Our attention span has fallen to 8 seconds, according to Time Magazine. Goldfish reportedly have a longer attention span than us! So, what does this mean for your next presentation? Every second counts.
Here are two tips to hook your audience quickly:
Engage them from the start
Don’t waste your early seconds with a dull, “I am pleased to be here today to talk about XYZ…” – there’s no time for that. Instead, open with a startling statistic, thought-provoking question or statement, relevant story, or compelling visual to hook your audience and get them excited about your topic!
“Roger Federer and Tiger Woods are two of the greatest athletes of all time—but they got there in very different ways. And that difference could change the way you think about success.” (David Epstein’s 2019 TEDGlobal Talk)
Answer why they should care – right up front!
Familiar with the old WIIFM acronym, “What’s in it for me?” Every audience you communicate with is asking themselves that question. Identify what matters most to your audience, through the “What’s in it for me?” lens.
In Sheryl Sandberg’s 2018 Commencement Address at MIT, her opening statement informs audience members of their role in our technology’s future. “Technology alone is not going to save us or transform our world. It’s the people behind that technology, and that’s you. What you do next matters more than ever.”
For your next presentation, think of goldfish and remember just how short an audience’s attention span is. Incorporating these two opening tips will help engage your audience – from the very first second.
For more communication and presentation tips, follow us on LinkedIn.
