The Silent Treatment Works Every Time

It annoys me when people are not paying attention when I speak. Noisy people in the crowd undermine the speaker's presence and nullify the speaker's message. That type of behavior is totally unacceptable and as a speaker you have to nip it in the bud immediately.

My favorite way to quiet a crowd and get the attention I deserve is to use the silent treatment. That may sound strange coming from a speaker but it works all the time.

Here is what I do when I'm sharing my knowledge and people can't be quiet:

1. Stop talking.


2. Stand in the absolute center of the room.


3. Patiently wait for the talking to subside.


4. Scan the crowd and let everyone know that the presentation has paused.


5. I ask (in a slightly sarcastic tone) the talkers if it is okay for me to continue where I left off. If I'm using name plates in a seminar I'll call them out by name.

Shock waves always follow. The people who were trying to listen smile from ear to ear. The people who were causing the distraction are completely embarrassed. The majority of presenters are too timid to demand their respect. If you demand your respect, you will be given your respect.

Now that I've explained the silent treatment lets look at why it is such an effective tool.

Returns Focus to the Proper Owner

A few weeks ago I went to a comedy show. Three comedians presented that night. The first and third comedians were seasoned veterans. Sandwiched between them was an up and coming comedian who was very short on stage presence.

The first comedian was hilarious. He spoke like a true veteran. His style was energetic and charismatic. He walked off the stage to a well deserved standing ovation.

Next up was comedian #2. You could feel the nervous energy radiating from her microphone. She spoke in a sheepish tone. 5 random conversations were born within the first 2 minutes. In the beginning the side conversations were barely noticeable. About halfway through her session she could barely be heard. 5 distracting conversations had turned into 10. Only 10 of the 100 people in attendance were paying attention. You could see her shrinking on the stage. When she realized she could no longer control the crowd she abruptly ended her set and stormed off in frustration.

Comedian #3 took the stage in the mist of the distracting conversations. 30 seconds into her set she stopped talking and looked around the audience. The side conversations intensified. She remained silent. The side conversations intensified yet again. She remained silent. After 45 seconds of silence she brought the microphone back to her face and said "I'll start telling jokes again when the group in front of me decides to be quiet. You paid to hear me tell jokes. I'm going to get paid whether you listen or not". The crowd in front her stopped talking and laughing. They were embarrassed and upset but her point was made. She had no more problems that night.

Establishes Authority

Humans are conditioned to respect figures of authority. If you're speeding and you see a cop you slam on your brakes. When you hear the sirens from an ambulance you immediately veer to the side of the road. When your manager makes an unannounced trip into your workspace you quickly close any items that aren't related to work.

You slam on your brakes because you don't want the monetary punishment of a speeding ticket. You move your vehicle away from an ambulance because you don't want to cause the loss of a life. You close windows on your computer because you don't want jeopardize your source of income. These are natural responses to traditional authoritative figures.

As a speaker/presenter you can operate with the same level of authority as the police, an ambulance, or someone's boss. Your presentation loses effectiveness exponentially with every distraction. By demanding silence you are establishing your authority and validating the worth of your presentation.

You are presenting for a reason, act like it.

Conclusion

When it comes to gaining attention during a presentation/speech nothing works like the silent treatment. People expect the speaker to speak. If you aren't talking they know something is wrong. Usually that something is unnecessary crowd noise. Use the silent treatment as described in this article to make sure you have are the center of attention and establish your authority.

Marcus Antuan Smith is a creative force in the public speaking world who strives to meet the needs of each and every client. His experience as the Toastmasters President at a fortune 15 company will prove invaluable to you.

Go to his website, http://www.marcusasmith.com for more information.

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