When you present, you are waging a battle against distraction. And this is your biggest competitor…

Something that the average person whips out an average of 58 times a day. One thing that’s a source of entertainment and constant stimulation.

We’re talking about the smartphone.

Our phones are always within arm’s reach. And that’s not going to change. In fact, according to research by the RescueTime app, few of us go longer than an hour during the day without touching our phones.

When presenting, you need to be relevant and compelling to keep your audience tuned in. Know that their favorite radio station is WIIFM.

WIIFM is an acronym for “What’s In It For Me” as the audience member. Why should they give you their attention? What value are you providing? What problem are you solving?

Here are five ways to keep the smartphones at bay during a presentation:

1. Use stories – get your audience engaged early and often

2. Understand your audience – speak their language

3. Address their issues – know their pain

4. Deliver hope – be a light in the darkness

5. Offer a plan of action – provide a solution

Attention isn’t given; it has to be earned. Make sure you are commanding the attention of the audience when you present. Be smarter than the smartphone.

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Stan Phelps

Stan Phelps walks the walk. He stands out in the sea of sameness by modeling his own Differentiated Experience (DX) message: Differentiation isn’t just about what you say, it’s about what you do and, more importantly, how and why you do it. Stan leverages his unique collection of 5,000+ case studies on customer, employee, and brand experience to engage audiences with informative learning-based experiences. He believes purposeful DX wins the hearts of employees and customers, and differentiation ultimately boosts loyalty, retention, referrals, and results.

Find Stan’s in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops, and Goldfish tank programs at StanPhelps.com.