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Keeping Attention:\xa0\xa0 A Bored Mind Says NO!

It is common sense to realize you have to keep your audience's attention in order to persuade them.\xa0 If you lose them, you lose your chance for them to understand and accept your proposal.\xa0 We know from our own personal experience that we tend to let our minds naturally drift when we are listening to other people.\xa0 We cannot focus on one item for too long unless we are forced to do so.\xa0 Master Persuaders can make a person want to pay attention and stay focused.\xa0 You may lose your audience\u2019s attention from time to time but it is your job to bring them back to full attention status.\xa0 You can help your prospect lose track of time.

Some estimate that the average adult attention span is about 18 minutes.\xa0 What\u2019s more, studies indicate that attention spans have been decreasing steadily over the past decade.\xa0 After our attention span is lapsed, we fall into boredom and no longer listen.\xa0 You have to be creative to maintain the mental involvement that is required to persuade a mind.\xa0 One way to keep the mind harnessed is to give your audience enough time to process what you are telling them. You can tell by the look in their eyes if you have lost them.\xa0 I'm sure you have taken seminars or college classes where you have been completely lost.\xa0 When the professor asks questions, you don't raise your hand because you have no idea what is going on.\xa0 Give your listeners enough time to absorb what you're saying, but obviously not so long that they become totally bored and detached.

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Some more ideas on ways to help people choose to pay attention:

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\u2022Use questions\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0

\u2022Make startling statements

\u2022Use quotes\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0

\u2022Change mediums

\u2022Speak in the first person\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0

\u2022Present new and innovative ideas

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You can see that these techniques are used to grab back the attention of your listeners when their minds have started wandering.\xa0 Employed properly they will bring your audience\u2019s attention back to you.