You are facing the audience and in the middle of your speech you notice that one of the audience members is looking at her mobile phone instead of at you. Has that already happened to you? It’s highly likely. And the reason definitely doesn’t have to be the fact that your speech was boring. Maybe that person is playing games or writing SMS messages, but maybe she really is listening to you, taking notes or even informing her friends on social networks about your presentation. Whatever the reason is, facing someone like that isn’t all that pleasant.
So what should you do? Should you ban phones at your presentations. That’s probably not going to work… It’s better to try to watch the context of the entire situation. If only one person is paying attention to their phone, or it’s clear that the audience members are using their phones to take notes, let it go. Only when everyone is looking at their phone, while appearing bored, should you start doubting yourself.
If individuals on phones really psyche you out, try the following practical techniques that were published by the PR Daily server.
Come closer
Speak while slowly moving towards the person on the phone. But do not look directly in their eyes, look at someone next to them. When the whole room turns in that direction, the person will once again start paying attention to you.
Make a change
When several people stop paying attention to you at once, it’s time to regain their attention. Try being silent for a moment, asking a question or inserting a practical exercise. You can also call a break so that the audience members can deal with the issues they need to resolve.
If it is appropriate, be more aggressive
Try, for example, asking the audience a question and immediately asking whether the particular “individual who is playing with his phone” can answer you. You will thus make it obvious that the phone is undesirable, the individual concerned will be embarrassed and others will not take their phones out. If someone’s phone rings, you can -- for example -- comment on the ringtone saying that the person should change it.
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