Keeping the connection

What to do if your audience is switching off and reaching for their phones?

Go faster? Speak louder? No…

But you do need to do something.

Pause. Read the room. Ground yourself.

Then use some ‘planned spontaneity’ to reconnect.

Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean going completely off-piste. But as part of your preparation, have some simple ‘tricks up your sleeve’ to mix things up if necessary.

1. Go slide-free

If you’re using slides, stop sharing the screen (online) or switch to a black slide (offline) so people’s attention is 100% on you.

Remember: you are the most important visual aid. Removing the slides for a while means your audience’s attention isn’t pulled in two. You can talk to people directly, with eye contact and a smile. Just your audience, your ideas, and you.

2. Tell a story

Stories are great connectors – much more real and human than dry facts.

Start with a moment in time – “Last week”, “Ten years ago”, “In 2019… “ – and you’ll have people looking up in anticipation.

Use a real-life example – a story you know well, and have prepared in advance - to make it easier to tell: a customer success story, a conversation you had recently on your presentation topic…

3. Involve your audience

If you have time, give them a juicy question related to your presentation, and have them discuss in pairs for a few minutes. This will generate energy, spark ideas, and it’s a great co-creation opportunity.

It’s also one I use to get people warmed-up so there’s less chance of drift.

So, if attention is flagging, you know what to do:

Pause. Read the Room. Reconnect.

I’m curious: how do you re-capture your audience’s attention?

Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels