Motivation Shots from The Doc

Here’s a silly question – When you have to do any public speaking or make a business presentation, do you want people to listen, understand and accept what you say?

Of course you do, otherwise you wouldn’t have taken the time preparing what to say and lose sleep worrying about it.

However, have you ever considered that people may not be listening to you when you’re Speaking?

If you bear in mind, that you could be making a business presentation that leads to a big sale or a contract, then non listeners could be a bit of a problem.

So let’s consider some of the reasons people stop listening or don’t even start in the first place:

• They could be nervous or tense
• They can’t hear you
• They can’t see you
• They can’t understand or they’re confused
• They don’t understand the jargon or the technical words
• They don’t like the look of you
• They’re physically uncomfortable – too hot, too cold or too stiff
• They know what’s being said
• They’re bored or tired
• They’re distracted by the visual aids
• They’ve just remembered they’ve left a tap running
• They’ve fallen in love with the person in the next row
• They’re thinking about what you said two minutes ago

These are only some of the reasons people don’t listen and you might think I’m exaggerating the problem.

However, if you’re giving an important business presentation then you’d better be sure you have the audience’s full attention.

The average adult has an attention span of about five to seven minutes, so it’s really easy to lose them.

A boring start to a presentation, looking unsure or nervous, and hiding behind a lectern will cause your audience to drift off in their mind.

So it’s important to start any presentation with a bang and keep moving.

Remember the old tell’em story! Tell’em what you’re going to tell’em, then tell’em, then tell’em what you’ve told’em

It makes sense to ensure people can hear so make sure your voice is loud and clear. Talk to the people in the back row and the people in the front row will stay awake!

It’s also important not to use jargon, buzz words or technicalities. Remember KISS – Keep It Simple Speaker!

Also make sure you can be seen by everyone in the room so stand up, don’t sit, don’t slouch and don’t hide behind the lectern.

Look at the audience individually when you speak, not the screen, the walls, the ceiling or out the window.

Make sure you look the part by your dress and posture?

And don’t forget to look friendly and worth listening to.

Your visual aids need to enhance what you say and not distract your audience.

Don’t be afraid of repeating yourself; just empathise the main facts of your presentation in a different way.

The one thing that’ll stop an audience in its tracks is passion. This is what makes them want to employ you, to accept what you’re proposing and make them want you to marry their son or daughter. Couple this with some
energy and enthusiasm and you have the makings of a great public speaker.

After all, you do want them to listen to you, don’t you?

And if you want to listen to this article or download it to your MP3 player, please – click this link

Related articles by Zemanta

• How Do I Get Them Back? (tjwalker.com)
• Should I Walk Out into the Audience? (tjwalker.com)
• 8 Ways to Calm Nerves When Give a Speech (ismckenzie.com)
• 7 deadly sins for speakers and presenters (ismckenzie.com)