Stop Making Audiences Multitask!

Stop Making Audiences Multitask!

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Most audience attendees cannot multitask. They can't listen, read slides, and take notes all at once. Sure, a few can pull it off, but for the majority, it’s way too much to do. We cannot multitask! Have you ever read the 'ticker-tape' at the bottom of a cable news show? If so, you’ve missed the featured story. To prove that, when a commercial comes on - the 'ticker tape' is gone! Advertisers would never pay for viewers attention to be diverted.

Here’s what usually happens during a presentation: Someone’s trying to jot down a key point… They look up… And they’ve already missed what came next.

It’s not their fault. We’re asking them to split their attention three ways—slides, notes, and spoken words. And when that happens, something always gets lost.

Here’s a simple, generous fix: Take the notes for them.

PowerPoint and Keynote both have a Presenter Notes feature. Use it. Capture your main points, supporting examples, and even that quote you know someone will try to scribble down mid-sentence.

Then, early in your talk, say something like this:

“You don’t need to take notes—I’ve taken them for you. If you’d like a copy after the session, I’m happy to send it.” (Or have a QR Code in one of your last slides and capture their names and emails for future marketing!)

That one sentence does a lot: Eases pressure on your audience. Helps them stay present and focused. Shows you’re prepared and thinking about their experience

Let’s be clear—some people do learn better by writing things down. That’s absolutely valid. But giving your audience the option not to write frees them up to listen, absorb, and engage. And those are the moments where real connection happens.

You’re not oversimplifying. You’re making your message more memorable. That’s the whole point.

So: respect their brainpower. Make your message easy to receive. Don’t make them juggle.

Incorporate this advice into your presentations and they will be absolutely, positively - NO SWEAT! ——————————————————————————————————————————————————

About the Author    

Fred E. Miller is a speaker, an international coach, and the author of the books, “NO SWEAT Public Speaking!” and “NO SWEAT Elevator Speech!”

Businesses, Individuals, and Organizations hire him because they want to improve their Networking, Public Speaking, andPresentation Skills.

They do this because they know:"Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities."

They also know:We perceive really great speakers to be Experts. We like to work with Experts.

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