There will be times when you are asked to be the lunchtime speaker at an event or are invited into an organization to do what is referred to as a “lunch and learn”…

Organizations and event planners book lunchtime speakers either because they feel the need to offer some type of “entertainment” during the meal or…

They want to squeeze in yet another speaker in the interests of time and scheduling issues…

Groan!

I consider this lunchtime “opportunity” to be the worst possible gig…

I’ve done a few of these over the years…

They’ve got to be the most anxiety-producing speaking gigs of any kind…

Attendees come into the room, sit down, open their lunch bags, start eating, and look up you expectantly…

As the speaker, you’re going in “cold”… BAM! You’re off and running…

With no time for warming up … no time to get to know and start building rapport with some of the people in the room…

All of which are things I like to do before taking the stage…

Secondly, the attendees are less focused on you and what you have to say because they’re concentrating on eating their lunch…

And yes, people can eat and listen at the same time…

But their focus will be switching back and forth between the food and you … Never staying on you for long…

They rarely take notes…

It’s just too cumbersome…

Trying to juggle a sandwich or fork and knife with pen and paper…

There’s no room on the table or, even worse… their laps…

It’s just too messy…who wants grease stains on their notes!

Getting the participants to interact is downright dangerous…

Trying to get people to ask or answer questions when their mouths are full of food…

Well, I think you see the problem…

The situation simply sabotages your best efforts to actually help your audience members …

And if at the end of your session you have a call-to-action, which every good session should have…

What are the chances that your audience members actually carry it out…

Rush to the back to buy your products and services, make note of a website, or come and speak with you after your session?

They’re off to the next item on their schedule, and your session is but a vague memory (cue sad music)…

Can you do your best work in this environment? Not a chance…

There are better gigs out there…

So when you do find yourself in a situation where you really can make a difference to the people in the room…

Where you can help them solve a problem that brought them to your session…

Where the situation supports your ability to lead an engaging interactive session…

Here’s where you go…

>>> Creating Your Engaging Talks and Workshops.