Whether you\u2019re presenting to clients, leading team meetings or speaking at industry events, mastering the art of public speaking can give your professional standing a boost. But in the era of smartphones, tablets and webinars, holding an audience\u2019s attention is harder than ever since distraction is just a click away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can check my email and order a pizza while someone is presenting,\u201d says Laura Mathis, executive communication coach at The Speech Improvement Company. \u201cIt\u2019s never been more important to capture people\u2019s attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luckily, Mathis has some simple tips and tricks to keep your audience engaged. Here are some of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may be tempted to go with an \u201coff-the-cuff\u201d talk, but Mathis strongly advises against this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany people think they can improvise on the spot because they know the topic so well,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cBut when people start speaking, they\u2019ll often get off track or go into too much detail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start by jotting down a framework that outlines what you plan to say. What are your main points or takeaways? Why is the topic of interest to the audience? How will you wrap it up?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven spending five or 10 minutes thinking about that in advance will set you up for success as opposed to saying whatever pops into your mind,\u201d says Mathis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, Mathis warns not to go bananas overpreparing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCreating a full-blown script\u2014hemming and hawing over the words and then memorizing it\u2014can lead to a robotic delivery,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cIt\u2019s especially hard when you get asked a question because you are stuck on the script.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve done the groundwork, practice your speech or presentation out loud. A \u201ctest run\u201d of your talk allows you to hear how your words sound to the audience. Are there any awkward or unclear phrases? Will eyes glaze over during that \u201cinformation overload\u201d in the middle section?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSometimes people think it will sound good, but you have to practise out loud to know for sure,\u201d says Mathis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You could even ask a trusted family member, friend or colleague to listen in and give feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, tweak your talk to improve the overall clarity of the main messages, as well as fine-tune the flow and rhythm. Keep practicing until you\u2019ve got it right!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you hit the stage, podium or Zoom room, strategize some ways to make your presentation more interactive. For instance, you could ask for feedback from attendees in advance of the event. A poll on a relevant topic of discussion can help intrigue the audience and get them curious about the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTry to get a temperature feel of what people think about the topic,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cYou can reference the poll results during your content. Or you could say, \u2018I’ve talked to many of you and it seems like about 80 per cent of you struggle with this issue.\u2019 If you can create a common interest in advance, you\u2019ll have more buy-in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Including technical information, research or data can help prove a point\u2014but presenting it can also be one of the hardest things to do well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you just read the slide out loud, that is not a presentation\u2014that\u2019s a reading party,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cYour ability to make sense of data is what brings value.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Too often, professionals make the mistake of diving into data and skipping over the real-life implications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnyone can stand up and read a spreadsheet,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cWhat the listener wants to know is: What does this mean and why does it matter? Your insight is something that people want to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Incorporating multimedia, visual aids and other technologies can reel in listeners. But on the flip side, these tools can also be overwhelming if used inappropriately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re going to use visual aids to captivate an audience, it does need to be an aid,\u201d says Mathis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One way to avoid listeners from tuning out is to \u201cbuild up\u201d to the visuals. That means not cramming everything onto one slide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs soon as you click on a slide filled with information, bullet points, graphs and charts, people start reading and stop listening,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cInstead, use what we call synchronization\u2014a fancy way of saying \u2018they don\u2019t see it until you say it.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, if you have two charts, only display the first chart when you\u2019re talking about it. Then, build up to sharing the second chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAny way to synchronize visual aids with what you\u2019re talking about\u2014that adds immediate impact,\u201d says Mathis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While facts and figures help hammer a message home, don\u2019t doubt the power of using relevant stories and multimedia to add punch to your presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople remember stories, images, videos,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cYou\u2019ve probably got a lot of great stories up your sleeve!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharing real-life experiences can also be a great way to engage with the audience, says Mathis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI worked with a pharmaceutical company selling a drug to help manage itch,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cThe doctors always said, \u2018Oh, my patients don\u2019t need that.\u2019 But one day, a representative told a story about a patient who uses a toilet scrubber brush to manage her itch during kidney dialysis. The doctor said, \u2018That\u2019s awful. Tell me more.\u2019 Until that person used a story, the doctor couldn\u2019t hear the message.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Words matter, but gestures can also convey emotions, intentions and concepts, making your message more accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGestures are an extremely effective way to reinforce your message,\u201d says Mathis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, randomly flailing your arms during a talk isn\u2019t going to cut it. Rather, focus on what Mathis calls \u201cthe two P\u2019s:\u201d purpose and placement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor the purpose, match the gestures with your words,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cIf you\u2019re talking about timelines, move your hands to show length.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For appropriate placement, consider where all participants are located in the room. For instance, if you\u2019re speaking on stage, Mathis recommends adding \u201ca little bit of air under your arms and bigger gestures\u201d so that everyone can see them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Webinars will also command a different approach to non-verbal cues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re on Zoom or Teams, remember that you\u2019re in a little two-by-two square,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cYour gestures must appear within the frame. Practice so it feels and looks natural, but still gets your point across.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No matter what form your presentation may take, it\u2019s always important to remember that not everyone is born for the stage. Most of us need to work at perfecting our public speaking skills. Following these expert tips will help set you up for success and keep your audience riveted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPublic speaking can be very stressful for many people,\u201d says Mathis. \u201cJust remember\u2014people want you to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lisa Jackson is a Hamilton-based freelance writer specializing in personal finance and investing<\/p>\n\n\n\n