Establish a Bond with your Audience

         Focus on a simple, clear, interesting message. Tell them something new. Something they want to know.

A Handful of Tips to help you get an interested audience

* At the start  

         Step up to the podium – pause – take a deep breath – acknowledge the Chair, and smile at a friend. Now you are ready to start.

         Get attention by telling a story, a yarn, or an anecdote. This gets their attention and gets your audience used to your voice.

         Next, tell them what you are going to tell them.

* Seek Common Ground

         Talk about local experiences, associations, or common environmental issues.

         Refer to familiar places and quote people the audience respect.

* Focus on your Audience’s Concerns

         Agree with some of their hopes, beliefs, attitudes, and values.

         People like new information – try to tell them something new.

         Make your message fresh, exciting, and stimulating. Use humour if possible but keep it clean and try not to embarrass others.  

* Keep calm

         Be polite and respectful at all times even if you have a few agitators in the audience. Let the chairperson handle troublemakers.

* Share your Feeling and Emotions

         Tell them how you feel about things. Be honest, modest, sincere, and seated. It’s not how long you talk that matters but what you say.

         Get the chairperson to call for questions and to repeat the question so all can hear it. A good chairperson can often edit the question making it easier to understand and to answer.

Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

“Try to bait your message to hook your listeners.”