How to grab your audiences's attention in presentations

How often have your eyes glazed over at the start of a meeting? How often have you presented and struggled to to secure people's attention? The chances are these meetings did not start with a strong "hook".
In most cases you have seconds, not minutes, to grab and secure your audience's attention. This goes for all meetings be it a small internal team meeting through to a large conference presentation. People will make their mind up (consciously or subconsciously) to pay attention to the rest of the presentation in the first 30 to 60 seconds. If you lose there attention at the start it can be very hard to re-engage them later. This is why the start of your presentation is so critically important.
There are three types of hooks you can use, as covered in this presentation. They should be short, impactful and relevant to the rest of your presentation. Using these hooks will ensure that your audience is listening and ready for what you want them to hear.

1. Attention
Please!
How to grab your audience’s
attention at the start of your
presentation

2. Use verbal stimuli such
as metaphors or a short
story to grab attention
Once upon a time …
Verbal Hook

3. You have 30
seconds!
Use bold imagery,
visualisations and
surprising data to grab
attention.
Visual Hook

4. Thumbs up if
you are
listening
Kinaesthetic Hook
Use audience
participation to get
everyone’s attention

5. Want to improve
your presentation
skills?
Contact me for training or 1:1
coaching sessions tailored for
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