You are a seasoned presenter and your job involves giving presentations and seminars throughout the day. Your job is to engage audiences and infuse an invigorating message to as many people as possible. You start out great first thing in the morning and you sustain your energy throughout your midday presentation. However, that late afternoon presentation is lurking in the distance and your body is already wearing down. How do you fight that afternoon fatigue to deliver a powerful and dynamic presentation to your late afternoon audience? Believe it or not, there are things you can do to keep the fire going all day long and make each audience feel like the first.
Tell an Engaging Story
Even a speaker who is passionate about their topic can find themselves dragging when they have to present the same facts and statistics over and over again. You can re-energize yourself and your audience by telling a dramatic story. Stories are exciting and interesting and you can tell the same story a hundred times and still feel moved by its message. If you, the speaker, are interested in what you are saying, your audience will feel that same energy. Stories are a great way to entertain and captivate your audience to keep them from nodding off as well.
Make Your Presentation Interactive
It’s easy to get fatigued when you are simply reading from a slideshow or standing there rattling off fact after fact. You can stay energized by finding ways to get your audience involved in your presentation. Invite an audience member to the stage, play a game, incorporate props, or ask your audience to interact in real-time via twitter. Audience participation is a great way to keep your audience awake and listening and it’s also a great way for you to fight that late afternoon presentation fatigue. Every audience interaction is different so it always keeps you on your toes and gives you a new experience with each presentation.
Move Around
Movement is one of the best ways to fight fatigue. If you feel yourself dragging, it’s time to walk around a bit. Walk across the stage or up and down the aisles. When you keep your body moving and your blood flowing you are preventing your body from entering a relaxed state. You can also encourage your audience to move by breaking into small groups for discussion. This same movement concept will keep your audience awake and engaged in your presentation.
Eat a Good Lunch
It can be difficult for presenters to find enough time to eat lunch when they are trying to squeeze 3-4 presentations into one day. However, it is so important to refuel your body midway through the day. Eating a healthy lunch will give your body the energy it needs to get through the afternoon. You should also drink plenty of water to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Stick to a Regular Sleep Schedule
It’s tough for presenters whose jobs require them to travel to different cities to maintain a regular sleep and wake schedule. However, following a similar routine each evening will signal your brain to prepare for sleep. When you go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, it can help your body to feel rested so you can stay focused throughout the day. Disrupting your sleep pattern can cause you to crash in the afternoon and feel sluggish.
