This document provides 16 tips for maintaining audience interest during presentations. Some key tips include using an engaging tone of voice, telling anecdotes to bring facts to life, varying the pace of speaking, incorporating trainee names, using visual aids, asking questions to encourage participation, conducting small group activities, showing a sense of humor, using non-verbal communication, timing activities properly, showing enthusiasm, and taking breaks at appropriate times. The overall goal is to engage the audience and keep them interested throughout the presentation.

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