Connecting in speaking goes way beyond making eye contact. It starts before you even meet the audience. It flows through every part of your presentation: before, during and after your presentation.
It happens when you structure your thoughts, it happens when you choose the right word, and it happens when you convey the message.
It determines the structure of your presentation, it determines what content you choose, and it determines how you deliver your message.
When you connect with your audience, your words count, your message gets through, and you make a difference in people.
When you connect with your audience, they will respond and relate to you, and they’ll lose track of the time. When your speech ends, they will feel saddened and want more from you.
You can learn to connect with your audience, if you master these 5Cs Connecting Secrets.
Companionship
The purpose of speaking is never about you. It’s never about how you look, and how you are going to get respect. It’s always about them, the audience. Treat your audience as companions, instead of pure listeners. Listen to them, get to know them, and bring value to them.
Concern
To bring value to your audience, you must be crystal clear about who they are, what is bothering them, and what they want. Knowing the audience’s concern and address it.
Curiosity
How can you overcome the audience’s short attention span? How can your speech stand out from hundreds of other boring speeches? How can you make the audience lose track of time and want to hear more? Do you have enough curiosity in your presentation to hook your audience up and keep them engaged?
Closing (with Impact)
People remember the last the most. How can you make sure your efforts put in the presentation won’t be flushed off by a weak closing? How can you make your closing be so memorable and powerful that people will take action on your idea?
Conviction (in Delivery)
How you say it is just as important as what you say. If you stand behind the lectern, eyes looking down, reading your notes all the way through, people will never buy into your message. Spending some time and efforts to improve on conveying your message with confidence and conviction, your impact on the audience will skyrocket.
Does connecting matter? Connecting is everything.
