BUS603: Managing People

RECOVER ATTENTION

If you're speaking right after lunch on a hot day, good luck. At the best of times, humans are prone to lose focus and daydream. To recover audience attention, try these tips:

• Turn on the lights. Even if you're in the middle of a long slide presentation, turn on the lights and review your agenda for a minute to get everyone back on track. Remind them why they should care. 
• Move quickly to a new spot in the room. People will perk up and wonder what's going on when you abandon your traditional post and do a few minutes from one side or the back of the room.
• Ask a question. Get people to discuss a question with their neighbors, then report back to the group.
• Call a mid-game stretch. This is the nuclear option because it always takes more time than you think, but if you see people actually falling asleep, you may need to get everyone out of their chairs and moving around. Adjust your activity suggestions to the formality and length of the situation. A quick round of "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" could be great for co-workers, while a dignified bathroom break might work better with senior managers.

DISTRACT THE CHATTERS

Sometimes a couple of people just check out and start their own party. One way to get them to quiet down and refocus is to move to stand right beside them. If that doesn't do it, ask a question directly to one of them, or give them a meaningful and playful glance. 

SHUT DOWN A PRESENTATION HIJACKER

If someone in the room is TOO into your presentation and starts to take over your role, suggest a future time when you can hear their ideas. You may need to interrupt someone to do this. That's ok. If the person isn't socially sensitive enough to have caught your throat clearing or attempts to cut in, they probably need less subtle cues. Others in the room will thank you. Audiences don't like chaos or hijacking. It's uncomfortably unpredictable.

RECOVER AFTER A MISTAKE

Did you get a report number wrong or mistakenly call your boss Bruno? Don't worry. Everyone makes mistakes. If you are impeccably prepared in other ways, your audience will sense that this is a minor blip and laugh it off. Make a quick joke or simply correct the error and leave the awkward moment to show authenticity and confidence. If you are uncomfortable, your audience will be too, so just roll with it.

PLAN FOR LENGTH CHANGES

Suddenly you're getting the "cut it short" sign from the back. Can you? Some organizers are great at protecting speaker time, others not so much. Be sure you have XS, M, XL (extrashort, medium, extra-long) versions of your presentation planned so that you can roll with whatever time you are given. The most common scenario is that you'll need to cut it short, so spend the most time on that. Think of ways you can make your main point, then distribute supporting points evenly. 

Always plan to end 5 -10 percent early; Your audience will love you. 

HANDLE TOUGH QUESTIONS

Maybe you've encountered a hostile audience or you are unprepared to answer a key question in the Q&A. Now is the time to listen. Repeat the question to clarify. Ask follow-up questions to understand your listeners' concerns or requirements. If you don't know the answers, be honest and say so. Once you fully understand the issues, say how and when you'll address them.

PRESENTING IN TEAMS

If you're going to present with a team, rehearsal Is even more important. Practice introductions and smooth transitions, decide who will handle questions for each topic, even coordinate your level of dress. A smart, capable team that likes each other Is a joy to behold, so show your audience that you work well together and can get the job done.