What gets through the constant flow of information, images and messages in your day to grab you quickly? Whatever makes you pay attention is the same kind of thing that makes your audiences sit up and notice you. You know for sure that you don't feel attracted by routine or boring things such as the typical opening comments of a business speaker. So why do those things to your audience?
Start with something unexpected--a question that has serious undertones but also makes the audience laugh or feel puzzled. Music and a pantomime. Something that seems utterly in contrast to the topic--show the tropics when you're going to be talking about the frenzy of business challenges in today's economy. Don't be constrained by what you see other speakers do--they are not right, they are just uninspired.
How can you be sure this is a good idea? It's not just me trying to be different--the need to focus on attraction has been proven by brain science and has a long tradition in advertising.
Brain Rules author John Medina, PhD, shows how human beings crave sensory stimulation and are hard-wired to respond to things that are interesting. Of his 12 Brain rules, I think number 9 "Multisensory stimulation increases creativity and learning" provides an umbrella under which speakers can find ideas and rationale for variety in their speeches and presentations.
The idea is that when multiple senses--vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell--are stimulated, the effect multiplies. Therefore 1+1=more than 2.
When you open your speech or presentation by combining sound and visuals and going beyond that to touch deep layers of those senses, you have caused multisensory stimulation and increased the attractiveness of the content.
What layers of vision and sound can you imagine would increase the stimulation of your audience and lead to more creativity and learning? Share your ideas through our comment link.
I have delved into these two senses and discovered at least 5 layers for each one. Ask me more about them!
Susan: good post. I always like to think of the start of a speech as being your "$1M Waterfront Real Estate". This is the one time during a presentation that you really know that people will be watching you and listening to what you have to say - don't blow it!
- Dr. Jim Anderson
www.TheAccidentalCommunicator.com
"Learn How To Calm Your Fears, Wow Your Audience, And Get Your Point Across"
Posted by: Dr. Jim Anderson | February 25, 2009 at 02:39 PM