What Is The Audience Thinking?
We think a lot about what you are going to say during a presentation, but let’s check in about what the audience members might be thinking as they are sitting in the audience.
How long is this going to take?
Will it be boring?
Who is this speaker?
What does she know that will benefit me?
Will this be a waste of my valuable time?
I have a million things I could be doing instead of being here.
YES, this does seem a little JUDGY.
But as speakers, we cannot change what the audience members bring in their minds. The only thing we can change is how they leave. It is our responsibility to change how they think, feel and do when they leave your presentation.
Knowing that we need to leave the audience changed in how they think, feel and do, below are five tips to make your odds of connecting with audience members more likely.
Get as much information as possible about the audience make-up prior to the event. Did they elect to show up or is it strongly suggested? What is the demographic of the audience? What is their background and knowledge level on your topic?
Claim the stage. When you walk out and address the audience, make sure your energy is up, you smile and look around, and you project confidence and knowledge even if you are shaking in your stilettos.
Engage the audience with an interesting fact, question or story right off the bat. This will get their attention immediately. You won’t see any fumbling around or checking phones. This first step will peak their interest and set the tone for what is to come next.
Try not to be a speaker that speaks at the audience but instead be a speaker that brings the audience along on a journey to new knowledge. Don’t be so attached to the material you will be presenting that you cannot pivot when we get a sense that you are not connecting with the members on their level. An example of this might be…as you are presenting you are realizing that the audience has less knowledge of the topic than you anticipated so you might need to give an overview of the information rather than a deeper dive.
Finally, what do you want the audience to remember months down the road? Make sure to drive home that point. Give memorable stories or examples that the audience will share with others when they leave the event.
The bottom line is that the audience will be JUDGY before you get started. Your responsibility as the speaker is to capture their attention as soon as you begin to speak and bring them on a memorable journey. This process is easier than you think once you get them out of their own heads and on board with what you are sharing.