogether?
Scatter them for the best results.

You can exploit a story’s power to keep your audience’s attention by

structuring your entire presentation by putting it into story form.

Begin with Something Unexpected

Never begin a presentation with clunky and general facts. Don’t give a
normal introduction to the topic. If you have planned an explosive
conclusion, begin the presentation with a tease of the closer. If your
presentation is building to a conclusion that your company will be able to

change how people talk to one another, begin by introducing a peek at that
change. Grab their interest right away and people will want to know the way
you got there. You could also use some eye-opening quotes like: “We stand
today at a place of battle, one that 40 years ago saw and felt the worst war.” –
President Ronald Reagan