- Scott Woronuik

How to keep the attention of our audience.

In today’s Remote Control world, every member of your audience under the age of fifty is equipped with a mental "Zap" control button. It looks very much like the remote control that comes with your television. If you are not capturing their attention they use that button to "change channels".

You may think people are making notes about your "pertinent points" when they are really making a list of what they need to do as soon as they escape this boring or un-interesting talk!

The attention span of many people today is very short. Just ask any News Reporter. When they are interviewing they are looking for eight to ten second "Bytes". That’s the clip they can insert into a newscast. They want to keep you listening. Just as you do when you speak.

In many ways you may think have a much harder job. Newscasters can switch to another story. You have to stick to the same topic for longer than the minute or so a reporter stays with one item. In reality whether you are giving a five minute or fifty minute presentation, you have to feed the information in short, succinct pieces.

Here are some of the sure ways to lose the attention of your audience.

Not 'setting up' how you want them to listen:

• Your first 20 words must hook them to listening from your point of view. Focus on 'the point': what you want to happen when you stop talking. You'll start out then with the "hook" to get them thinking that way.

Too much background before getting to the point!

• Talking about "the what's" instead of the "Why's" and "How’s". Your first focus must be on why what you’re saying will be beneficial to listener. Then how to do it.

Speaking with a dull, ineffective voice:

• For example, if you have developed a dull flat voice; if you speak too quickly; if you are a mumbler; if you are too loud or too soft you need to start working to change those negative habits. People are lazy listeners; they'd rather talk themselves - so at the least opportunity they will turn off their ears, or start thinking about what they're going to say as soon as you stop.

No emotional appeal:

• Remember, people "buy in" emotionally and justify logically. You have to appeal to their emotional smarts by appealing to the basic drives that motivate most people....survival; pleasure; egotism etc. For example, a salesperson might appeal to the pleasure of ownership when talking to a customer.

Overwhelming listeners with facts or figures:

• Don’t fill your talk with "Ho hum who cares!" information.
  • - Just tell your listeners what they need to know to do what has to be done.
  • - Be sure you include the WII-FM factor "What’s in it for me!".
  • - Remember the KISS factor (keep it simple, stupid) I erase the "stupid word and insert the $ sign. KIS$. Keep it simple and you’ll put dollars in your pocket.
  • - If facts or figures needed - print them out and give it to them!!

Arguing instead of persuading

• This is the Number One problem when you are negotiating! Watch you tone Voice. Clarity of your position, and clear understanding of what you want to happen when you stop talking, will dictate the tone of voice and the words!

Managing Interruptions:

• If you don't want to be interrupted, you need to set up the way you want people to listen!
  • - Before you start to speak you can ask them to hold questions to the end.
  • - If you are speaking at a meeting where people are encouraged to ask questions, listen carefully to the question.
  • - If you are going to cover that item anyway, simply do it then.
  • - If this will interfere with the flow of information, Say, "Thank you for the question. We're both on the same track I see. If you can hold on to that idea for a moment, you'll see how it all ties together and your question will be more fully answered." Say "Thanks" then go on.