The art of captivating an audience from a TEDx founder

Dave Lim-Light is a self-confessed introvert.

But as one of 30 people who helped launch TEDx in 2009, he quickly had to get over his fears and learn the art of communicating to an audience.

Since then, he's spent almost two decades watching ideas succeed or fail on stage.

And he’s learned what it takes to truly capture an audience’s attention in an era where attention is a scarce resource.

Because no matter how good your idea is, it doesn’t matter if no one is listening.

Whether you’re pitching your startup to venture capitalists, negotiating a payrise with your boss or convincing your toddler it’s time to go to bed - here are Dave's top tips to communicate more effectively.

And the good news is you don’t need to be an extrovert to captivate an audience.

How you show up matters

There are subtle but powerful factors that shape the impact you have before you even open your mouth.

For example, how you stand in the space you are in.

And when it comes to space, proximity to your audience makes a big difference.

If you’re giving a presentation, Dave says don’t stand behind a desk where you’re putting a huge object between you and your audience.

“You want to try and stand as close as possible to your audience,” he says.

If you need to look at your slides, look at a screen in front of you and avoid having your hands in your pockets.

Bring energy and excitement

To wow or inspire an audience, you need to bring energy and excitement.

“At the very least you have to be excited about your own idea, because if you’re not excited how do you expect someone else to be?” Dave says.

You don’t need to be Steve Jobs, but you do need to project enthusiasm for what you’re pitching.

“You may be an introvert but even if you’re an introvert you can be enthusiastic about your venture,” he says.

Microphones are useful in bringing additional volume, particularly for people who are naturally softer spoken.

Eye contact is crucial

The moment you don’t make eye contact, Dave says attention drifts.

If you’re in a situation where there is a judging panel, you will be tempted to look at the judges as they are the most important people in the room for your presentation.

But Dave warns not to forget about people on the opposite sides of the room and to ensure you’re regularly making eye contact throughout the room, so they don’t lose engagement.

“These are subtle things, but powerful - just like the smell when you go into a department store. It’s not just what you say and show on screen but your visibility that matters.”

Convey complexity quickly

You only have 10 seconds to hook an audience.

If you need to convey a complex idea, make it easy for your audience to get it quickly.

Dave recommends trying to convey what you’re trying to do in 30 seconds.

To do this, he suggests using different tools such as using images to convey the idea, storytelling, a relatable metaphor, or a first-person example.

“You want to quickly start talking about the business itself and quickly bridge into talking about the venture rather than getting caught up in lengthy definitions.”

He says it’s important to test comprehension early with your audience.

“If you don’t have comprehension in the first place, it’s hard to get people excited about your idea.”

Test your slides

If people can’t read what you’re presenting, you’ve lost them from the start.

To test your slides Dave recommends standing one metre away from your laptop and seeing if you can read what’s on screen to replicate people sitting at the back of a room.

“Small font size and having too much text are common issues,” he says.

If you need to convey a lot of text, use handouts, not slides.

Dave recommends using pictures, videos, and keeping your slides simple.

He says alliterations are also useful to help your audience remember things.

“Your audience is listening to you speak a lot of words and if your slides also have a lot of words, you’re asking their brains to read at the same time and divide their attention.”

“They should be looking at you and hearing you, not reading your slides.”

If you present last, you’re at a disadvantage

People who present to an audience first have an advantage.

Early on, whether it’s interviewers or a panel event, the audience has high energy but after a while their brains tire.

“Because taking in presentations is very brain heavy the audience gets tired. And presenters have a bigger challenge to make an impact,” Dave says.

If you are last, you will need to pay extra attention to your energy and make it easy for your audience to understand what you’re saying.

Finish on a high note

Make sure you start and end on a high.

Dave says you don’t want to maintain the same level of energy throughout but rather start and end at the highest points and maintain variation between.

“Think about the end and work backwards to think about how you’re going to get there. You don’t want it to be luck,” Dave says.

“The way to end is ‘we love this idea and we really believe in this venture.”

He said people invest in people and they want to invest in someone who’s enthusiastic about what they’re doing.

“We all think we are rational and left brained but actually it’s a very human thing. And even if you don’t want to become an entrepreneur, we’re always pitching a new product or campaign in the workplace.”

It doesn’t matter what context, these are universal tools and tricks useful for life.

Dave Lim-Light was a pioneer TEDx organiser in 2009, a global Ambassador of TEDx and is the founding curator of TEDxPowerSt ARISE in Melbourne. Dave has worked for over 25 years across diverse professions and industries: Global fund management, central banking, environment @Earth Hour WWF, high-tech venture capital and startups across APAC, and corporate innovation.