On the Fortune website, media trainer and executive coach Mary Civiello gives tips and advice on capturing attention when giving presentations.
First, she advises presenters to identify the one thing they want people to remember even if everything else is forgotten.
Civiello explains: "Studies show that by the end of the day, your audience will have forgotten half of what you said. And by the end of the week, 90% is forgotten. To make sure that the 10% that sticks is the 10% that you really want them to remember, say it early and clearly."
She also recommends that mood is considered as well as information, advising presenters to think about how they should look and sound when delivering different parts of their talk.
Civiello says: "Ask, 'How should I feel when I deliver those three slides versus the next three? Am I giving marching orders, or am I sharing an example?'
"Have someone videotape you (when you don’t know you’re being taped) to see the gestures and body movements that mark your personal style," she adds.
'Mixing it up' is important, insists Civiello: "Ask real and rhetorical questions - or walk a few steps to the side to tell a story... adding variety to your visuals will keep you and your audience more engaged."
Finally, Civiello says that presenters must recognise that their communication and message begins the moment they arrive, so they should remember to "be kind to the receptionist, thank the folks backstage, and hold your tongue until you drive off the lot – no matter how clueless that guy in the front row was".
How to capture a crowd: Expert advice
Mary Civiello, Fortune, 02/03/10
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