Chapter Four

Get attention

Before you even open your mouth, people will start to decide whether they want to listen to you and how much they really want to hear. So how can you grab attention in a positive way and predispose people to want to listen to what you have to say? And once you start to speak, what are the ways that you can hold attention and sharpen people’s desire to hear your message?

Getting attention is not about showy, vivid displays, but about making your presence known in a calm, dignified manner that announces ‘I am here, and I am worth your attention’. To do this, you will need to master three stages:

  1. Your entry – how you come into a room or on to a stage.
  2. Your presence – your bearing; how you present yourself to people. ...

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