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matter how thick-skinned you may be it is hard to present when
members of the audience look uninterested.

There is no definitive right or wrong attention-grabber – simply begin
with something that you are comfortable with, and which seems to
work. Here are a few suggestions:

1. A funny story, if you feel able to deliver one with humour. Avoid
religious, sexual, sexist or racist jokes.

2. A short video clip – make sure that it is less than 60 seconds.

3. Unusual or interesting statistics about your industry or about your
audience. These should be well-researched. Members of the audience
may know more than you. Getting the statistics wrong would make
you look amateur.

4. A short animation. Cartoon-like shorts can be created easily with
various graphic design programs or by professional designers.
Alternatively, animations are available online ready for use.

5. A touch of suspense. For example, walk on with a cardboard box
and place it in the middle of the stage – but don’t tell people what it is
there for. This option is probably best if practised beforehand with a
trial audience of friends or colleagues. They will ensure that your prop
doesn’t just confuse people.

The middle

The rule of three is a good technique for the middle section of a
presentation.

The rule of three is based on the idea that three is the optimum number
of points to form a pattern of information that sticks in the memory. In
oratory it comes up all the time. Here are some examples:

“Friends, Romans, countrymen”
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