One-Minute Communications Tips Archive
January 2010

Wake Up the Post-Lunch Crowd

Wouldn't you know it, they've slotted your presentation into the first spot after lunch. Not only will your audience be numbed from a morning full of PowerPoints, they'll also be nodding off in a post-prandial haze.

Short of spraying everyone with a water gun, how do you keep them awake during your talk?

Get the audience involved. Make them think. Ask questions. Call on an audience member by name. Request a volunteer for a demonstration.

If you're conducting a training session, lead the participants through an exercise that will make them get up and move around.

Modify your presentation style. Move around the stage or the front of the room. Vary the pitch and volume of your voice.

Instead of relying only on slides, add in a few relevant audio and video clips. If appropriate, use props.

Don't dim the lights. If you must, try to lower only the lights nearest the screen.
 

© Arun Sinha, Access Communications. Access Communications is a marketing communications and technical writing firm based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. Sign up for Access Communications's One-Minute Communication Tip at http://www.AccessConsultingInc.com. Once a month, you'll receive an actionable idea or technique on an aspect of business communications, distilled into about 150 words.

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