5
Presentation Skills To Keep Your Audience Riveted!
The
human mind has a tendency to wander when it is not
focused or totally absorbed in activity or thinking.
A challenge facing every public speaker therefore
is to make a presentation that grips
the attention
of the audience.
Use
these five
presentation skills
to prevent the audience taking mental excursions:
1.
Question Hooks
Questions
really get the audience hooked.
The brain has a natural tendency to want to answer
questions. When you are in the middle of doing something
and someone asks a question what happens? Your brain
immediately stops what it is thinking about and gives
attention to the question, even if it is only momentary.
So,
in a presentation, use rhetorical questions liberally.
Even though you supply the answer, the very fact you
asked a question will keep your audience with you.
In
your preparation, think out a number of rhetorical
questions and sprinkle
them
throughout your outline or notes.
Example:
If your presentation is about goal setting, before
getting to the first main point you might say: "What's
the very first step in any goal setting exercise?"
Then state step one. The very fact you have asked
a question will hook the audience and not only get
them thinking but motivate
them to concentrate
on what you are going to say next.
Why?
Because their brains are screaming for an answer.
After all, you just asked a question!
2.
Emotion Engages The Heart
Using
emotion
in your delivery will win the hearts of your listeners.
Rather than appearing cold and unapproachable, a warm
style of expression will bring you close
to your audience so they will open their hearts to
you.
A
relaxed facial expression, a smile, a general
demeanor that says "You're a great audience,
I like you" will make you personable and well
liked. An audience will learn from a speaker they
feel drawn to.
3.
Facial Expressions
Use
facial expressions - movements of
the eyes, mouth, brow, etc. Especially when repeating
someone else's words, or when telling a story or anecdote,
your face should reflect the emotions and feelings
of the speaker you are quoting or of the characters
you are describing.
4.
Vary The Pace
Learn
to vary the rate at which you speak during
your presentation.
There
will be sections where you speak more rapidly
and sections where you slow
down
and speak more deliberately.
This
is the mark of an experienced speaker - the ability
to match speaking pace with the thought content and
emotional tone of the material being presented. To
develop this public speaking skill, start off by looking
through your material in the preparation stage and
marking
in your notes
where you might speed up or slow down.
5.
Don't Be Boring
As
part of your preparation, ask yourself, 'What does
my audience already know about this subject?' 
Then research your subject looking for material outside
the general knowledge of your audience.
Just
covering things they already know will lead to boredom
and lack of interest. Present new information or fresh
angles on a familiar subject and keep
them enthralled!
Keeping
your audience engaged can be a challenge, especially
in a presentation longer than 30 minutes. Use the
five presentation skills above and
greatly minimize the risk of your audience being present
in body but absent in mind!
Transform
Your Presentation Skills With The Online Workshop
Next:
Public
Speaking Techniques: How To Use Pausing For Maximum
Effect
Tag:
presentation skills, public speaking tip,
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