101 Ways to Captivate a Business Audience

Chapter 9

Bulletproof Your Presentation

Your presentation is floating along flawlessly (you think). You’re on cruise control. Then reality deals you a frightening blow. As you look out into the audience, you are stunned. Five people are sitting with their heads propped on their hands, fifteen in the front row seem to be unconscious, there’s a group chatting in the right corner, and seven others yawn simultaneously. In the words of Dennis the Menace, “Yipes!”

Congratulations. At least you recognized that there’s a problem. Some speakers are so self-absorbed that they are oblivious to audiences’ signs of boredom. Now that you know that there’s a problem, you’re ready to bail out of the negative situation, and turn it around so the audience is reenergized, ...