It is extremely important to engage your audience throughout the duration of your presentation. Studies show that the attention span of today’s audience is about 16.5 minutes (13 minutes for those under 30), so keep your comments brief. If the audience can remember one key point, you’ve done your job as a presenter.
Tips for keeping the audience engaged:
- Do not read to the audience
Using visual aids is good; however, do not just read your slides. Instead, use them as supplemental information or a summary of the bigger message that you are sending.
- Do not preach to the audience
The best presenters use clever ways to get their audience to act without telling them to.
- Excite the audience
Pose questions, tell relevant stories, show interesting clips – using different methods to keep the audience’s attention will help ensure that the key messages are heard.
- Establish practical application
Make the audience do something that gives them an opportunity to put your recommendations into practice – it will re-emphasise what they have just learned and encourage them to act following your presentation.
- Leave time for questions and comments
This includes one-on-one discussions with your peers, coaches, sponsors, etc. After listening to you, you must leave time for them to respond and share their thoughts and perspective.