Let’s face it. Most of us overdo it with the carb intake. Right now, it’s early afternoon, I’ve just had lunch, and as usual, I’m groggy as can be, despite the cup of green tea and “vitalizing” vitamins I’ve just imbibed to try to perk myself up.
The same probably holds true for many in your audience, whoever and wherever they may be. During that first hour or so after lunch, most people’s energy is focused at least partially on digestion, and it can be a steep uphill struggle to pull them out of their food-induced comas. Nevertheless, rest assured that the task is not impossible!
Since it’s just after lunch, you obviously are going to engage your audience in an interactive small group or paired activity to get them moving and keep them awake. But you do need at least 10-15 minutes to introduce your topic and give instructions for the activity, and you’ve got to have your audience awake and listening during that time.
What do you do?
The short answer is… get their attention.
First and foremost, however, you have to make sure you’re not going to be swallowing down a yawn or two (or three) yourself while you’re trying to rouse your audience. Make sure you eat light, and I strongly suggest avoiding breads and pastas.
Below are ten techniques commonly used by speakers and instructors alike to get their audience’s attention quickly:
1) Have lively music playing as audience members enter the room.
2) Use vocal variety as you start your presentation.
3) Drop audience member’s names into your speech.
4) Call on people sitting next to someone that looks like they’re about to dose off.
5) Use hand and body movements to emphasize points and attract interest.
6) Make eye contact with audience members.
7) Move around the room as you speak; adjust your proximity to audience members.
8) Stop speaking and pause for 3-5 seconds.
9) Make the audience repeat instructions in unison.
10) Stop and ask audience members specific questions to check for their understanding and comprehension.
11) BONUS. After asking a question, make sure you give adequate wait time, 3-5 seconds, for an answer before moving on with your presentation or to another person.
Add these to your repetoire, experiment, and see what’s a good fit for you. Always remember: have fun with it all!
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