URL: http://www.esparzaspeakers.com/blog/index.php/view/29/Engaging_the_Audience
Great speakers always connect with their audience.
The fact is that regardless of how timely and vital a message may be, if speakers don't "hook" those listening to them, the messages will likely be lost and the programs miss their objective.
Two gifted, flexible, and dynamic speakers who know how to effectively connect with their listeners are willing to share their expertise and insights with others. Cyndi Maxey and Kevin O'Connor collaborated on their first book, Present Like a Pro: A field guide to mastering the art of business, professional, and public speaking in 2006. Given the success of this book, it was not a surprise that they were asked to collaborate on a second book-this time targeted to today's professional women. Speak Up! A Woman's Guide to Presenting Like a Pro hit bookshelves last year. In this practical handbook, Cyndi and Kevin called about their extensive experience to provide very practical and easy-to-apply advice to anyone who needs to speak in front of others for virtually any professional or business reason.
Every client has a list of requirements when they start a speaker search. But regardless of the topic to be covered, the nature of the event, or who the audience is, clients consistently state the need to have speakers who get to know their audience . . . who can relate to those who will attend the event in question . . . who will engage and interact, and not just lecture. Kevin and Cyndi have addressed this issue with those they mentor, and the following Q&A is memorialized in their most recent book.
Q: I notice sometimes that members of the audience are not very engaged in what I'm saying. They are just staring at me, and sometimes not even laughing when others are. It is very distracting for me. Any ideas for how I can stop being so distracted?
A: Don't look at them. Look first to those who are engaged with you, and then ramp it up a bit. Walk over to the section in the audience that seems less interested, smile a bit more, raise your volume, and move them into group of two or three briefly to discuss a question to change up the format of the talk a bit. These nonengaged folks may be tired, worried, and distracted. It is up to you to get them back on track.
Simple, direct advice from two professionals who practice what they teach. I highly recommend their readable and easy-to-apply books. Better yet, if you're interested in having either of these great speakers at your next event, contact us-check out their program titles on their individual pages, or call us with a program idea for Kevin or Cyndi.