Series 1 : Public Speaking by Anirudh Chari

6 ways to get your audience’s attention as you begin your speech

Instant

connect

with

audience

How it

used

to be…

Talk about change or a

new proposal for your

team, your

organization, or your

profession.

Idea # 1

Get your audience nodding in recognition, or smiling at the

quaintness of yesterday, or waxing nostalgic about the pastObjective :

They’ll listen in the right frame for the new insight or

proposal you’re going to hit them withScience behind it

Instant

connect

with

audience

Start

with an

emotion

Talk about positive or

negative; strong emotions

that catch the attention

and set up the discussion in

an interesting way.

Idea # 2

Get a reaction, either positive or negative, and focus the

audience on the point you want them to think aboutObjective :

They’ll react to strong emotions, like train wrecks, and

they can’t take their (metaphorical) eyes off themScience behind it

Instant

connect

with

audience

Thank

your

listeners

You can never go wrong

praising the audience,

whether they fully deserve it

or not

Idea # 3

Get your audience feeling good about themselves and become

a part of their success/prideObjective :

Flattery, disarms the audience, setting them up to listen

more favorably to your next pointScience behind it

Instant

connect

with

audience

Get to

the

point .

This move takes

confidence, but with the

right understanding of your

audience, it can be highly

effective

Idea # 4

Get to the point. This device is most useful when you’re dealing with a highly complex subject, or a debate with many sides and a lot of history

Objective :

It clears the undergrowth and reveals the essential issue

underneath all the excessScience behind it

Instant

connect

with

audience

Demand

big

To make this kind of ask

requires a deep

understanding of your

audience, and a strong

sense of your own position

Idea # 5

Get the audience to commit to something big, or excessive, or

unreasonableObjective :

People love to commit to audacious goals, so don’t be afraid

of invoking something that you truly believe to be importantScience behind it

Instant

connect

with

audience

Ask

to

ImagineThis approach is effective with professional organizations, or teams that have been doing things a certain way for a long time, or indeed anyone who has struggled with a status quo that seems set forever

Idea # 6

Get the people to share a vision, a state of mind that can only by

envisioned as on dateObjective :

People like to imagine a perfect world, they love fairy

tales…Science behind it