Make Every Moment Matter: Turning Speeches Into Shared Experiences

Subject Line: “HELP! My Talk is Too Short!”

In Jan's email she wrote: “You did a great job streamlining my speech. I like it so much more. It’s exactly what I wanted. But now it’s just 25 minutes, and I need 45 to 55!”

Here’s the problem: While her speaking tone is warm and her content is conversational, nearly an hour of anyone talking to an audience is information overload. Today’s listeners are looking for something different—an alternative to the old “sage on the stage” model. 

Her speech wasn't too short, we just needed to weave in places to engage with the audience. Otherwise, despite an amazing speech, we were running the risk of glassy-eyed listeners. 

Recent research backs this up. A 2021 Edelman study found that 74% of people are more engaged when they feel part of a conversation, not just passive listeners. Likewise, a 2022 EventMB survey showed that 70% of attendees value interactive elements, like Q&A, reflection moments, or small group discussions. Yes, even the introverted are more influenced by engaged speech content, whether they actively or passively engage. 

The takeaway? Your audience is hoping for a meaningful, connected, and memorable experience. 

Definitely inform your audience, but also think of ways to connect with them. 

And the good news is, engagement doesn’t have to rely on tech tricks like polls or surveys. Human-centered methods and authenticity reign: stories, questions, shared reflections, or peer conversations are often the most powerful.

Talk Tip

Active Engagement: Have your audience "do" something.

• Watch Andy Bobowski's audience participation in his 2024 TEDxAsheville Talk. It's a brilliant combination of humor and direct correlation to his talk. Watch from the beginning to 1:22. Trust me.

• "Raise your hand if...."

  • Hands-up is a common tactic. Ask a question and invite them to respond by raising their hand. 

  • I might ask: "Raise your hand if you've ever felt stage fright."

  • The power of a "raise your hand" is aligning your audience in common experience. They realize, "We are all in this together."

• Interaction with a partner

  • Ask a question followed by an invitation to turn to a partner to respond and discuss. 

  • I might ask: "Share with your partner your main takeaway from this training and one action you will take this week."

• Do something physical

  • Physical motion stimulates energy and creates a shared experience

  • I might say, "Speaker trainings can be nerve wracking. Let's all take a deep breath and relax your shoulders."

2.) Imaginative Engagement: Have your audience imagine or bring something to mind.

• Watch Maiysha Clairborne, TEDxAsheville 2022  lead her audience with guided imagery. Watch from the beginning to 1:24. Her opening uses a concrete analogy to explain how our brain takes in information. Her timing and colorful description of feeling and sound bring it to life.

• Use this phrase: "Bring to mind..."

  • I might say, "Bring to mind a time when you felt bold and confident."

  • And follow that with a guided request, like, "Recall the physical sensations that accompanied your confidence"

• Use this phrase: "Imagine..."

  • I might say, "Imagine yourself exiting the stage and knowing you fully nailed your speech."

  • Followed by, "Write three things you did in that successful scenario."

Actively cheering you on!
— Barrie