Chapter 4

Add Sizzle Every Six Minutes

What wows an audience? What keeps their attention riveted, begging for more? For over ten years, I have researched those questions. Using the Memorable Speaker Survey, I have recorded responses from all types of audiences, including lawyers, secretaries, financial experts, trainers, and hundreds more. I was amazed to find that the things that captivate one group are the same things that captivate the other groups. There are no differences in the preferences of these diverse groups. However, within any given audience, a pattern does occur. Approximately 85 percent of the people in any audience prefer speakers who use techniques such as humor, creativity, motivation, audience involvement, and stories to convey ...

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