Amazing keynote speakers know how to keep the attention of their audience through their entire presentation, not just the first few minutes. How do they do this? What strategies do they employ?
Audiences will give the speaker the benefit of the doubt. An engaging speaker will capture their attention; a speaker who is not engaging will quickly lose the interest of the audience.
Over and above subject matter, there are ways amazing keynote speakers hold the attention of their audiences.
They Move Around the Stage
People do not maintain focus on inanimate objects very long. However, the same people will stay focused on an object that is in motion. The best speakers do not stay stationary. They leave the comfort of the lectern or wherever else they have their notes and walk around. When the eyes of the audience are following the speaker, their minds are far more attuned to the message the speaker is delivering.
They Tell a Compelling Story
All professional speakers know the power of telling stories. People tend to be hard-wired to listen intently to a story. The moment the speaker says, “let me tell you a story,” audiences tend to sit up and listen intently. Amazing speakers know this. They also know the story must reinforce the point they are making.
They Use Comedy, but They Do Not Force It
The best keynote speakers know how to weave comedy into their presentations. They also know that they are at their best when they react to a situation that is happening now. When the speaker slips up, a self-depreciating remark will always cause the audience to smile and chuckle. Good speakers also take full advantage of an audience comment that was truly funny. Amazing keynote speaker know the value of comedy, but they also understand they are not stand-up comics.
