Afraid of boring the audience? 3 Easy Ways to Keep Them Hooked

Is boring your audience something you worry about? Well, you’re in good company. This is one of the most common reasons that speakers get nervous. It’s a valid concern! No one wants to see eyes glazing over and body language that screams total disinterest.

What’s a speaker to do?

First – it takes knowing WHO your audience is, in order to craft a speech that engages them. You have to do your research on them. Then, it takes intentionality, creativity, and a willingness to think outside of the box to create a memorable experience for them.

Here are three ways you can engage your audience members and minimize your nervousness about boring them:

1. Exciting Icebreakers

It’s not unusual for speakers to use icebreakers at the beginning of their presentations. They are fun, warm audience members up, and help set the tone for the event. However, I find that many icebreakers are BORING and the same ones are used for every audience. What if you customized some of your icebreakers to the people you’re speaking to?

For example, if you’re speaking to members of a gardening association – you might open up your speech with this icebreaker:

“Which word best describes how you’ve been feeling lately?”

• In full bloom (confident, thriving, at your best)
• Wilting (exhausted, overwhelmed, drained)
• Sun-kissed (happy, energized)
• Transplanted (feeling out of place, adjusting to change, adapting to new surroundings)

This is an icebreaker that is clearly tailored just for them.  I created an icebreaker specifically for an entrepreneur audience I spoke to last Friday, and it was a big hit with them. They WANTED to answer! That’s the power of a customized icebreaker.

Don’t be afraid to ask ChatGPT to help you: “I will be speaking at an event where my audience members are [C-suite executives, doctors, authors etc]. What terms from their industry can I use as descriptions for how they are feeling today? This is for a fun icebreaker.”

The time of day that you’re speaking can be the inspiration for your icebreaker too. If you’re speaking in the morning, you may use coffee-related terms to describe their mood:

• Slow Drip (still waking up, getting into the groove)
• Espresso shot (feeling sharp, focused, energized)
• Double Shot (a little too much going on, but powering through)
• Decaf (calm, relaxed, going with the flow)

There’s no limit to the fun icebreakers you can come up with that will get your audience excited to hear you speak! If you need ideas, I have a list of 20+ icebreakers in my Slay the Stage! Speaker Bundle.

2. Attention-Grabbing Openings

At last Friday’s speaking engagement, I shared with the audience this stat: You have 7 seconds for an audience member to decide if they like you and 30 seconds for them to decide if they want to keep listening to you. Talk about pressure!

This means you need to put serious thought into how you will open your speech because boring your listeners in the first few precious seconds is NOT an option. Your opening line has to grab their attention. Think curiosity…provocative…surprise…unsettling. You want to evoke a feeling in your audience members.

Here are four examples that will definitely pique interest:

• “You should have been there.”
• “Picture it…” (think Sophia from Golden Girls!)
• “This may sound controversial, but…”
• “What I’m about to say may surprise you.”

All of these lines make the audience lean in a little more and say “tell me more.”

3. Props that POP

Most of us are familiar with using props/visual aids when we speak. Props serve one major purpose: to aid the audience’s understanding. They help make the abstract more concrete, turn confusion into clarity, and yes – can be entertaining as a bonus. Props are powerful when it comes to making your speech come alive for your audience.

When you’ve decided that it will be beneficial to use a prop, you’re probably overlooking one of the BEST places to locate them: your home.

Props do NOT have to be complicated to be effective and memorable. That perfect prop you need is most likely something you see everyday right in your house. I love using my tea cup and teapot that sits on my kitchen counter to demonstrate this example: During the pandemic, many people experienced weight gain. I show the small tea cup as a “before pandemic” representation, and the larger teapot is the “after pandemic” representation. Using these simple household items clearly shows the contrast in weight, and audience members always get a kick out of them!

Here’s another example of everyday items being unforgettable props: a snow globe. I have one in my home that has a fish named “Piranha Joe” in the middle of it. When I shake it, the white flurries go in frenzied directions around Piranha Joe. If you were giving a speech about dealing with adversity –  being immovable and standing strong when life is crashing down around you – wouldn’t this be an excellent prop to use? It perfectly embodies your message and is not the typical prop.

My point here is that I want you to think creatively when it comes to your props. Novelty is always a winning strategy when it comes to engaging your audience!

These are just three ways you can create a presentation that captivates instead of bores. If nervousness has you dreading public speaking, then it’s time for you to join my Speak with Confidence Challenge launching March 10^th. Get ready to learn tactics and strategies for beating those nerves while building your confidence with daily challenges. Sign up here!