One of the most important things a speaker has to do, which can make or break a presentation, is to connect with their audience. I know you’ve experienced speakers who don’t connect with their audience and how horrible it is to endure such a presentation.
On the other hand, I know you’ve been at an awesome presentation where the speaker has the audience in love with them from the moment they walk on the stage. So how does one become the second speaker and not the first? Guess what? I have some tips.
Here are a few tips to help you connect with your audience from start to finish:
- When you are approaching the stage, do it with enthusiasm, a huge smile and lots of energy.
- Don’t stand behind a lectern. That’s putting a wall between you and your audience. To the audience, at a sub conscious level, you’re hiding behind the lectern for protection.
- Don’t read your speech. This is likely the worst offender for breaking the connection between you and your audience. You rarely make eye contact, you have no warm gestures to include them in your speech, you are likely reading too fast, and you’ve lost them in the first paragraph. To add insult to injury, you are less likely to smile at your audience. If you do need a few reminder notes, use small 4 x 6 cards, print large, and carry them in your hand. They will be inconspicuous and readily available with a quick glance if needed.
- Prepare and practice. If you know your presentation backwards and forwards, you can concentrate on your audience and not on remembering what you want to say.
- Be yourself. I know some speakers who turn into someone else when they get on the stage. They become an actor and are not their authentic self. Be your authentic self and with professionalism. The audience can sense whether you’re acting or not.
- Be passionate about what you are talking about and show it. Audiences love speakers who are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their topic.
- Use humor, especially to lighten up a very emotional or serious speech. Tell personal stories. The audience gets to know more about you and that builds your connection to them.
- Be humble, even if you’re the country’s top expert on a particular subject. Leave your ego at home. Audiences love a person who talks to them as equals, not “the expert” who talks down to them.
The objective of a speech varies. It may be to inform the audience, entertain the audience, or sway them to your way of thinking. Whatever the purpose, your ultimate goal in delivering your speech should be to connect with your audience. If you don’t, you won’t accomplish your speech’s overall objective. Simple, eh?
