Many people say that the audience determines your quality as a speaker. A good public speaker does not only know what s/he can deliver to his/her audience, s/he also know what the audience needs. A good public speaker knows the importance of establishing a connection with the audience. Sure, you may have great information to share with your audience, but if you cannot get their interest, then your presentation may just be as good as having none.

Simply put, your audience wants more than just plain lecture. You need to create a connection with them. You want to make sure that what they will really learn something from you and that the time they have spent listening to you is all worth it.

It is important for any public speaker to captivate his/her audience. Knowing how to do this can help him/her gain their interest but also their admiration and respect as well. There are several ways by to get and keep your audience’s interest running from start to finish, depending on your particular content and environment.

One effective way to stimulate them is to ask killer questions. Ask something that would get them to really think. Make your question powerful that only a few can answer it or the audience would not expect to answer. When asking a killer type of question, do not answer them. This can heighten their interest more.

The use of humor is also an excellent way to stir the interest of your audience. If your topic allows, crack a joke in between your discussion. Be careful in your choice of jokes though, making sure that these jokes are appropriate for the type of audience and your environment. Also, if you don’t think you can pull off a good joke, better lay off the jokes from your plan. A bad punch line may only lead to a speaking boo-boo on you end.

When delivering your speech, it is normal for the audience to ask questions. When this happens, consider hitting the question back to them. Give the audience the opportunity to express their thoughts. Even if you are expected to answer them with due authority, answering questions right away and all by yourself may be off-putting. By asking your audience questions, you show that they are a part of the discussion and your respect for their knowledge. It also encourages them to think and participate as well.

Get your audience to participate. If your topic teaches a particular skill, encourage the audience to demonstrate it with you. Audiences usually love to see and try out something for themselves. You can create a particular case that presents what you are trying to stress. Get your audience involved by challenging them to offer solutions to the case you present to them. You can also even engage your audience in role-playing as well. Don’t forget to acknowledge them for participating.

Moreover, taking advantage of technology can also keep your audience glued to you. Make use of power point presentations and visual graphics. However, you should keep in mind that these are only meant to keep your pace as speaker and not the other way around. Remember that you are speaking to the audience – your visual representations should not do the main job for you.

In addition, make sure that you are confident and that you know what you are talking about. Focus your speech not on how you are faring as a speaker but on the thoughts and insights that you share to your audience. If you are passionate about your speech, you can be able to deliver a compelling and powerful message that your audience will remember.