A Promise.

It all starts with Question, Statement or simply A Promise! 

A Promise will keep the audience expectant

            By the end of this presentation you will:

                                      “Be able to grow you sales by 50%”
                                      “Be able to train each and every dog”
                                      “Be able to …”

“Be able”: these words stimulate people to pay more attention, ask questions like "how?" and "why?", and keeps them on the edge of their seats!

BUT HOW?

When doing a presentation- depending on whatever it is, your number one goal would be to “sell yourself” or the product at hand, and the only way that is possible is making sure that you are appealing to you audience. The only other plausible way is by telling them they will "BE ABLE TO".

Why would they want to pay attention to you? Unless they are paying for the presentation! But most people are dragged to presentations from bosses, colleagues, and even friends.

Think about it: when you were in school and they had speakers come in and talk to the whole school, did you really want to go? I bet sometimes you’d run to the bathroom for long periods of time. But when did you not go? (Other than when the teacher said NO!) When the speaker was able to promise you something?

The Promise is KEY in Gaining and Keeping Audience Attention

But remember: a good promise is only good, unless it is kept! It can be easily forgotten if your presentation doesn't match up to it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

• Do you agree with the idea of a promise?
• Is there an alternative to the promise, question or statement?

Kwan, C. (Director). (2011). How to Start a Presentation Using an Attention Grabbing Question or Statement [Video Blog]. Retrieved June 10, 2013, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ndrIvSw1xTc