Mike DomitrzPresident, Author, and Speaker on Respect, The Center for Respect, Inc. · Author & Speaker on Respect for Schools, Corporations, & the Military since 1990 (has reached

Focus on audiences connection. #centerforrespect #mikedomitrz #audience #audienceengagement

18 Jan 2025 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:43

In this brief YouTube monologue, the speaker argues that the presentation industry has become overly scripted, causing presenters to focus on their next line rather than the audience’s current emotional state. He advocates for using call‑and‑response techniques to stay present with the audience, suggesting that delivering a signature story is less impactful if the presenter is not attuned to the audience’s needs, emotions, experiences, and barriers. While acknowledging the power of storytelling, he emphasizes that audience emotions and real‑time engagement are far more critical for effective communication.

Chapters

I think our industry is way too scripted, and I think it hurts audiences because we're not paying attention to where the audience is at. We're paying attention to our next thing to say versus where the audience is at. If you're doing call and response, you are with the audience, not caught up in the next story I have to tell. If I don't tell my signature story in a keynote, it doesn't dramatically change the impact for the audience if I'm truly with them in the moment for what they need. And I know there are people who get upset with that. You know, this power of story, the power of story. I'm not denying the power of story. But the power of story is not more important than the power of what's going through my audience's emotions, experiences, and blocks and barriers. Way more important.