3.4Use images

"Vision trumps all other senses." When we hear a piece of information, three days later we'll remember only 10 percent of it; but if we add a picture, we'll remember 65 percent. The message is loud and clear: Text-based slides are ineffective in maintaining attention and aiding memory. Spice up your presentations with images.

3.5Honor the audience

Nothing perks up an audience more than switching the limelight from you to them. A simple statement such as: "I know there is a great deal of talent in this room. I encourage you to bring that talent to bear and share your thoughts on the topic with the rest of the group."

3.6Be provocative

A provocative approach is based on comments about weaknesses and difficulties the audience might have.

• Context: After mentioning the weaknesses, the presenter offers solutions to the problems they generate and suggests improvements. This is a provocative challenge with a constructive purpose. The goal is to lead an audience to a new solution.

• Audience: This is one of the few strategies that doesn’t apply to just any kind of audience. So use it only when you truly know your audience and know that a provocative challenge will not be unwelcome.

3.7Use alternatives to lecturing

There are many alternatives to lecturing when you deliver information. For example, you can present one part of your presentation in the form of a mind map: Draw the mind map on a flipchart as you speak, animate the mind map in your slide or use mind-mapping software.

Figure 1.Mind map

3.8Don’t use slides as your speaking notes

It is astounding how many otherwise intelligent people continue to display slides that are dense with text and expect the audience to simultaneously read the slides and listen to them speak. This is by far the most egregious sin a presenter can commit.

4.Conclusions

There are many strategies that the speaker can employee to hold the attention of the audience, but the most important is the ability to establish and maintain a genuine connection with the people in your audience. Speakers don't need to use a choke-hold to keep the audience's attention.

Attention-grabbing skills are important for establishing relevance to your audience. Most of the people in the audience are often not mentally present or with you when you begin to speak. Even if they are physically present there and are trying to look interested, in reality, they are in their own worlds. They are thinking about work matters, planning the rest of their day, thinking about a problem of their own or just daydreaming. You have to bring them into your world and get them interested in your subject.

Attention-grabbing skills are your tool for helping the audience tune in to your subject. These skills for grabbing audience attention is not about your ego, you're just helping them to tune in. When you have something worthwhile saying, and your audience feel that you're actually guiding them and helping them focus on your topic, they will appreciate this and reward you with eager attention and active participation. Then at the end you will feel elated as they clap to show their appreciation.