How Fear Affects in Gaining and Keeping an audience's attention

From personal experiences I have found some mistakes that students do in presentations:

• Students should put themselves in the audience position and imagine the student is also a listener.
• The visuals are confusing and disorganized and many times to much information on slides.
• Often times students pick topics they do not find interesting because it would be less challenging for them to present it.
• Poor knowledge of the story, including details, pronunciation or terminology.
• Students tend not to practice the presentation with enough time.
• Fear plays an important role in gaining and keeping the audience attention.

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      What you want during a presentation is the public’s attention; therefore everything you do and say has to be about gaining that attention, and then keeping it.
The audience is not the enemy, on the contrary, audience are people who believe the presenter can bring something they do not know and something’s worth to listen.

It is natural to be afraid before a presentation, and the presenter should not be a tough critic with himself for what happens in the presentation, it should not be considered weak or insecure for an error. The presenter can analyze the fear and try to discover the cause that originates it.

The fear can be irrational, and it is not based on logical terms. For instance being afraid of making a fool of yourself. This situation is unlikely to occur and therefore this fear must be rejected as absurd.

Another type of fear itself can be rational due to adverse situations that may occur. For instance staying blank during a presentation or not knowing the answer of a question. A way to avoid this issue is to prepare the speech and often times holding a prop up would not be a bad idea.

CLICK ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A FEW MORE TIPS ABOUT HOW TO OVERCOME YOUR FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

The best way to combat fear is with adequate preparation, When the presentation is controlled it can reduce the chances of making mistakes and build confidence in the presenter. Also is very important to think positive and if the presenter is very nervous it would help some physical activity to burn energy and calm the nerves. 


Remember: If you prepare yourself for the presentation it will be less challenging for you to gain and keep the audience's attention.