Discussion 5

Attention-Gaining Strategies

Here are some top attention-gaining strategies to try in your upcoming speeches:

Ask a question

Ask insightful, meaningful questions. Better yet, ask a series of questions designed to draw the audience further and further into your speech. When you ask your audience a question, they have to think. In the process of thinking, they are paying attention. Even if your question does not call for an oral reply, they will be thinking what they would answer if called upon.

Find a quotation

It could be a historical quote, a humorous one, even a song lyric. Ensure you credit the originator of the quote. Ensure the quote is relevant to your topic.

Shock the audience

Use a startling statistic or a shocking statement. Share a personal revelation.

Find a direct connection to the audience

Reference a local event, place, or activity. Use a recent news story, tragedy, or occurrence that your audience would be sure to recall.

Tell a story

Engage us, draw us in, and make the details of the story vivid and real to us.

If you ever listened to a scary story told by a camp counselor at night when all were sitting near a camp fire, you know the power of a good story. Religious leaders know the power of a good story also. That is why they often include Bible stories in their sermons. Plan to tell your audience a story, and you will have them listening as attentively to you as campers listen to a counselor’s scary story. Use vivid details to paint a mental picture in the minds of your listeners. You want them to relate–to smell the cookies baking, to see the tears in your Grandmother’s eyes, to feel the softness of a baby in your arms.

Find a compelling visual aid

Your visual aid could be poignant, shocking, and/or funny. Remember, a picture IS worth a thousand words.

Examples:

* A photo of a homeless child

* A picture of a crystal clear lake and mountain range

* A cartoon depicting a political news story