Recently I wrote that your first (and most urgent) task as a presenter is to get the audience on the same page as you.
Own your audience.
Shortly after writing that piece I witnessed an outstanding example of this.
I saw one of the most effective starts to a presentation in ages.
The speaker?
Cyndi Lauper.
I was at her concert in the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
(It was a superb concert – what a voice, what a performance).
Some celebrity acts lower the mood a little when they speak at a concert.
Cyndi Lauper absolutely raised it up.
How did she start?
“I love Glasgow.”
This got a cheer.
“My son’s middle name is Wallace, after William Wallace.”
This got a louder cheer.
“And my father-in-law was a biographer of Robert Burns.”
This got an even louder cheer.
With three short statements, Cyndi Lauper completely owned the audience.
What do I invite you to take away from this?
How do you own your audience?
By doing one simple thing.
Look at the start of your next presentation.
Is there anything you believe will help you connect with your audience?
You do not need a cheer from them.
You just need something that puts you and them on the same page.
For more tips on owning and engaging with your audience – check out the following article…
