Hook Your Audience
Never underestimate the importance of the first few sentences of your presentation.
You have only about 30 seconds to “hook” an audience. Within those 30 seconds you must send what Dorothy Sarnoff, the famous actress and speech coach, calls “vibes” … that is, messages of competence, enthusiasm, and sincerity. This is a lot to pack into 30 seconds, but it can be done.
Your “delivery” actually begins the moment you enter the building or the room where you will be delivering your presentation. Emit an attitude of, “Hello, you lucky people!” Your facial expressions and posture speak worlds about your eagerness to share information. Give a positive impression by:
- Putting on an active, energetic, confident face. Say “MONEY” to get those cheekbones up.
- Striding confidently to your speaking position.
- Grounding yourself (feeling a solid and secure speaking posture).
- Making eye contact with at least one member of the audience, pausing, and then confidently beginning your well-planned and well-prepared introduction.
You have now set the stage for TRUST. Soon your audience will relax and listen because they connect with you, and they trust your competence. You are obviously in charge.
Next topic: icebreakers. They’ll relax you AND your audience.
