Give your audience a reason to listen
How many presentations have occurred in the world in the last week? I think you’ll agree . . . millions.
How many of those presentations have been mediocre? Let’s agree . . . millions.
No one in the world of work is eager to hear another presentation. That’s why it’s important, in the planning of your presentation or opening of a meeting, to construct an opening ‘hook to listen’.
My definition of a ‘hook to listen’ is this:
- That after an audience hears the first words you speak of your presentation, their attention is ‘hooked’ and they’re keen to hear more.
– Here is my post Use these field tested pitch techniques to hook your audience. The post contains numerous ‘hook to listen’ examples.
– Here is my post Strategies by mining your life to hook an audience to listen. The post provides a practical process that will uncover anecdotes, vignettes, stories etc that can be used for your ‘hooks to listen’.
Fortuitously and recently, one of my senior executive clients, who is a VP of a multinational enterprise, has come up with an excellent process, that can be used on a regular basis to hook his boss to listen.
Here’s an email my client sent me with the description of the process:
“Michael, recently, as part of a fortnightly engagement, I had the opportunity to present our strategy/focus with a new global leader. I have only had a few interactions since his hire.
Using the technique of sharing something personal about myself and linking it to the key topic on the agenda
created a wonderful two-way conversation for nearly 10 mins.
By doing this sharing, we learnt more about each other and created further opportunities for future conversations. It also created a more relaxed and engaging conversation on the topic that was being discussed.”
Own the Conversation
In the next seven days I suggest you choose ONE or MORE of the following things to do:
#1 For an upcoming meeting with a peer, aim to share something personal about yourself and link it to the agenda item.
#2 For an upcoming meeting with your boss, aim to share something personal about yourself and link it to the agenda item.
#3 Read my post Use these field tested pitch techniques to hook your audience and choose one to trial.
#4 Read my post Strategies by mining your life to hook an audience to listen and work through the described process.