Techniques for maintaining audience attention

The most important thing in the speech is undoubtedly the attention of the audience. No detail of the speech matters if no one is listening. Therefore, it is necessary to learn not only how to attract, but also to maintain the attention of the public. There are various tricks to how this can be done. We will talk about the simplest and most effective of them in this article.

Questions to the audience
A performance is not always a monologue. You can add dialogue to it by contacting the audience with a question. Since you are addressing all those present immediately, it is better to ask a closed-ended question, to which the audience will answer “Yes” or “No”.

The complexity of the question can be any, the main thing is to formulate it so that it becomes closed. Best of all, if the question anticipates your further speech and arouses public interest.
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But what if there is silence in response to your question? Too complex a question and / or passive audience can lead to this situation. Then answer your question yourself, and either continue your speech further, or ask a new question, but more simply. And again: do not allow a long pause in anticipation of someone to answer.

Organization of the discussion
You can not be limited to one question, but to organize a real discussion. This will certainly contribute to the revitalization of the public. It will be most effective to express a controversial point of view, to say something extraordinary or even shocking (but, of course, you need to know the measure). An unusual statement will interest the audience, and it will listen to your argument with attention, and then actively challenge it.
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Appeal to individual listeners
It is not always possible to organize a discussion with the entire audience. But you can talk to someone alone. For example, like this:

- Young man, I am watching your reaction and it seems to me that you do not agree with me. Why? Express your opinion!

This does not seem obvious at first glance, but the question for one person activates the attention of the entire audience. As soon as you start talking with one, others will also join in the discussion.

Advance payment
Advance any interesting information, but do not give it out right away. Make listeners closely monitor your performance so as not to miss out on what interests them.
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You can announce all the key ideas at the very beginning of the speech - the audience will wait when you talk about them and dare not distract from the thread of the story. Or you can ask the main question that bothers the audience, and say that you will give the answer at the end.

Item Demonstration
Take an item with you to the stage, if appropriate. We can interact with it or just hold it in our hands. In any case (but in the first, naturally, more) it will attract attention.
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For example, you went out to talk about burnout. You go out with a balloon in your hands and start telling: “Stress at work, family problems, frustration, a sense of security - all this leads to ...” and here you pop the balloon with a prepared needle! This will not only attract attention, but also make the performance memorable.

Approaching the audience
Get closer to the audience - so they will feel your presence much stronger. Or, if the audience allows, go straight to the people. Take a walk along the first row or even go deep (but not far and short). Such direct contact with the speaker will certainly increase the level of attention to your speech.

It will also be useful to recall what attracted your attention during the speeches of other speakers. After all, if it worked with you, then it can work with others. And to find out more interesting oratory techniques and techniques, you can go through our online program “Oratory”.