Comments on: The attention-getting myth http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/the-attention-getting-myth/ Presentation tips from Olivia Mitchell Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:40:33 +1200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Three levels of presentation openings – which should you use? : Speaking about Presenting http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/the-attention-getting-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-3239 Three levels of presentation openings – which should you use? : Speaking about Presenting Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:16:47 +0000 http://effectivespeaking.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-3239 [...] challenge is to keep it. (I’ve written about this a lot – see these posts on this blog The Attention-Getting Myth and Attention-Getting The Evidence and also a discussion between myself and Rowan Manahan on his [...] [...] challenge is to keep it. (I’ve written about this a lot – see these posts on this blog The Attention-Getting Myth and Attention-Getting The Evidence and also a discussion between myself and Rowan Manahan on his [...]

]]> By: Olivia Mitchell http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/the-attention-getting-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-1565 Olivia Mitchell Tue, 19 May 2009 09:04:49 +0000 http://effectivespeaking.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-1565 Thanks Ellen, for sharing what works for you and your audience. I think that's the key - and there are many different ways of priming your audience for what's to follow. Olivia Thanks Ellen, for sharing what works for you and your audience. I think that’s the key – and there are many different ways of priming your audience for what’s to follow. Olivia

]]> By: Ellen Finkelstein http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/the-attention-getting-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-1556 Ellen Finkelstein Sun, 17 May 2009 16:08:45 +0000 http://effectivespeaking.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-1556 I certainly agree that being dogmatic about anything leads to, well, dogma. And that's not good. Anything that helps a nervous presenter feel more comfortable is good, of course. I just think that if you're going to practice your beginning, it might as well be one that draws in the audience and primes them to listen to the rest of the talk. My attention steps are usually pretty low key, such as asking the audience a question and getting them to raise their hands. It sets the stage for a dialogue rather than a one-way presentation. I also find (and here's my secret weakness) that it forces me into some eye contact, which is something I'm always working on, as it doesn't come naturally to me. (I tend to be overly intellectual, more of a writer than a speaker, and would be happy to give my talk with my eyes closed!) So, asking the audience a question helps ME, while helping the audience, too. I certainly agree that being dogmatic about anything leads to, well, dogma. And that’s not good. Anything that helps a nervous presenter feel more comfortable is good, of course. I just think that if you’re going to practice your beginning, it might as well be one that draws in the audience and primes them to listen to the rest of the talk. My attention steps are usually pretty low key, such as asking the audience a question and getting them to raise their hands. It sets the stage for a dialogue rather than a one-way presentation. I also find (and here’s my secret weakness) that it forces me into some eye contact, which is something I’m always working on, as it doesn’t come naturally to me. (I tend to be overly intellectual, more of a writer than a speaker, and would be happy to give my talk with my eyes closed!) So, asking the audience a question helps ME, while helping the audience, too.

]]> By: Olivia Mitchell http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/the-attention-getting-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-1553 Olivia Mitchell Sun, 17 May 2009 02:59:08 +0000 http://effectivespeaking.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-1553 Thanks Ellen, for your thoughtful comments. First, I do agree that an attention-getting opening is effective, what I'm arguing against is that you <strong>have</strong> to have an attention-getting opening in all presentations. And I'm saying this mainly to benefit beginner and nervous presenters who do feel the pressure of having to have such an opening. I have a different interpretation of AIDA as it is used in advertising and copywriting. The Attention step is to get them to read the ad eg: the headline that intrigues them. They are not already reading the ad. Switching to the beginning of a presentation, if people are not paying attention in a literal sense (ie: chatting, checking blackberries) there's a risk they will not hear your opening line. As a trainer, I make sure that I have their attention before I say anything important. I totally agree that you should endeavor to engage your audience by saying stuff of value which is relevant to them. And if you've got a great idea for an opening line, and can carry it off, that's great too. I just want to dispel the myth that everyone has to do that - all of the time. Thanks for your contribution to the debate, Ellen. Olivia Thanks Ellen, for your thoughtful comments.

First, I do agree that an attention-getting opening is effective, what I’m arguing against is that you have to have an attention-getting opening in all presentations. And I’m saying this mainly to benefit beginner and nervous presenters who do feel the pressure of having to have such an opening.

I have a different interpretation of AIDA as it is used in advertising and copywriting. The Attention step is to get them to read the ad eg: the headline that intrigues them. They are not already reading the ad.

Switching to the beginning of a presentation, if people are not paying attention in a literal sense (ie: chatting, checking blackberries) there’s a risk they will not hear your opening line. As a trainer, I make sure that I have their attention before I say anything important.

I totally agree that you should endeavor to engage your audience by saying stuff of value which is relevant to them. And if you’ve got a great idea for an opening line, and can carry it off, that’s great too. I just want to dispel the myth that everyone has to do that – all of the time.

Thanks for your contribution to the debate, Ellen.

Olivia

]]> By: Ellen Finkelstein http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/the-attention-getting-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-1546 Ellen Finkelstein Sat, 16 May 2009 15:39:05 +0000 http://effectivespeaking.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-1546 Hmmm, I think it's good to get the audience's attention at the beginning, and I don't see it as pressure on the presenter. First of all, in MANY cases, the audience has not chosen to come. Almost all internal presentations are like that. Many external ones are too -- the attendees were told to attend by their boss, for example. So, they aren't naturally interested. Second, people are not paying attention at the beginning -- they're chatting with their neighbor, madly finishing off an e-mail before you start,... Third, people often expect the presentation to be boring (especially if they had to come). AIDA is used in copywriting; the audience has decided to read an ad, and so is already attentive. But the attention step gets the person to continue. To say that the principle of getting the audience's attention has led to people using inappropriate measures reminds me of people who say one shouldn't use PowerPoint because it's been used inappropriately. It's not the principle that's wrong; it's the way it's used. At the University where my husband teaches, all the students are taught to start an oral presentation with an attention step. It's often the most fun part of the presentation for the students. I think that perhaps one could say that you should start by engaging the audience. I like the idea of asking the audience a question and the use of a shocking (or just important) statistic. Even just a good quote can be effective. Rather than putting pressure on the presenter, it provides a tool that makes the rest of the presentation go more smoothly, because the audience is now engaged. Without it, there can be a struggle to maintain the audience's attention throughout. That little attention step makes the rest so much easier! That said, I love your thoughtful posts! And agree with most of them. Hmmm, I think it’s good to get the audience’s attention at the beginning, and I don’t see it as pressure on the presenter. First of all, in MANY cases, the audience has not chosen to come. Almost all internal presentations are like that. Many external ones are too — the attendees were told to attend by their boss, for example. So, they aren’t naturally interested. Second, people are not paying attention at the beginning — they’re chatting with their neighbor, madly finishing off an e-mail before you start,… Third, people often expect the presentation to be boring (especially if they had to come). AIDA is used in copywriting; the audience has decided to read an ad, and so is already attentive. But the attention step gets the person to continue.

To say that the principle of getting the audience’s attention has led to people using inappropriate measures reminds me of people who say one shouldn’t use PowerPoint because it’s been used inappropriately. It’s not the principle that’s wrong; it’s the way it’s used.

At the University where my husband teaches, all the students are taught to start an oral presentation with an attention step. It’s often the most fun part of the presentation for the students.

I think that perhaps one could say that you should start by engaging the audience. I like the idea of asking the audience a question and the use of a shocking (or just important) statistic. Even just a good quote can be effective. Rather than putting pressure on the presenter, it provides a tool that makes the rest of the presentation go more smoothly, because the audience is now engaged. Without it, there can be a struggle to maintain the audience’s attention throughout. That little attention step makes the rest so much easier!

That said, I love your thoughtful posts! And agree with most of them.

]]> By: Olivia Mitchell http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/the-attention-getting-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Olivia Mitchell Sun, 18 May 2008 02:17:06 +0000 http://effectivespeaking.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-18 I went over to your blog, and watched your video John (and also left a comment there). Thank you for being so open about a humbling moment for you so that others can learn from it. I went over to your blog, and watched your video John (and also left a comment there). Thank you for being so open about a humbling moment for you so that others can learn from it.

]]> By: John Watkis http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/the-attention-getting-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-17 John Watkis Sat, 17 May 2008 14:46:03 +0000 http://effectivespeaking.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-17 I'm glad to see someone exposing the myth that we have to "grab" the attention of the audience right away. I've heard many "experts" say you only have 60 seconds before the audience loses interest. I couldn't disagree more. Although there are circumstances in which you do need to grab attention right away, I would argue that those circumstances are few and far between for the average speaking situation. To prove that you can still succeed, even after blowing your opening, I posted a video of my most embarrassing speaking moment. You can see it on my blog at: http://www.wellwrittenwellsaid.com/successfulspeechesblog/?p=27 Thanks again for the post. John Watkis http://www.wellwrittenwellsaid.com/successfulspeechesblog I’m glad to see someone exposing the myth that we have to “grab” the attention of the audience right away. I’ve heard many “experts” say you only have 60 seconds before the audience loses interest. I couldn’t disagree more.

Although there are circumstances in which you do need to grab attention right away, I would argue that those circumstances are few and far between for the average speaking situation.

To prove that you can still succeed, even after blowing your opening, I posted a video of my most embarrassing speaking moment. You can see it on my blog at:

http://www.wellwrittenwellsaid.com/successfulspeechesblog/?p=27

Thanks again for the post.

John Watkis
http://www.wellwrittenwellsaid.com/successfulspeechesblog

]]> By: Olivia Mitchell http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/the-attention-getting-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Olivia Mitchell Sun, 11 May 2008 21:18:44 +0000 http://effectivespeaking.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-16 Thank you James - Yes - the pressure it puts on people to really "perform" at the beginning of their talk is not helpful! Thank you James – Yes – the pressure it puts on people to really “perform” at the beginning of their talk is not helpful!

]]> By: James http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/the-attention-getting-myth/comment-page-1/#comment-15 James Sun, 11 May 2008 19:53:50 +0000 http://effectivespeaking.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-15 I agree 100% about this. I teach public speaking and this question always comes up when we talk about writing a speech. I explain to course participants (most of which are deathly afraid of public speaking) that it's not always necessary. I tell them that some people focus too much on trying to grab attention right away that if they mess up that single first sentence, it throws their whole speech off. You have a lot of great points. Good post. James http://blog.jvf.com I agree 100% about this. I teach public speaking and this question always comes up when we talk about writing a speech. I explain to course participants (most of which are deathly afraid of public speaking) that it’s not always necessary. I tell them that some people focus too much on trying to grab attention right away that if they mess up that single first sentence, it throws their whole speech off.

You have a lot of great points. Good post.

James
http://blog.jvf.com

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