To clarify: WIIFM isn’t a hit new radio station. Nor is it the latest Nintendo game system. It’s an acronym that stands for a question we’ve all asked ourselves once or twice in our lives– “What’s in it for me?” Now when you stand to speak at your next presentation, you probably won’t have that question burning in the back of your head. You can be sure, however, that your audience is going to be asking themselves that very thing before you even click the button for your first slide. Whether the point of your presentation is to get a client to sign on a new business idea, or just to get people to give a hoot about polluting, motivating an audience with WIIFM on the brain can break even the strongest spirits. To get over this hurdle there is one simple solution however; just show the crowd exactly what’s in it for them.
Avoiding a Case of the WIIFM Blues
To impress the audience you have to become the audience. Knowing who you are speaking to and getting a feel for what excites them is the best way to clear that big WIIFM hurdle. Try this: instead of opening your talk with a bunch of information about yourself, get the audience involved. Talk to them, ask some questions, learn some names and most importantly of all, know who you’re speaking to. Learn from the best comedians and play to the room. Let them take the lead and you follow along for a change. This dynamic helps the audience to become personally invested in what you have to say. By giving the audience a chance to participate, you are bringing them into the presentation and making it as much about them as it is about your topic. People like to hear and talk about themselves and by giving them a chance to, you will instantly have a much more strong connection with them.
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