Share the Stage

Audiences find monologues boring. Thanks to advances in entertainment, they’ve become accustomed to quick action, rapid scene changes, intense visual stimulation, and soundtracks that make the heart race. They’re no longer willing to sit attentively for an hour while a single speaker drones on.

The key to getting and holding their attention is having new things continually happen. You can do that by:

• Bringing in other presenters: Invite others to join you on the stage or by video. Consider which experts or analysts in your organization or industry would add meat and credibility to your presentation. And look for ways your team members can play to their strengths. If your colleague Sam is quick on his feet, for example, have him lead the Q&A.
• Mixing up your media: Try alternating between slides and other media. Hang posters and exhibits on the wall, place tchotchkes on the table that tie into the theme of your talk, or have a helper unveil a prop or new product while you speak. Add video to inject humor, boost credibility through testimonials, or clarify concepts with animated infographics. If you’re talking about a product, demo it—hold it, display it, allow people to interact with it. If you’re explaining a concept, try drawing on a flipchart or a whiteboard—it varies the pace and audiences often find it endearing because it makes all but the most artistic presenters vulnerable and thus accessible. Or you can hire a graphic recorder to capture your message visually on a large strip of butcher paper while you talk. She can synthesize what’s being said in real time, creating a mural that memorializes the talk. Display it somewhere prominent in your department as a reminder of the goals everyone agreed on at the last vision meeting.

You can reengage your audience several times during your talk by alternating presenters and changing up your media. Of course, all those moving parts require planning and rehearsal—but they’ll also keep people tuned in.