Presentation Skills That Will Take You to the Top (Collection), 2/e

54. Rx: CrackBerry Addiction

Control Yourself!

As you read in Chapter 51, “What do I do with my hands?” has been the question most frequently asked of me as a presentation coach—until now.

Of late, the question has been, “How do you deal with audiences who are glued to their mobile devices?” The question, asked by distraught presenters, refers to a chronic malady known as “CrackBerry Addiction.” Compounding the problem, those very same presenters, when they become audience members themselves, proceed to exhibit the same severe symptoms of the disease. The addiction is at epidemic proportions.

Quite frankly, I’m stumped for an answer. I’ve tried every technique I know—pregnant pauses, steely stares, provocative questions, innocent questions, polite ...