How to get an Audiences Attention

A trainer dryly discussing how to motivate people in an organization basically has just another "point-by-point" presentation. But suppose that he mounts the podium and begins to speak. Suddenly, a phone on the lectern rings. He ignores it at first, trying to continue. Finally he gives up, excuses himself and answers it. It is an engineer (off-stage voice) with a series of questions relating to the organization and the lecture topic. Although the presenter protests that this is "highly irregular," the offstage voice indicates that the issues are pressing and must be answered on the spot (while visual support flashes on the screen). Humor meaningful to the audience may be injected, such as, "Why aren't you at the meeting?" The lecture time is up, the presentation time has been used, and the presenter complains he "never got a chance to talk to the audience." But the audience members have received the information that the trainer had come to share with them, and in an attention-getting way.

Being a trainer, it is very important to capture the attention of an audience. There are many ways of using an audience's natural curiosity to do so, ranging from hinting, to a "surprise," to out and out staging. Innovation and creativity are the catchwords here. Covered material, a wrapped package even silence or blank space might sometimes be used. Suppose, for example, that a series of slides were flashed on a screen in absolute silence-pictures of several product applications, then some competitive equipment, then a customer, then an engineer at his drawing board. No sound or speech. A desired momentary or prolonged audience response during this part of the presentation might well be something like, "What's going on here?" "Somebody fouled up...forgot the sound." Curiosity and attention are aroused. Then the spoken part of the training begins.

On a side note, no presenter should be afraid to be definative, to come right out and let his audience know that "this is the way it is." Hedging weakens the whole presentation. From the standpoint of attention, an unequivocal statement can make an audience sit up and take notice. For example, "Ladies and gentlemen, you've undoubtedly heard some trainers say that planners and calendars are ineffective tools in time management. This is not true!" If spoken with proper emphasis and self-confidence, the statement implies that the person knows what they are talking about and is not afraid to say so. An audience will notice and respect it-even if they disagree.

Copyright AE Schwartz & Associates All rights reserved. For additional presentation materials and resources: ReadySetPresent and for a Free listing as a Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, Vendor/Organization: TrainingConsortium

CEO, A.E. Schwartz & Associates, Boston, MA., a comprehensive organization which offers over 40 skills based management training programs. Mr. Schwartz conducts over 150 programs annually for clients in industry, research, technology, government, Fortune 100/500 companies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He is often found at conferences as a key note presenter and/or facilitator. His style is fast-paced, participatory, practical, and humorous. He has authored over 65 books and products, and taught/lectured at over a dozen colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Teamsters, Waste Management remain at odds as garbage piles up
Bizjournals.com, NC - 11 hours ago
Teamsters Local 200 has refused to resume bargaining negotiations with Waste Management Inc. as a strike of garbage collection workers enters its fourth day ...
Teamsters, Waste Management To Re-Enter Negotiations WISN.com
Local 200 Teamsters Strike Waste Management The Daily Kenoshan
New talks seen in Milwaukee area garbage strike CNNMoney.com
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Journal Timesall 62 news articles

Teamsters and Waste Management Agree to Re-Enter Negotiations
MarketWatch - 5 hours ago
"Today our union received correspondence from a representative at Waste Management to request a return to negotiations and resolve the outstanding ...

Reuters
FACTBOX-India's top 5 fund management joint ventures
Reuters - 17 hours ago
DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Friday it expects to sign a deal within weeks to set up an asset management joint venture in India, ...
Waste Management says US asks for more Republic bid info Reuters
Scotiabank keen on wealth management, mum on deals Reuters
KKR in lead to buy Lehman asset management : report Reuters
Reutersall 1,615 news articles

The GEO Group Announces Discontinuation of Management Contract in ...
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
announced today that it has decided to discontinue its contract with Delaware County, Pennsylvania for the management of the county-owned 1883-bed George W. ...

ABN AMRO Asset Management Canada Limited embraces their official ...
MarketWatch - 11 hours ago
TORONTO, Aug 29, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- ABN AMRO Asset Management Canada Limited is pleased to announce their official name change to Fortis Investment ...

1st Century Bank Expands Relationship Management Team
CNNMoney.com - 4 hours ago
"Christopher is a talented business executive who possesses strong relationship management, finance, and banking skills. His respective areas of expertise ...

GameStop Board Announces Senior Management Reorganization
MarketWatch - 14 hours ago
approved a reorganization of the senior management structure in light of the company's tremendous growth, impressive continued worldwide brand expansion and ...
GameStop reorganizes top management in light of growth Bizjournals.com
all 44 news articles

Flint Media Changes Name to RiverRun Resources Inc. and Appoints ...
MarketWatch - 13 hours ago
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug 29, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Flint Media Group, Inc. (FMGO) announces it has completed a merger with RiverRun Resources Inc., ...

Hartford Investment Management Company Names Greg McGreevey Chief ...
MarketWatch - Aug 28, 2008
He joined the firm on August 25 from ING Investment Management and reports to David Znamierowski, president of Hartford Investment Management Company. ...

Dividend.com
Hedge Funds Step in to Help the Hexion-Huntsman Deal
Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY - 13 hours ago
Highfields Capital Management helped break a logjam at the buyout of Clear Channel Communications, offering concessions that resulted in revised terms that ...
Huntsman welcomes shareholder plan to save buyout Reuters
Funds plan investment to push Huntsman deal through MarketWatch
Hexion declines financing from Huntsman holders Forbes
Wall Street Journal - New York Timesall 54 news articles

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Delegation for Business Leaders - How Letting Go Works