How to Capture Attention in an Oral Presentation: Analyzing Examples.
When you speak in public, the most important thing isn’t just what you say, but how you say it. You can have a brilliant idea, but if you don’t manage to get your audience to listen with interest, the message gets lost.
There are many strategies for capturing attention. Some people use creativity and surprise, others generate curiosity and emotion. Which of these styles suits you best?
Let’s analyze two winning speeches from the 11th Oratory Competition to discover what they do well and what we can learn from them.
Strategy 1: Creativity and Surprise
Mireya Sánchez, winner in the junior category, knows that first impressions are key. In her speech, she not only speaks with confidence, but also uses unexpected objects to keep her audience’s attention.
Notice these aspects of her speech:
- Use of eye-catching objects. She takes off a shoe in the middle of her presentation and sticks post-its on her body. This breaks the audience’s routine and creates anticipation.
- Interaction with the audience. She asks questions and maintains eye contact, which helps make her speech more dynamic and engaging.
- Naturalness and enthusiasm. She doesn’t seem to be reciting from memory; instead, she conveys confidence and energy.
Reflection: How do these elements influence the way you perceive her speech? Would it help you to include something similar in a presentation?
Strategy 2: Curiosity and Emotion
Not every presentation needs to be fast-paced and energetic to be effective. Julián Pardo, winner in the senior category, uses a more measured, reflective approach. From the very beginning, he sparks curiosity and intrigue with a special object: a briefcase.
What does he do well in his speech?
- Creates mystery and anticipation. He begins with an intriguing question and presents a symbolic object that keeps the audience’s attention.
- Plays with space. At one point in the speech, he steps down from the stage and moves closer to the judges, creating a closer connection with the audience.
- Uses a narrative and poetic tone. It’s not just what he says, but how he says it: his speech has a slow, deliberate rhythm, almost like a story.
Reflection: How does your perception of the speech change when the speaker moves and gets closer to the audience? How could you use this technique in your next presentation?
Comparing Styles: What Can You Learn from Each One?
Now that you’ve seen two very different ways of capturing attention in an oral presentation, reflect on these questions:
- What techniques does Mireya use to capture the audience’s attention?
- What techniques does Julián use to spark curiosity?
- Which of the two styles do you find more effective? Why?
- If you had to give a presentation, which elements would you take from each?
To reinforce your analysis, make a list of the most effective strategies for capturing attention and choose which ones you could apply in your next presentation.
Conclusion: Find Your Own Voice as a Speaker.
There is no single way to give a good oral presentation. What matters is that you find your own style and use tools that help you keep your audience’s attention.
If you prefer a more dynamic style, you can draw inspiration from Mireya and use objects or interactive questions. If you like a more narrative style, like Julián’s, you can work on pacing, intrigue, and emotional connection with the audience.
Now that you’ve seen these examples, how would you like to capture attention in your next presentation?