How to Create Audience Desire to Hear You Before You Speak a Word
One of the biggest challengesย when you speak is to quickly develop a bond with your audience. It’s not easy toย earn their trust in a short amount of time.
Depending on which study you read, audiences quickly make up their minds whether or not they like you. They’re also decidingย if they’re willing to listen to your message, all within 7 to 30 seconds. ย What many people don’t know isย that you are beingย judgedย before you speak.
One Activity to Help You Stand Out From the Crowd
Theย time beforeย you speakย is a golden opportunity to build rapport and connect with audience membersโฆ if you areย proactive. ย Most speakers don’t take advantage of this.ย Take time for one, simple activity, and you can stand out from the crowd.
What is this activity?
Introduce yourself to as many people as possible before your speak.ย A quick handshake, smile and friendly โhelloโ opensย a connection with each person. It also begins to break the wall that exists between you and the audience member who doesn’t know you.
Speaker Susan Roann is a master of this. She stands at the entrance to the meeting room where she will be presenting, and shakes the hand of everyย individual who enters that room.
How Does This Help You When You Speak
What does this accomplish?ย By the time Susan steps on stage, she is not a stranger; ย in a sense, she is now โpart of the groupโ, a new friend. By investing just a couple of seconds with each person, she creates allies who want her to succeed.ย If it works for Susan, it can work for you.
Another benefit to this is that the audience is more prepared to hear your message. They’re not weighed down by “can I trust her?” or “what is her angle?” type of questions. You’ve ‘humanized’ yourself as a real person, just like them. A few seconds of connection before you speak saves a lot more time when you speak.
With only 7 to 30 seconds to make a positive impact, donโt overlook this key to connecting with your audience.ย Turn strangers into friends before you speak, and you enhance your odds of leaving a meaningful and lasting impact.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
NOW AVAILABLE!
โSell More With Stories โ Book 5: Sail 7 More Cs to Sensational Storytellingโ
Want to sell more of your product, service or idea, in less time?
Storytelling is the most powerful selling device you have, but only if itโs effectively used.
In this 5th book of the โSell More With Storiesโ series, youโll follow the ongoing story of Nicole, the financial advisor. Sheโs picking up seven additional storytelling โtoolsโ from her mentor David.
These enable you to create selling presentations that connect with prospective clients at an even deeper level. They also help you sell more in less time.
When youโve complete this book, youโll know how to:
โ Grab and keep the attention of your listener
โ Make buying easy for your prospective customer
โ Develop a deeper level of emotional interest in the buyer
โ Illustrate how your product, service, or idea will solve their problem
If you want to more easily navigate the waters of selling, โSail 7 More Cs to Sensational Storytellingโ is your storytelling compass. To get your copy, click here.