Getting the audience’s attention is one thing. But keeping it? That’s a whole different beast.
I’ve heard all kinds of advice on how to hold attention...
Some say to use stories.
Others suggest pattern interrupts.
And some tell you to use transitional phrases like, "I'll explain," "But," or "However."
While these are great tactics, they don’t get to the core of the issue.
Because if want to hold an audience’s attention, you need to control the narrative in their minds.
And there’s one tool that will help you do just that.
If done right, it transcends "keeping their attention" and helps you gain their support, votes, or even their credit card details.
That tool is Anticipation.
To your audience, nothing should be what it seems.
The best speeches leave the audience constantly wondering:
"What’s happening now?"
"What happened before?"
"What will happen next?"
Your speech should never give away the whole story. It must keep the audience waiting for the next piece to unravel.
A perfect example of this?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
The objective behind his speech was to inspire.
He wanted to paint a vivid picture of the challenges African Americans faced and slowly build toward his vision of the future they could have.
But Dr. King didn’t reveal his entire vision in one go.
Each line of his speech layered on the last, created anticipation and made the audience eager for the next "I have a dream" proclamation.
Here’s an excerpt to illustrate it:
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"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed:
'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."
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Do you notice how the repetition of "I have a dream" builds a different expectation?
It left the audience wondering: "What will he say next? What is this dream?"
And that’s exactly what you want to do in your speeches. Don’t just capture attention. Keep it. Keep it until they take out their credit card and pay you.
If you want to bring this level of engagement to your next speech, reply to this email with details about it. I’ll send you a link to book a 1-hour paid consultation with me.
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