Perhaps the biggest challenge for any presenter is maintaining audience engagement throughout the duration of the presentation. Before you ever even open your mouth, you are already competing for the attention of your audience. They might be preoccupied with personal issues, challenges at work, or consumed by thoughts of how much work they have to get done. In any case, it can be challenging to compete with these distractions. That said, failing to connect with your audience can mean the difference between closing a big deal. These helpful tips will get you in tune with your audience and help you land new business opportunities.
Capture Their Attention
People have very short attention spans so it is important to grab their attention right off the bat. This can be accomplished by beginning your presentation with an interesting story that is relevant to your presentation. People oftentimes remember stories that illustrate a good point. You can also begin with a question or two. Opening with a question gets the audience involved and also gives you feedback.
Encourage Audience Interaction
Studies have shown that listeners are far more engaged when they are asked to participate in the presentation. There are several ways to engage your audience:
-encourage listeners to ask questions throughout the presentation
-have listeners divide into small groups to discuss and then report back to the group
-incorporate some kind of movement such as standing, changing seats, or even a game to get people up and moving
Use Handouts Or Reports
Not everyone is an auditory learner. Creating handouts of some sort appeal to those who tend to be more visual or kinesthetic learners. It allows people to easily see what you are talking about rather than having to follow along on a slide.
Take Time For Q & A
The best way to find out if your audience is listening is to ask them questions. Every so often, stop and ask the audience something about what you have said. Not only will this reiterate your points, but it will give you feedback as to whether or not they are engaged.
Make the most of your presentation by utilizing strategies that will capture your audience’s attention. Not only do you want to grab their attention at the start, but you want to maintain it throughout the presentation. Avoid lengthy presentations and reading to your audience and try engaging them and speaking to them instead. The ability to deliver an engaging presentation can help you land your next big client!