Keeping the Audience Interested


There are no miracle cures here-some people are naturally better, more interesting speakers than others. However, there are definite steps that all speakers can take to stack the odds in their favor when it comes to giving a successful live presentation.

Speech Techniques

Here are some strategies for improving your speaking style:

  • Plant your feet firmly; don't pace. Pacing makes you appear nervous, and people have to constantly follow you with their eyes. However, you should keep your upper body mobile, and should not be afraid to use arm gestures.

  • Use gestures to support your voice. If you are talking about three different points, then hold up fingers to illustrate one, two, and three points. If you are talking about bringing things together, bring your hands together in front of you to illustrate. Don't freeze your hands at your sides.

  • Don't memorize your speech. If someone asks a question, it will throw you off and you'll forget where you were.

  • Conversely, don't read the speech word for word from your notes. Notes should contain keywords and facts, but not the actual words that you will say.

  • Don't talk with your face in your notes. Make eye contact with an audience member before you begin speaking.

  • Pick a few people in the audience, in different places in the room, and make direct eye contact with each of them, in turn, as you speak. Talk directly to a single person for the duration of the point that you are making and then move on. Also, don't forget to smile!

  • Don't be afraid to pause. Speaking slowly, with pauses to look at your notes, is much more preferable than rushing through the presentation. Keep in mind that pauses that might seem very long to you really aren't.

  • Don't stare at or read your slides. Focus your attention on your audience, and pay as little attention to the support materials as possible while you speak. You want to engage directly with your audience to deliver your message in your own words.

  • Emphasize verbs and action words in your presentation. Remember that the verb is the most powerful element in the sentence.

Content tips

Consider these content techniques:

  • If the audience is not in a hurry and you are not rushed for time in your presentation, start with some kind of icebreaker, like an anecdote or joke.

    Caution 

    Be careful with humor. Analyze the joke that you plan to tell from all angles, making very sure that it does not offend any race, ethnic group, gender, sexual orientation, or class of workers. It is much worse to tell a joke that hurts someone's feelings-even one person-than it is to tell none at all.

  • Include the audience in interactive exercises that help to firm up their understanding of the topic.

  • Ask questions to see whether the audience understood you, and give out small prizes to the people who give correct answers. Nothing energizes an audience into participation more than prizes, even if they are cheap giveaways like key chains and bandannas.

  • If possible, split the presentation into two or more sessions, with a short break and question-and-answer period between each session.

  • During the Q&A portion, turn off the slide projector, overhead, or computer screen so that people focus on you and on the question, not on the previous slide. If turning off the equipment isn't practical, consider inserting a simple Q&A Session title slide or a blank slide that displays during the Q&A.




Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 Bible
Microsoft Powerpoint 2007 Bible
ISBN: 0470144939
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2007
Pages: 268
Authors: Faithe Wempen

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