Three Keys to Connecting to Your Audience.

" I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

One of the biggest challenges when giving a presentation to a full room is finding a way to connect with your audience and capture their attention. Implementing these 3 keys will ensure that you will deliver a memorable presentation.

1. Empathy - Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, is the cornerstone in connecting to any audience. Every person on this planet has the desire to be understood and to feel like someone is listening to them. When you are presenting to an audience, it can be challenging to make them feel understood, that you are listening and that both you and your audience have had similar experiences, especially when you are delivering a message and there is no dialogue taking place. A powerful way to begin is to share an experience or tell a story that they can connect with, one that they can relate to. This communicates to them that you understand the challenges they face, that you are one of them, and that you understand them.
   

2. Human Aspect - While empathy is the cornerstone, showing your human side is critical to continue to grow and strengthen the connection with your audience. Remember, whether you are presenting to an audience full of lawyers, bankers, real estate professionals, IT folks, mechanics, or any other profession, everyone there is human. Everyone there is a son or a daughter, a friend, some may be a spouse, have a daughter, have a son, have grandparents, is a grandparent, grew up doing homework, chores, got grounded when they got in trouble and so many other common similarities that you may have experienced. As humans we have many shared perspectives and stories. Be open and share personal stories that highlight the fact that you share these with them. You can quickly make small, but powerful, connections through short stories that tie to your topic about a favorite childhood memory, or maybe stories about things you've experienced while raising children or some sort of life experience. In order to gain the trust of your audience, share something personal (but appropriate), show a little vulnerability and the result will be an audience that connects with and trusts you.
   

3. Passion - The third aspect is passion. If you want your audience to buy into what you are saying, they have to see your passion. Passion is defined as strong and barely controllable emotion. Maya Angelou was a famous African American poet, singer, and civil rights activist who once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." A passion that invokes those same types of feelings in someone, will also call them to action. Passion is the fuel that keeps your connection alive long after your presentation.

In summary, to connect with your audience in a meaningful way, you will want to establish your connection through the use of empathy, strengthen that connection through the human aspect and maintain the connection long after the presentation is over because of the passion with which you delivered your message.