Leave 'em hangin'

    Here's a good way to boost attention to your next speech or presentation. Start with a story that sets up the problem you are addressing. For instance, on of my students told the story of a baby who displayed all normal behaviors for his first few weeks of life, then stopped responding as expected. She went on to explain that he was suffering with autism. Her speech told us what autism is, who is affected by it, and possible causes. Only after we had followed her full talk did she reveal to us that the child she mentioned has been gradually improving, integrating well into the daily life of a youngster. We were drawn in to the speech and stayed with the speaker by the fact that the story was dramatic, and unfinished.

    How does this work? It's based on something called the Ziegarnik effect, described by a psychologist in the 1920's. Basically the Ziegarnik effect makes unfinished things easier to remember. So you start with a story, but do not tell us how it works out. That story stays in our minds, and we follow every word hoping for resolution. Meanwhile, you have us listening to all the other information we need.

    My Fun Friday advice this week? When you want to keep our attention, leave something unfinished. Use the Ziegar...