In our last post, we talked about the changing face of communication in the 21st century. We no longer live and work in a world where people have to listen to our message. With so many choices available for information and content, it’s very easy for people to “change the channel” away from you and on to a message more relevant to them.
So how will you keep your audience interested?
Here are a few thoughts that may be helpful to you:
1. Spend the bulk of your time thinking about who is in the room, what they will care about and how you can make your topic relevant to them. Don’t think exclusively about what you think is most important. Think about what they think will be most important.
2. Filter out the details, with unemotional brutality. Details matter, and you have to be able to provide them. But don’t assume all of them need to be covered in your next presentation. Let the details get pulled out during Q&A. Keep the audience interested in the high points, and let them dive deeper with you through their questions.
3. Get to the point quickly. Your business audience hates suspense. We’re not writing movie scripts here. Lead with the conclusion, and then back track and tell them how you got there.
If you don’t employ techniques like these, your audience will lose interest, quickly, and quite simply change the channel to something else.
Don’t be the guy (or the girl) who bores everyone to death. That’s bad for you, your brand and your organization.
Have a great day.
At The Latimer Group, our individual Coaching services are highly customized and designed to help you achieve your specific goals. Typical engagements focus on developing skill sets in Leadership Communications, Public Speaking, and Executive-Level Business Presentations. To learn more, e-mail us at info@TheLatimerGroup.com
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