1. 15 Tips & Tricks
To maintain the interest of your
audience
2. 1. Use your voice effectively
• Remember “Manytone” not “Monotone”
• How you say it is just as important as what
you say
3. 2.Tell Anecdotes
• Bring a fact to life by telling a story that links it
to the real world
• People like stories (bedtime as children)
• “Facts tell, stories sell”
4. 3. X Shouldn’t mark the spot
• Move about the room while you talk
• Tell an anecdotal story as you move
• Maintain eye contact
5. 4. Vary the pace of your presentation
• Hear at 310 words per minute
• Speak at 170 words per minute
• Our minds are capable of listening to a varying
pace between the 2. So vary between fast and
slow!
6. 5. Distribute handouts
• People like handouts
• Don’t give them out before you present. Why?
• Give them as further reading to support your
presentation
7. 6. Incorporate Trainees names into
discussions when you can.
• It helps you to remember names
• It helps the Trainee feel Loved
8. 7. Use visual aids
• Because of VAK and learning styles
• Be warned “If you emphasize everything you
emphasise nothing!”
9. 8. Ask questions
• It maintains interest
• If you want to bring people with you, try
asking a question like “Shall we continue for
half an hour, or shall we take a quick 5 minute
break?”.
• If you want a 5 minute break, Nod your head
up an down as you say it. Try it. It works!
10. 9. Conduct small group activities
• Participation relieves pressure!
• VAK tells us that some trainees get bored
listening to lectures. So….Mix it up
11. 10. Use the B button on the keyboard
• This blanks the screen.
• Its good for effect and takes the focus away
from the screen and onto you the trainer
12. 11. Show a sense of humour
• Don’t be a stand up comedian, but do show a
human side.
• We all like a little giggle.
• Keep it business appropriate
13. 12. Use non verbal communication
• For example, when changing a topic, hold your
hands in front of you at about chest height
and move them from your right to left
• Be balanced here, overuse of hand gestures
will annoy your audience
14. 13 Time your activities
• There is nothing worse for Trainees when you
say the next talk will take 30 minutes and you
take double the time
• Good timing shows you are well planned and
professional
15. 14. Show enthusiasm
• One thing I guarantee my Trainees at the start
of the Train the Trainer program is that if they
keep their eyes open they will learn plenty
• Encourage participation
• Thank people for contributions
• SMILE
16. 15. Take breaks
• Tell trainees when mid morning, lunch and
afternoon breaks are
• Don’t be afraid to take BUZZ BREAKS in
between
• Be flexible in your timetable. If it suits to take
lunch 10 minutes early, do.
17. 16. One more thing
• If you can, always finish with a little extra
something
• Like this tip number 16 of a 15 tip slideshow.
• Or, direct your trainees to really cool online
resources
