If you are presenting a speech, it's important to connect with the audience. People believe that the purpose of a speech is to share information but it's a bit more than this. You can just as easily share information by email. When you speak your purpose is to share information in a compelling and interesting manner - to grab and hold the audience's attention and to leave a lasting impression. Here are some great tips that will help you engage an audience:
7 SECRETS TO ENGAGING AN AUDIENCE
Find out as much as you can about your audience prior to speaking. I always conduct a comprehensive survey prior to all speaking engagements. I have a checklist that I go through. This can also be provided by your event organisers. I want to know the ratio male to female, cultural background, age ranges, professions, hobbies, interests etc. I also always try to arrive early and mingle with my audience, shake their hands and chat with as many as possible. This will always give me a good feel for the people I'm speaking to.
Speak to the audience's interests. Remember that it's not about you, it's about them. If you have information to share then make sure that this information is presented in a way that will be of interest to them. An audience will always be thinking WIFM (What's in it for me?) If you're introducing a new concept, connect it to something they already understand.
Use eye-contact. Careful of eye patterns that include sweeping over the audience like a windscreen wiper blade. Make eye contact with individuals for a good few seconds at a time throughout the audience. Remember when you look deeply at one person in a big audience, the entire group around that person feels connected. Do not leave one side out in favor of another.
Smile. There really is no better way to connect with others than to smile and smile often. Make sure it's a genuine smile because people can spot a fake a mile off.
Use embracing and open body language. Open body, arms open and palms facing up. Feet must point forward and be about hip distance apart. Avoid hands in pockets, hands on hips and finger pointing.
Use humor. Some self-deprecating humor is always a good idea. Ronald Reagan was the master in this area.
Ask the audience questions or get them involved in some way. Audience participation is a great way to break the ice and to get people engaged.
Stay well and keep writing
Eddy