Let’s continue on techniques on how to build rapport with the audience. If you have missed my previous article, you can email me and I will gladly send it to you.

To recap, in Part 1 of this topic, we discussed on using various communication skills to establish and build rapport with the audience. 5 elements of communication skills were mentioned. They are:

1) Vocal Tone
2) Facial Expressions
3) Hand Gestures
4) Pacing
5) Pitch

In this Part two of this series, we will focus on how to capture your audience’s attention and make them yours immediately! If you are able to capture their attention during the opening of your presentation, your battle of building rapport is half won.

Research shows, you have exactly thirty seconds to command the attention of your audience. Don’t waste it!

Here are 3 sure-fire ways to start (in my ebook, I have 7 methods to WOW the audience right at the beginning), whether you are presenting in front of a large audience or a small group of people. There’s no right or wrong way to open. You must choose the right technique based your style and the purpose of your message.

1. USE AN ANECDOTE.

An anecdote can provide a strong opening–but only if it transitions logically and comfortably into the objective of your speech. It is however NOT about telling a joke. No one can predict the joke’s success or failure. So why take the risk? An anecdote is a very short story, usually one with a human interest angle. It creates immediate identity and empathy with your audience and grabs them right from the start! I recommend using a true story, personal if possible, that you have polished until you are confident it will always be a success. For best results, your story needs to be tied into your premise or purpose.

2. USE A QUOTE.

Using a quote can be a sure fire way of capturing your audience attention. However, that doesn’t mean a quotation from William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill or even Bill Gates, unless one of them specifically said some that can be tied into your premise or purpose. However, if you can provide an endorsement or positive comment about you, your products or your subject matter, then the quotation can provide relevant value. An endorsing quotation can capture your audience’s interest and give credibility at the outset of your presentation.

3. PROVOKE THEM WITH A QUESTION.

A well chosen, relevant question evokes an immediate response, involves the audience, breaks down barriers and gets the audience thinking about how your message applies to them. Be careful though with the show of hands question. It can be considered invasive. Many audiences have been there, done that and would not appreciate being drawn out that directly. Stick with the rhetorical question which can be an excellent opening, as long as it is both provocative and relevant to the audience and subject matter.

The following article is adapted from my new ebook: “How to Develop Great Presentation Skills”. If you like the tools to be able to improve your presentation skills by 100 folds, yes 100 folds please visit greatpresentationskills.com