Good presentation skills are essential for effective communication. Being able to present your ideas clearly and convincingly can help you achieve your goals and persuade others to take action. Indeed, not everyone can capture attention and keep the audience hooked like great speakers. However, with some insights and ample practice, it’s possible to build confidence in your own abilities and develop strong presentation skills.
5 lessons to learn from great speakers to keep your audience hooked.
No one can argue that being able to speak well in public isn’t important for both personal and professional success. By developing your presentation skills, you can enhance your communication abilities and move up in your career. This gives you more confidence and makes you a better leader. It also lets you make a positive difference in the world around you.
Here are some tips from great speakers on how to capture attention and keep your audience hooked on each word you utter:
1. Speak in soundbites.
This is often the biggest pet peeve in rooms on any expertise topic: people get an opportunity to ask a question or introduce themselves and talk TOO MUCH!! If you notice keenly, however, great speakers don’t carry on and on with their conversation. They know just how to capture attention and draw you in with the best stories and lessons, but keep it brief at the same time.
When introducing yourself, be able to do so for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on the venue. We KNOW that you’re great. The audience understands that you’ve done a lifetime of amazing things. They also KNOW you’ll have a lot of ideas coming in the future. But they don’t need the whole life story every time you speak. Many people make the mistake of speaking in “chapters,” which is way too long and contains too much information that not everyone needs at the moment.
2. Point-to-story application
Be able to share 1, 2, or all 3 in a short burst—have a start and a finish. Often, people start making their point without knowing how to end it, or “land the plane,” as they say. Indeed, it’s paramount to share your truth and establish your expertise. However, if your audience looks bored or distracted, you may be talking TOO MUCH. Just keep it simple: Use simple language and avoid jargon or technical terms that may confuse your audience.
3. Great speakers implement verbal brevity
Verbal brevity refers to the use of concise and to-the-point language in speech. It involves expressing complex ideas or thoughts in a clear, simple, and succinct manner. Verbal brevity is important in communication as it helps to avoid confusion and ensures that the speaker’s message is easily understood by the audience. It also helps to keep the audience’s attention by avoiding unnecessary or irrelevant information. Effective use of verbal brevity requires the speaker to carefully choose their words, eliminate filler words or phrases, and focus on the most important points.
4. Use your body language
Great speakers exude confidence and are comfortable speaking in front of large audiences. They use confident body language, such as standing tall, making hand gestures, and moving around the stage, to convey their message. You can mirror these qualities as well, to keep your audience hooked on each word.
Use confident body language to convey your message. Make eye contact with your audience, use hand gestures, and move around the stage to keep their attention.
5. End with a strong close.
Just as you began strong, remember to end your presentation with a strong conclusion that summarizes your message and leaves a lasting impression on your audience. Involve the audience by answering their questions, and don’t forget to share how they can reach you to learn more.
Takeaway: Improve Your Presentation Skills
Remember to vary your pace and tone to keep your audience engaged. Use pauses for emphasis and adjust your tone to match the content of your presentation.
Prepare, practice amply, and refine your presentation skills to capture attention of your audience. Know what you’re going to say before you say it. Rehearse saying your stuff so you know what you want to get across and know your why and how. The more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. Preparation is the solution to a lot of life’s problems.
Great speakers never underestimate the importance of receiving feedback and implementing it. Seek feedback from others on your presentation skills. This can help you identify areas for improvement and refine your delivery for future presentations to capture attention with ease.
