Capturing and keeping the audience's interest

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 475.

To capture your audience's interest, you need a lively introduction with a 'hook'; that is to say a way of making the audience want to know more. Some ways of doing this are:

· identify a problem you know they would like solved

· "trail" some new and interesting information that you are going to unveil

· ask rhetorical questions (questions to which you don't expect an answer: what exactly went wrong? where does that leave us? how can we interpret this?).

Once you have the audience's attention, you should ensure you keep it by:

· making clear, brief points

· using simple visual aids to highlight specific points (these should be vivid and with only minimal information)

· using humor if it is appropriate to your topic

· summarizing key points.

The body is the 'real' presentation. If the introduction was well prepared and delivered, you will now be 'in control'. You will be relaxed and confident. The body should be well structured, divided up logically, with plenty of carefully spaced visuals.

Remember these key points while delivering the body of your presentation:

· do not hurry

· be enthusiastic

· give time on visuals

· maintain eye contact

· modulate your voice

· look friendly

· keep to your structure

· use your notes

· signpost throughout

· remain polite when dealing with difficult questions.

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