344 / TAKING CENTER STAGE
Holding the audience
Keeping interest
You have prepared an interesting
presentation. You are delivering it with
conviction using a good range of visual
materials and rhetorical devices. Yet
when you look out, you don’t get the
reassurance of attentive expressions
on the faces of the audience; you may
even detect signs of distraction.
Perhaps your audience is tired, or your
presentation is the last in a grueling
day, or maybe you are delivering some
difficult material. In any case, you need
to take action fast:
•
Ask the audience if they can hear
and understand your words and if
they are comfortable. Take remedial
steps if necessary.
Novelty and expectation will keep your audience focused through the
early parts of your presentation. But keeping their attention once they
are accustomed to the sound of your voice and your presentation style
can be more of a challenge. Look for signs of disengagement, and
be prepared to act quickly to bring the audience back on track.
Reading signs from the audience
Chin resting
on hand
Legs relaxed
and parallel
Clasped fingers
Making eye
contact
Nodding in
agreement
Leaning forward
POSITIVE SIGNS
US_344-345_Holding_audience.indd 344 30/05/16 3:05 pm
HOLDING THE AUDIENCE / 345
MONITOR THE
MAJORITY
Regularly assess your
audience for signs of
discontent or agitation, but
remember that isolated
displays of body language
may be misleading, and they
can vary between cultures.
Tip
Get interactive and pose
questions to the audience
and invite answers
Tapping feet
Crossing legs
Talking to
a neighbor
Looking around
the room
Folding arms
across the chest
Leaning away
from the speaker
NEGATIVE SIGNS
•
Consciously change your delivery;
slow your pace, or introduce pauses
after key points. Change your pitch
or volume.
•
Get interactive and pose questions
to the audience and invite answers.
Field questions. Leave your position
behind the podium and walk out
into the audience, making extensive
eye contact.
•
Don’t get frustrated with the
audience. Compliment them so
that they feel valued.
•
Tell your audience what’s coming up,
and when—“we’ll work through a few
examples before moving on to a
question and answer session in five
minutes.” This will help them feel
more involved in proceedings.
US_344-345_Holding_audience.indd 345 30/05/16 3:05 pm
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